19th edition of Raid de Himalaya starts from October 6
Reports of early snow on the passes are adding to the excitement over this year’s adventure.
The 19th edition of Maruti-Suzuki Raid-De-Himalaya will be held from October 6-14. Anticipating promotion of adventure tourism, the state has been extending support.
A meeting under the chairmanship of principal secretary, (youth services and sports) Onkar Sharma, was held to co-ordinate necessary arrangements with different departments for the successful organization of the expedition.
Sharma assured the organisers that every possible logistic support would be extended to the event. He said the state government has also given thrust on encouraging adventure tourism as there was vast potential available in this sector in the State. He expressed his happiness that Raid-De-Himalaya would be co-organised by the department of youth services and sports, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism and the Himalayan Motorsport Association, Shimla.
President Himalayan Motorsport Association Vijay Parmar disclosed that ceremonial flag-off ceremony would be held on October 7 at Manali and the first leg of the rally will start on October 8. A pre-event scrutiny will be held on October 6.
Both categories of Raiders, the X-treme and the Adventure will be severely tested by high altitude, forbidding terrain, sub-zero temperatures, as well as mental fatigue as they cross over from Himachal into Ladakh, negotiating the world’s highest mountain passes-ShingoLa, BaralachLa, TaglangLa, WariLa and KhardungLa, to name the most prominent ones. Once the Raid reaches Leh on Day four, it branches off to Kargil and the rugged Zanskar Valley for another two gruelling days and concluding upon its return to the Ladakh capital on October 13, he added.
Reports of early snow on the passes are adding to the excitement over this year’s adventure. Six women teams would be taking part with Shuchi Thakur of Himachal expected to be the winner.