Royal Enfield Unveils Its Green Pit Stop For Travellers in Ladakh

With this year’s mountain riding season kicking off in full swing, many escapes from the daily hustle-bustle to explore the mountains, often taking ‘sick leaves’. While exploring the mountains looks glamorous in movies, it can be gruelling with sudden climate changes, increasing altitude, vehicle breakdowns, landslides, and almost anything that can go wrong. At these times, all a traveller needs is shelter to take a breather and compose themselves.

Royal Enfield has unveiled Camp Kharu, their first from the Green Pit Stop initiative on the Leh-Manali highway (NH3) leading to scenic routes like Pangong, Tsomo Riri, and Hanle. This initiative has been opened for travellers to stop by for rest, refreshments, riding routes and tourist information, including Intangible Cultural Heritage experiences and a list of homestays, some supported by Royal Enfield themselves. Camp Kharu offers travellers an authentic experience of their culture at the grassroots level.

Not only aiding travellers, but Camp Kharu also acts as a pillar to boost the local economy by creating jobs and educating the locals selected by the panchayat in topics like entrepreneurship, hospitality, bookkeeping, facility management, cooking and baking. Managed by six self-help group (SHG) women, aged 37 to 55, from the Kharu village, the facility offers a variety of amenities like a cafe serving authentic Ladakhi dishes made from locally sourced ingredients, commercial and exhibition spaces, and public convenience facilities. 

Camp Kharu is a two-storied 1,500 sq ft all-weather facility, designed by architect Sandeep Bogadhi of Earthling using sustainable methods. The facility has notable points like solar panels to keep a low carbon footprint and is built to stay cool in the summers and warm in the winters, along with water refilling stations, free wifi and charging points. 

The initiative is a joint effort by Royal Enfield Social Mission, the Rural Development Department/Leh Development Authority, Kharu Nambardar and the local community. This CSR initiative by Royal Enfield helps their social mission to support the community against the effects of climate change on their livelihood. Royal Enfield also offers ‘Rentals and Tours’ services across the globe, that help you fulfil your bucket list.

To us, Camp Kharu sounds like a promising initiative. With the facility overseeing the mighty Himalayan range, it seems like the perfect spot to enjoy a warm cup of coffee while plotting a route.