Tata Nano makes it to the top - Siachen Glacier base camp

Tata Motor's unpretentious Nano has joined the league of heavy duty vehicles including, Royal Enfield bikes in conquering the rugged Himalayan terrain.

Dr Varun Vagish, an adverturer from Asansol, West Bengal, drove to the base camp of Siachen Glacier in Ladakh in the down to earth vehicle.

Tata Motors in a statement yesterday said the journey the 7,000 km journey, which kicked off from Asansol, was completed in 20 days. On the way to the destination the Nano climbed the world's highest motorable pass, Khardung La (18,380 feet), and several other passes like Chang La, Zozi La, Fotu La and Namik La.

''Vagish in his Tata Nano has traversed the most rugged terrains and erratic weather conditions in this journey. The Nano triumphed against all odds and emerged a winner at the end of this test of endurance and reliability,'' the company said in a statement.

According to Vagish, the car's short turning radius helped him manoeuvre the vehicle at sharp curves and it took him only 30 minutes to cover the last 16km stretch from north Pulu to Khardung La.

Tata Motors launched the Nano in July 2009, but due to unsatisfactory response, recently re-positioned the model as a slick city car. The Nano was repositioned and introduced as the next-generation Nano in June with automatic gear shift and other advanced features.

The route, is well known for, its treacherous terrain and erratic weather conditions.

The successful journey comes as a testament to Tata Nano's endurance and reliability commentators said.

According to Vagish the Nano managed to ascend steep inclines quite comfortably and covered over 800 km on a single day while driving in plains.

Vagish made the ardous journey in a pre-2013 version of the Nano.