Ladakh, A land of unique Beauty.
Ladakh, the most adventurous and exciting place of India. It is a land of high passes and natural beauty which is nestled in the lap of Himalayan ranges of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh is located at an elevation of 3,000 meter above the sea level with adorable breathtaking views of Himalayan Mountains. Beautiful Ladakh is enclosed between Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges, and situated on the banks of Indus River. The beautiful hill station seems like a heaven under the clear blue sky with high mountains, crystal clear water and beautiful landscapes. Ladakh receives a good number of tourists every year because of its ultimate beauty of majestic sceneries. The place has vibrant culture and traditions Indo-Tibetans. One will definitely enjoy their rich lifestyle, rituals and festivals. There are many ancient Buddhist monuments, monasteries and mosques in Ladakh.
Drive from Delhi to Leh Ladakh
Trip to Leh, Ladakh is way more exciting and adventurous by road. It is the most thrilling road experience in India because it takes you through rugged terrains, high passes, scenic valleys, snow-peaked Himalayan Mountains, and many more Majestic views of landscapes. One can catch the spectacular view of the Himalayan Mountains on their way to Leh, Ladakh. This is one of the most visited places in India for adventurous tourists and most people visit here only by road because everyone knows how beautiful the route of Leh Ladakh is. If you are a nature lover and adventurous enthusiast then you will definitely love the road route of Ladakh. There are two ways to reach Leh, Ladakh; one is via Manali and another one is via Srinagar. Both the routes are interesting and adventurous. Now let me tell you more about the way to Leh Ladakh by road via Manali and Srinagar that will help you to plan your trip to Ladakh.
Delhi to Ladakh via Manali highway
From Delhi to Leh, Ladakh via Manali highway is approx 1100 kilometers. The most preferred route to go Leh Ladakh by tourists is via Manali because one can catch the adorable breathtaking views of mountains on the way to Manali. The road is very smooth and thrilling along with the Himalayan Mountains on one side and the river on the other side. You will pass through high mountains, thrilling bends, panoramic views, and scenic valleys via Manali. From Delhi to Leh via Manali, it will take 2 days to reach there with two stops one is at Manali and another one will be at Keylong. You will have to stay at night in Manali for rest so that you can enjoy the rest of your road trip without any fatigue. Manali offers good options for accommodation with food. The real unforgettable thrilling trip starts from Rohtang pass with mesmerizing landscapes, snow-clad mountains, and spectacular valleys.
Route map for Manali-Leh Ladakh highway: – Manali –> Rohtang –> Gramphu –> Kokhsar –> Keylong –> Jispa –> Darcha –> Zingzingbar –> Baralacha La –> Bharatpur –> Sarchu –> Gata Loops –> Nakee La –> Lachulung La –> Pang -> Tanglang La –> Gya -> Upshi -> Karu –> Leh.
Fuel and Petrol pump on Manali – Ladakh highway.
Petrol pumps are always the cause of concern for tourists on Leh – Manali highway. It is difficult to find a fuel pump on Leh – Manali highway because fuel pumps are very far from each other and they are at different places with approx 100 km distance from each other. That’s why it is very important to carry extra fuel for your journey. When you will depart from Manali, the first petrol pump on Manali – Leh highway is at ‘Tandi’ which is approx 100 kilometers from Manali. Then another petrol pump is in ‘Karu’ which is approx 350 kilometers from ‘Tandi’. So it is very important to fill the tank in ‘Tandi’ so that you should not face any kind of problem in your journey. You should keep some extra jars and bottles full of petrol as well because Tandi is the last petrol pump on the highway and the next is very far.
ATM and fixed phones on Manali – Leh Highway
Make it possible to carry enough cash with you because there is no ATM available on Manali – Leh highway. You will find the ATM only in Manali and Keylong and after that, the next ATM is in Leh. If you carry your own mobile with enough balance then it would be very fine and in case of emergency, you will only find the phone in Keylong, Jispa, Darcha, Upshi.
Delhi to Ladakh via Srinagar
Delhi to Leh Ladakh via Srinagar highway is approx 1250 kilometers. Srinagar to Leh Ladakh highway is known as national highway 1D which is approx 434 km long and on the way to Ladakh via Srinagar you will catch the glimpse of beautiful Himalaya valleys, villages, Gurudwaras, lakes, monasteries, etc. you can experience the spectacular green fields of Sonamargh and villages on the banks of Sindh River. This place will let you understand the real beauty of Mother Nature. Srinagar – Leh Ladakh has many options for sightseeing like Magnetic Hills, Spituk Monastery, Redzong Monastery, Maitreya at Mulbek Alchi Monastery, Basgo Palace, Confluence at Nimmu, Likir Monastery, Lunar Landscape, Phyang Monastery, Pathar Sahib Gurudwara, Lamayuru Monastery. On your way to Leh, Ladakh via Srinagar the three of the important passes are Zozi La, Fotu La, and Namki La. NH D1 remains closed for 6 months from November to May because Srinagar receives heavy rainfall during these months. One should avoid going from Srinagar – Leh Ladakh during the monsoon season which starts in the month of July because the landslides create road blocking which is unavoidable.
Route map for Srinagar – Leh Ladakh highway: – Srinagar –> Sonmarg –> Drass –> Kargil –> Mulbek –> Lamayaru –> Saspol –> Leh.
Fuel and petrol pumps on Srinagar – Leh Ladakh highway
When you will depart from Srinagar the nearest petrol pump will be at ‘Mangan’ which is approx 32km from Srinagar. The next fuel pump is at ‘sonamarg’ which is approx 48km from ‘Mangan’. It is advisable to full enough fuel in your car at ‘Sonmanrg’ because the next petrol pump is at ‘Kargil’ which is 204 km from Srinagar and approx 124 km from ‘Sonamarg’. The next fuel pump is 40 km away from ‘Kargil’ located at ‘Mulbekh’. Petrol pumps are also available in ‘Wakha’ and ‘Khaltsi’ which are near to ‘Mulbekh’.
ATM and fixed phones on Srinagar – Leh Highway
Fixed phones are available on Srinagar – Leh highway at Ganderbal, Sonamarg, Drass, Kargil, Mulbekh, Lamayuru, Alchi, Nimmu. You can use them in case of any emergency because sometimes mobiles failed to catch networks and you can use the fixed phone instead. It is advisable to carry enough cash while traveling but in case you forget to carry then you can use ATM at Ganderbal, Drass, Kargil, and Sasapol.
Note: – According to the rules of Union in Leh Ladakh, Vehicles with the number of other states are not allowed and only Ladakh number vehicle can roam around Leh Ladakh.