How to
Get There:
ROAD JOURNEYS
The main overland approach to Ladakh is from the Kashmir Valley via
the 434 km Drinagar-Leh road which remains open for traffic from
early June to November. The most dramatic part of this road journey
is the ascent up the 11,500 feet / 3,505 m high Zoji-la, the pass in
the Great Himalayan Wall that serves as the gateway to Ladakh. The
J&K State Road Transport Corporation (J&K SRTC) operates regular
Deluxe and Ordinary bus services between Srinagar and Leh on this
route with an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis (cars and jeeps )are
also available at Srinagar for the journey. Groups can charter
Deluxe and A-class buses for Leh, Kargil or Padum (Zanskar) for the
J&K SRTC at Srinagar.
Since 1989, the 473 km Manali-Leh road has been serving as the
second land approach to Ladakh. Open for traffic from around
mid-June to early October, this high road traverses the upland
desert plateau to Rupshu whose altitude ranges from 3,660 m to
4,570m.
A number of high passes fall en route among which the highest one,
known as Taglang-la, is the world's second highest motorable pass at
an altitude of 17,469 feet/ 5,325m. H.P. Tourism, H.P. STRC and J&K
SRTC operate Deluxe and Ordinary bus services between Manali and Leh.
The bus journey between Leh and Manali takes about 19 hours or two
days with an overnight halt in camps at Serchu or Pang. Gypsy and
jeep jeep taxis are also available, both at Manali and Leh.
AIR TRAVEL
Indian Airlines operates regular scheduled flight to Leh from Delhi,
Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar. Some private airlines are also
planning to operate air services between Delhi and Leh in the near
future.
INTERNAL TRANSPORT
The cheapest way to travel within the region is by public buses
which play on fixed routes according to fixed time schedules. The
most comfortable and convenient though expensive mode of travel,
however, is by taxes (car, Gypsy), which are available for hire on
fixed point-to-point tariff. For visits to the newly opened areas of
Nubra, Changthang and Dah-Hanu, it is mandatory to engage the
services of a registered/ recognized travel agency for making all
the requisite arrangements including internal transport. Detailed
information about bus schedules, taxi tariff, travel agencies, etc.
can be obtained from the Tourist Office
