Travel Experience

Road Trip from Delhi to Ladakh via Srinagar and Kargil

Road Trip from Delhi to Ladakh via Srinagar and Kargil
Last Updated: September 24, 2019

A Journey from Delhi – Patnitop – Srinagar – Kargil – Leh – Nubra Valley – Pangong Lake – Leh – Jispa – Manali – Delhi (3200 Kms)

Certain trips make a lasting impression on our lives and leave one wanting for more; for me, it’s my road trip from Delhi to Ladakh via Srinagar and Kargil. Recently, I went on a 3200 km journey from Delhi to Ladakh and then back to Delhi in 11 days. Through this blog, I would like to share some pictures and videos to give you a clear idea about the condition of roads and all important places you can see during the journey. Also, I will be sharing some travel trips, which could help you to brave this challenging and one of the most beautiful driving tour in India (may be in the world also). Check out the blog and plan your trip today.

Best Time to Travel Ladakh: Usually, the roads to Ladakh remains operational between Mid-June and September or Mid October; but this year the highway has been thrown open from Mid-May. It would be best to avoid rainy season and go for a trip in initial days.

The Best Way to Do It: On this tour, you need to cross several high altitude passes (including highest motorable passes in the world), and it would be dangerous to go on these passes without proper acclimatization. So it is always advisable to do it from Srinagar to Leh and then Leh to Manali. It gives your body a gradual ascend and better acclimatization for the later part of the trip.

Vehicle Preferred: To face the narrow roads, sharp turns, low hanging cliffs of Ladakh; it will be advisable to take SUV with good ground clearance (4×4 vehicle is best), although you could see locals using Maruti 800 but you should avoid them.

Road Conditions: Road conditions are good except on few stretches. It will be advisable to start your journey early in the morning and go easy with stops at the important place and sights. In Ladakh, the sun rises a bit early at around 0430 Hrs in the morning and sets at around 2000 hrs in the evening, which means you would have sufficient time at your disposal. You should avoid driving at the night, until and unless it’s an emergency situation.

Delhi to Patnitop:

Quality of the road is good. For last 100 km, you might face heavy jam because of continuous movement of Army supply trucks. Also, the roads are not that broad. When in Patnitop, make a point to visit the Nag temple.

Lakhanpur Toll Plaza

Lakhanpur Toll Plaza (Jammu Border)

Patnitop Kashmir

View From Hotel (Patnitop)

List of Toll Plazas and Fees:

  • Panipat: Rs 30
  • Gharaunda (Karnal): Rs 114
  • Sambhu Toll (Haryana Punjab Border): Rs 68
  • Ropar: Rs 44
  • Balachor: Rs 51
  • Hoshiyarpur: Rs 81
  • Dausa: Rs 51
  • Afseen: Rs 80
  • Lakhanpur: Rs 70
  • Patnitop Entry Fees: Rs 60

Patnitop – Srinagar:

The stretch is good for comfortable driving, but it’s pretty congested as it is open to both army and tourists. The ride would be tedious, but the stretch after Titanic point would be smooth and is worth all the effort.

Patnitop Srinagar Road

View of Chenab River

Jawahar Tunnel Jammu to Srinagar

Tunnel on the way to Srinagar

Titanic-Point-Near-Srinagar

View From Titanic Point

  • Jammu Kashmir Toll Plaza: Rs 70

Srinagar – Kargil:

Sringar to Kargil

Roads from Srinagar, Ganderbal going to Baltal via Sonmarg is smooth. From Baltal till Gumri post, the roads are bumpy, and you may face traffic jams as the narrow roads can accommodate just one vehicle. After Drass (one of the coldest place in India) roads are wide and good and a treat to drive.

Must visit places in on your journey from Srinagar to Kargil:

Sonmarg, Zojila Pass, Gumri War Memorial, Kargil War Memorial (Please note that there is a dress code for visiting this place, see detailed report below):

  • Ganderbal Entry – Rs 50
  • Kargil Entry – Rs 50

Way to Zojila Pass

Way to Zojila Pass

Zojila Pass

Zojila Pass

dhaba-near-zojila-pass

Dhaba near Zojila Pass (Sirnagar Leh Jeep Safari Tour)

Kargil War Memorial

Kargil War Memorial

Instructions- Kargil War Memorial

Instructions For visitors – Kargil War Memorial

Kargil to Leh:

Kargil City View

Beautiful view of Kargil Town

Roads to Leh are pretty good; there would be several important places you will visit during this drive. And during the journey, you will also start getting a feel that you are driving in a mountain desert. Highlight of the drive is that the dazzling colours of mountains keep on changing after every 5 kilometers.

Must visit places in on your journey from Kargil to Leh:

Mulbekh Monastery

Mulbekh Monastery

Namik La Top (12198 Ft)

Namik La Pass

Lamayuru Monastery

Lamayuru Monastery

Fotula Top – 13479 ft (highest point in Srinagar – Leh Drive)

Fotula Top

Fotula Top

Alchi Monastery (Entry Fee: Rs 20)

Likhir Monastery

Likhir Monastery

likir-monastery

Confluence of Indus and Zanskar River

Confluence-Zanskar-and-Indus-River

Magnetic Hill

Magnetic Hill

Gurudwara Shri Pathar Shahib

Gurudwara Shri Pathar Shahib

Spituk Monastery

Spituk-Monastery

Leh Entry: Rs 50

The drive from Kargil to Leh enables your body to get acclimatize to the thin air. Also during this journey, you can cover most important sightseeing places of Leh Region.

Leh Sightseeing:

Welcome to Leh

Stok Palace [Where current generation of King lives, Entry Fees: Rs 70 (Small Children’s are free)]

Stok-Palace-Leh

Shanti Stupa (better to go there in the evening)

leh-shanti-stupa

Sindhu Ghat

Sindhu-Ghat

Leh Palace

Leh-Palace

Jama Masjid

leh-jama-masjid

hall-of-fame

Shankar Monastery

shankar-gompa

Leh to Nubra Valley

Leh to Khardung La Pass (40 KMs) – Khardung Village (34 KMs) – Khalsar (23 KMs) – Diskit (19 KMs) Nubra Valley. Start early in the morning to avoid traffic jam on Khardung La Pass, Roads beyond check post are bumpy till Khardung la pass (highest motorable pass in this world, 18380 ft) and after that drive is smooth with majestic views of Khalsar, Diskit and Hundar.

Must visit places and things to do on your journey from Leh to Nubra Valley:

On the Way to Khardung La Pass

On the Way to Khardung La Pass

Khardung la pass

Khardung la Pass

Beautiful sights you must click

leh-to-nubra

leh-to-nubra

leh-to-nubra

Entry of Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary

Entry of Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary

view-of-diskit-town-nubra-valley

Beautiful view of Diskit Town

Diskit Monastery (Rs 30 Per adult)

Diskit Monastery

Hunder desert

On the Way to Hunder

Sand Dunes Nubra Valley

Camel Safari (organized at Hunder)

Camel Safari at Nubra Valley

To begin the safari, you will have to purchase tickets from the counter. Following are the rates of camel safari:

  • Rs 200 for 15 Mins Per Camel (Per adult)
  • Rs 350 for 30 Mins per camel (per Adult)
  • Rs 600 for 60 Mins per Camel (per adult)
  • Karakoram National Park Fee: Rs 30 per person
  • Nubra Desert Entry Fee: Rs 30 Per vehicle

Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake:

It is a narrow road until you get connected to Durbuk Pangong lake road. Initial drive till Agam is good. After Agam, take a left turn; from this point until Shyok village, the stretch is quite rough as the streams are flowing, which allows water to flow under a road. From Shyok till Durbuk, the condition of the road is good, and you will see nature at its best during this 17 km stretch. From Durbuk, the drive is smooth till Pangong lake.

On the Way from Nubra to Pangong

on-the-way-to-pangong-lake-from-Nubra-Valley1

on-the-way-to-pangong-lake-from-Nubra-Valley2

on-the-way-to-pangong-lake-from-Nubra-Valley3

on-the-way-to-pangong-lake-from-Nubra-Valley4

First view of Pangong Lake

Caution: I would not advise you to take Nubra Valley – Pangong Lake route in Rainy season. Instead, go back to Leh and take Leh-Pangong Lake Route.

Reason: Firstly, the condition of the road is not good. Secondly, lots of streams keep on flowing over roads which can be dangerous during the rainy season. And lastly, some patches of the road are going along with Shyok river at the almost same level, which can prove too dangerous in monsoons. I have seen water level marks on another side of the road on hills, so it’s better to avoid driving during monsoon season.

Pangong Lake:

pangong-lake-view

Pangong Lake to Leh:

This drive is quite good except small patches around Changla Pass, which happens due to snow melting and water on the roads.

Changla Pass – 17688

Changla Pass

Chemdey Monastery

Chemdey Monastery

Hemis Monastery

Hemis Monastery

Leh to Jispa:

Better start this day early in the morning. This stretch is a treat to drive; roads are quite good, and surprisingly you will get lots of plain stretches, but some stretches are bumpy. From Sarchu to Jispa, the condition of the road is pathetic, but it is worth all the effort.

Must visit places in on your journey from Leh to Jispa:

Shey Palace

shey-palace

Thiksey Monastery

thiksey-monastery

Tanglangla Pass – 17582 ft

Tanglangla Pass

More Plains

more-plain

Lachalung La – 16616 ft

lachulung-la

Nakeela Pass – 15547 Ft

Nakeela Pass

Gata Loops

gata-loops

Baralacha pass

baralacha-pass

Vishal Taal

Vishal-Taal

Darcha

Darcha

Jispa – Manali

At some places, the roads would be smooth while at others there would be a traffic jam.

Must visit places in on your journey from Jispa to Manali:

Keylong

keylong

Tandi (Last Petrol Pump on Manali – Leh Road)

tandi-last-petrol-pump

FAQ’S:

How Difficult is the drive?

Answer: If you have experience of driving on hills then only concern is altitude otherwise it is not a tough road to drive except at one or two points. But never try to do unnecessary overtakes. Look for all the traffic signs.

What type of vehicle should I get?

Answer: It is advisable to take SUV’s or Vehicle with good ground clearance. (4×4 vehicle is highly recommended). Don’t take vehicles with a flat tire.

Is it safe for kids?

Answer: Although children can better acclimatize altitude sickness. But I won’t recommend you to take infants on the tour. Even in our group, the smallest member is 6-year-old. (better consult to your doctor)

Do I need to carry extra fuel?

Answer: Plan your journey according to your fuel tank. As the longest stretch without any fuel station is Karu to Tandi near Keylong, around 334 Kms. Otherwise, you will get fuel at regular intervals. It is advisable to top up your fuel on every location once you leave Srinagar until you reach Manali.

Places where you can find fuel pumps: Kargil – Leh – Nubra Valley – Karu and Tand

Do we get places to eat en route?

Answer: At the major places like Sonmarg, Kargil, Leh, Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake and Jispa, you will be easily able to find some good restaurant. Otherwise, Maggie would be the only option, to eat but its availability is a constraint to limited areas. It would be better to carry dry fruits and ready to eat with you always. Keep few extra water bottles. If Kids are traveling, please carry readymade food of their liking also.

Do we need to take some medicines?

Answer: Please take all the necessary medicines and consult your doctor for any additional medications. Tourists do carry Diamox for altitude sickness, but if you’re following Srinagar to Leh and Manali route, then I don’t think you need any medicines as it gives you a gradual ascend and makes your body acclimatize for the later part of the trip. Drink lots of water to keep your body hydrated and in the case of feeling any acute sickness come down to lower altitude immediately without delaying.

What other things we should carry?

Answer: You should carry air Pump for tires; Toe Rope; Good condition Stepney, Torch and a puncture kit for emergency.

What about connectivity?

Answer: Please note that in Jammu and Kashmir only post-paid connections work. And BSNL is the best amongst all. Airtel, Vodafone, and Aircel also have networks but only in major cities like Kargil, Leh. In Nubra Valley only BSNL work. During Leh – Manali, driving from Leh after Karu and until Keylong, there is no network. Only BSNL works in places like Jispa and Sarchu).

Published: 30 Jun, 2016
Vijayendra Thapliyal

About

Vijayendra Thapliyal is the name behind Tour My India, one of the leading tour operators in India. Besides being a successful businessman, he is also a typical travel junkie who loves to explore the treasures concealed in different corners of India. When he is not on road, he is active with a pen sharing travelling experiences with many like him. With a keen interest in India’s rich cultural legacy, he loves to capture memories in his lens.

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