Ladakh is a land like no other. Bounded by two of
the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the
Karakoram, it lies athwart two other, the Ladakh range and the Zanskar
range. Ladakh lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet (2750m)
at Kargil to 25,170 feet (7,672m) at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram.
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 aout 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.
Ladakh Tourist Information, Discover Ladakh Reservation
Form
