 Surface
Approach
Surface Approach - The overland approach to Ladakh from Kashmir Valley
via Kargil is approx. 434 Km, 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 (Zangskar)
from the J & K SRTC at Srinagar. |
Manali
to Leh - Since 1989, the 473 km. Manali-Leh road has been serving
as the second overland approach to Ladakh. Open for traffic from around
mid-June to early October. This high road traverses the upland desert plateau
of Rupsho, altitude ranges from 3,660m to 4,570m. A number of high passes
fall enroute among which the highest one known as Taklang-La is world's
second highest motorable pass at an altitude of 17,469 feet/5,235m. Himachal
Pradesh Tourism, HRTC and J & K SRTC operate daily 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. Maruti Gypsy and jeep taxis are also available, both at Manali
and Leh.
Road
Distances
Srinagar-Leh 434 Km
Manali-Leh 473 Km
Srinagar-Kargil 204 Km
Delhi-Leh 1047 Kms
Leh-Kargil 234 Km
Kargil-Padum (Zanskar) 240 Km
Leh-Deskit (Nubra Valley) 118 Kms.
Air
Travel
Indian Airlines www.indian-airlines.nic.in operates regular flights to Leh
from Delhi (fare USD 135), Four flights in a week from Jammu and once in
a week from Chandigarh and twice from Srinagar. Jet Airways www.jetairways.com
also operates daily flights between Leh-Delhi (fare USD 165).
Internal
Transport
The cheapest way to travel within the region is by public buses, which ply
on fixed routes according to fixed time schedules. The most comfortable
and convenient though expensive mode of travel, however, is by taxi, which
are available for hire on fixed point-to-point tariff. For visits to the
newly opened areas of Nubra, Dah-Hanu, Tsomoriri, Tsokar and Pangong Lakes.
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 can
be obtained from the Tourist Office or Local travels guide "Reach Ladakh",
available at Book Shops.
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