How to reach Leh-Ladakh? Different modes of travel

Ladakh, the Indian winter wonderland, is one of the most desired destinations for adventure junkies and nature enthusiasts alike. The place is a dream for trekkers, hikers and mountain bikers. Set at an altitude of 3000 m above the sea level, Ladakh looks ethereal surrounded with mountain lakes, mighty hills, olden monasteries and stunning valleys.

Reaching Ladakh can be tricky as there are several routes to the destination. There are a few routes that remain shut between May and October because of heavy snowfall in the region.

Here, we tell you different ways of reaching Ladakh.

Despite being a high altitude region, Ladakh is well-linked by road networks from the major India cities such as Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir and Manali in Himachal Pradesh. But the point is, people can only plan their trips by road for only six months as the rest of the year the roads remain blocked because of snowfall. So if you are planning to take your bike (after all Ladakh is the ultimate biking destination), Ladakh can be extremely adventurous.

There are two routes: one via Srinagar and the other from Manali.

Route 1: Manali to Leh: This one is favourite of bikers. Manali to Leh route is better, convenient and offers some best sights en route. From Manali, Leh is about 490 km.

Route: 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

Route 2: Srinagar-Leh highway: This is a lesser-used route to reach Leh-Ladakh as from Srinagar the distance is about 434 km.

Srinagar – Sonmarg – Zozi La – Drass – Kargil – Mulbek – Lamayaru – Saspol – Leh

If you are thinking of a bus ride, be prepared for some ‘bumpy road ahead’ quite literally! The buses are available from Srinagar that pass through Zoji La Pass and from Manali, which goes via Rohtang Pass.

Reaching Ladakh by air is one of the best and most comfortable ways. A number of airlines provide direct flights for Ladakh. The nearest airport to Leh is the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh and regular flights are available from cities like Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar and Chandigarh.

If train is your preferred choice, the nearest railway station to Ladakh is Jammu Tawi, which is about 700 km from Ladakh. There are regular trains available for Jammu Tawi from Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. From Jammu, one can hire private vehicles to reach Ladakh.