Asian Current

Manali to Leh

If you love the hills and if you can rough it out, then the Manali to Leh route is an absolute must. Manali is situated in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, and is just an overnight train journey from New Delhi. Or you can take a flight to Shimla the state capital, and drive from there to Manali. Shimla was incidentally the summer capital of India during the British rule. And Leh is the capital of Ladakh, which belongs to the greater Tibetan Plateau. Though extremely inaccessible, but still, for centuries people have come to Ladakh - the traders from Central Asia, the pilgrims from Tibet, conquerors from Europe and West Asia, and finally tourists from across the world.

If you want to view the stunning lakes, mountains and monasteries of Ladakh, or enjoy the cold and harsh lunar landscapes you can of course fly directly to Leh, which is the highest airport in India. But it is always advisable that you drive from Manali, if you really want to enjoy the true beauty of Ladakh. And also, if you are driving from Manali, you can travel through the Manali-Leh road, which passes through some of the highest passes. It is actually the second highest motorable road in the world where you cross breathtaking altitudes of 5,328 meters above the sea level. The road crosses through four passes, including the world’s second highest motorable pass Taglang La. Incidentally, the highest motorable pass and also the third highest motorable pass in the world is also in Ladakh. Actually the word Ladakh means - ‘Land of the High Passes’, and thanks to Indian Military, these passes have now been made motorable.

Manali to Leh is a 485 km drive and is covered in 2 days. But this road is open only between June and September, in other times it is non-motorable even for the military. As you leave Manali you will first reach Rohtang Pass which is a very popular tourist destination in India, and then you will move to the cold desert areas of Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal. The landscape starts to get barren once you cross the small settlement of Keylong. And then you come across hairpin curves, dirt tracks, glacial streams and the occasional landslides. Almost for the entire 2 day drive the rivers that will give you company are roaring Beas, Chandra, Bhaga and Indus.

Be prepared - the road is sure to tax you. Sometimes the Oxygen levels become so thin that you can start to get a headache. This is the first sign of Altitude Sickness. If you are coming from the plains, always stay a couple of days in Manali to acclimatization before you venture deeper.

Most tourists stop over at Darcha for lunch on the first day. After Darcha you will be crossing the Lungalacha Pass and then you move in to the incredible Rupshu valley. As you move from this desolate land, you approach Baralacha La, which is sure to blow your mind. From here you move on to Sarchu Serai, which is where most travelers in this route halt for the night.

The next morning is another early start. Today you will be crossing the second highest motorable road in the world at Taglang La. The first stop over is at Whisky Nullah where you get absolutely pure water in natural form. You will also meet the Indus, which has been witness to one of the oldest civilizations - the Indus Valley Civilization.

You will know that you are closing in on Leh once you have reached the Moray Plains. The gateway to Ladakh from Manali is at Upshi. Once you have reached Leh, make sure that you have complete rest for a day because the road is extremely demanding. Plus you can also acclimatize with the high altitude.