Planning a Road Trip to Leh Ladakh, plan it in a better way

 Delhi - Manali to Leh Ladhakh Road Trip

Do you love driving and wish to take the roads less taken? Are you an adventure lover and nature lover? Do you want to explore the less explored places in India? Leh Ladhakh is one destination in India where every traveler would love to go once in the life time. It is really breathtakingly beautiful. This is what everybody has to say after visiting Leh Ladakh.

Manali to Delhi is about 550 kms and then begins the stunning drive of 400 Kms from Manali to Leh by road

Be assured that the Manali Leh road trip will provide you all the thrill and excitement which you would have never even dreamt of.  In this incredible journey from Manali you will see the roads clutches and twists through some of the most fabulous terrain in the world. You will cross four high passes, and on the way would be mesmerized to see the fantastic streams, snow capped mountains, different flora and fauna apart from waterfalls tumbling from these mountains.

After every one kilometer of journey you will experience that there is so much of variety in the Himalayas and you would not stop yourself from taking pictures of the picturesque landscapes.  Sometimes lush green trees, then all of a sudden clouds and then snow, yaks, apple trees, waterfalls, music of the winds, huge valleys. It’s a true visual treat which can give you the feel only when you are there. A lot of surprises in the store during the entire journey from Manli to Leh

The first major destination on the way is Rohtang Pass. The road from Manali till Rohtang is an ascent and on the way you would be mesmerized to see the enchanting valleys. 

Rohtang is one of the favourite destinations for people visiting Manali especially the honeymooners. There is lot of traffic from Manali to Rohtang during summers. The Himachal government has taken some preventive measures to control pollution in the area. There is a limit to the number of cars entering Rohtang. There is a plan to start odd-even as well on this route to check pollution. Keep this thing in mind and enquire if you are going in your own vehicle. However it is advisable to hire a local vehicle as the drivers are well versed with the road conditions and weather in this route.

On the way from manali to Leh Ladakh overnight stay is recommended at Sarchu located at an altitude of 13000 feet and the distance from Rohtang to Sarchu is about 150 KMs. 

In Rohtang you will find lot of traffic chaos as thousands of tourists flong to the snow line everyday in taxis and own vehicles. The traffic will crawl here for about half an hour but as soon as you cross Rohtang pass your journey will become suddenly silent. The astounding and serene mountains and valleys, clear blue skies on a sunny day or clouds on the roads, this is what you will witness on the way. The musical sound of the winds is a true delight to the eyes. 

The roads are well maintained by the Border Road Organization, though you will sometimes find patches of mud caused by snow rains or landslides. At times you have to pass through running streams of water. 

You will get the feel of a different world as you ascend your journey towards Sarchu. You won’t be able to take off your eyes from the tranquil sceneries. The enthralling Bhaga River along the valleys and road side is altogether a different experience. Sometimes brown mountains, sometimes rocky mountains and you may also see low hung clouds and the snow capped mountains on the way.

On the way you will cross many villages, Thandi and Jispa being the last villages on the stretch before you reach Baralacha la located at an altitude of about 16500 ft. The entire journey from Manali to leh is an absolute delight. Very difficult to explain the Beauty and pristine view of Suraj tal lake which you will see on the way to Leh Ladakh. In Barlacha la you will see white sheet of snow spread out in all directions 

Staying in the tents in Sarchu is a dreamlike experience.

HOW TO REACH LEH LADAKH

Manali is well connected from Delhi and Chandigarh by road. The roads are well maintained and Volvo bus takes about 13 hours from Delhi to Manali. HRTC (Himachal Roadways) offer direct Volvo buses from ISBT Kashmere Gate Delhi to Manali. You can book tickets to Manali at the official website of Government operated HRTC website.

http://www.hrtc.gov.in

By Train

You can either take a train till Pathankot or Chandigarh. Regular buses are available from Pathankot to Manali and Chandigarh to Manali. If you are going from Delhi then Volvo is the best option.

By Air

The nearest airport to Manali is at Kullu which is around 40 KMs from Manali. Kullu is connected by air from Dharamshala, Shimla and Chandigarh. Daily flights from Delhi to Kullu are available from IGI airport.

Where to stay in Manali

There are many small and big hotels available in Manali to suit all budgets. You can also stay in The Himachal Tourism operated hotels in Manali or Kullu.

Tips for the travelers going on a road trip from Delhi Manali to Leh

The oxygen is less at the high altitude therefore you need to be physically and mentally strong for this road journey. The roads are very dangerous and treacherous in many valleys. The bad weather and landslides may force you to stop your journey and stay inside the vehicle for long hours till the time road is cleared.

Acclimatization is required to avoid acute mountain sickness. Do not walk or run on the very first day of your trip at the heights above 12000 ft. The people generally experience nausea, headaches, and sleeplessness on the first day of the trip

There is no need to rush and should not hurry to reach Leh Ladakh. It is recommended that you stay for 2 nights on the way to Leh. This way you can enjoy the places and also get acclimatized to the climate. You can also halt for a night at Keylong or Pang. 

Driving in hills takes more time and speeds are drastically reduced as road condition is not good. Always have buffer time to allow delays due to landslides and flooding of roads. Land slides are particularly common between Manali and Rohtang.

It is better you hire a private taxi or a local driver if you have your own vehicle. The people are expert and know in out about these treacherous roads. Moreover if you are driving then you won’t be able to enjoy the enchanting views of the valleys

Take extra fuel in a tank to avoid any trouble in between as there are very few petrol pumps on the way.

Make sure you have enough storage in your mobile or cameras so that you can shoot every bit of the enthralling journey. 

The temperature ranges from -15 degrees to 10 degrees even in the summers so make sure you carry ample woolens

You will not get varieties in your meals on the way to Leh Ladakh.Local Dhabas usually serve Maggie, Bread Omelet or Rice Dal. You will definitely get Cold drinks, tea, coffee, biscuits and chocolates in the small shops

Cell phones may not work in most of the valleys on the way. In Leh Ladakh your pre-paid phones will also not work. However post paid connections work there.

Indian Armed forces, BRO, BSF and others are very helpful. If you are stuck up anywhere you can approach them. You will see army camps on the way. The Indian Army has in its DNA to help the people in distress.

Last but not the least please do not litter in the open. People tend to throw the plastic bottles and plastic pouches in the open. Please keep them inside the vehicle till the time you see a bin. Help keep the mountains clean and be responsible citizens of the country.

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