Leh, Ladakh and Zanskar - The Ultimate Guide

tsk1979 · 7th August 2016, 15:57

IMD has issued a red alert for next 5 days over JK/HP/UK for very heavy rainfall. Those heading to the hills, take care.

tsk1979 · 15th August 2016, 20:33

Those who have crossed Rohtang this season, where did you guys get permit from? I am told tourism permit(available online) is different from crossing permit which is available from SDM office only.

Maverick79 · 17th August 2016, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Those who have crossed Rohtang this season, where did you guys get permit from? I am told tourism permit(available online) is different from crossing permit which is available from SDM office only.

Boss,
We crossed Rohtang and were never asked for any permit.
Only thing was an entry while climbing. If I remember correctly.

regards,
Maverick79.

Motard_Blr · 19th August 2016, 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Those who have crossed Rohtang this season, where did you guys get permit from? I am told tourism permit(available online) is different from crossing permit which is available from SDM office only.

SDM Office, Manali. There was a mad rush but we got it through an agent. I don't know if it's easy to get a permit if you go on your own - the system might be rigged in favour of agents.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick79

Boss,
We crossed Rohtang and were never asked for any permit.
Only thing was an entry while climbing. If I remember correctly.

regards,
Maverick79.

Which direction did you cross Rohtang La? The permit is required only for the Manali to Keylong direction.

mithunkb · 21st August 2016, 18:48

Pardon me if this is no the right thread to ask this.

Has anybody travelled in the HRTC bus from Delhi to Leh? How is the overall experience.?

Shreyans_Jain · 21st August 2016, 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajamuneeb

Kargil is fine but don't even think of crossing Kashmir valley these days buddy. It's very bad.

Now that the Amarnath Yatra is over, has the situation improved? Or is it still as bad as before?

rajamuneeb · 21st August 2016, 21:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

Now that the Amarnath Yatra is over, has the situation improved? Or is it still as bad as before?

It's very bad still. Please avoid at all costs. It had nothing to do with yatra at the first place.

HariRE350 · 22nd August 2016, 19:25

Hello Everyone,

Three of us are planning a trip to Leh on 3 bikes (CL350, TB350 & Himalayan). We will be starting from Delhi on 3rd September. Our initial plan was to ascend via Srinagar - Sonmarg - Zorji La -Kargil and to descend via Manali. Looking at all your invaluable inputs, we may need to do the Manali route both ways?

So our route should look like this > Delhi - Chandigarh - Manali - Rohtang La - Keylong - Zing Zing Bar - Leh.

Any help on which is the best possible route / things to do, will be of great help.

Thanking you in advance.
~Hari

tsk1979 · 22nd August 2016, 20:20

Today at the tata workshop a taxi guy from leh had come with aria. He says they can't go to srinagar due to curfew etc. So even if locals are avoiding. ...it's better to stay away

.anshuman · 22nd August 2016, 20:57

We drove from Leh to Kargil and back for our Zanskar valley drive early this month, there was close to zero Traffic towards Srinagar, it was mostly trucks.

rajamuneeb · 22nd August 2016, 23:26

Dear friends sadly Kashmir continues to be still on the boil. There is a tight curfew in place for last 45 days and situation doesn't seem to calm down soon. Kindly avoid this route please.

dkaile · 23rd August 2016, 09:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajamuneeb

Dear friends sadly Kashmir continues to be still on the boil. There is a tight curfew in place for last 45 days and situation doesn't seem to calm down soon. Kindly avoid this route please.

Kindly keep updating the situation daily for the next few days.

Thanks in advance...

Harshavarthan · 23rd August 2016, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by .anshuman

We drove from Leh to Kargil and back for our Zanskar valley drive early this month, there was close to zero Traffic towards Srinagar, it was mostly trucks.

How is the road condition from Kargil to Padum? How long did it take? Please update your experience. I'm planning Zanskar by 3rd week of September.

.anshuman · 23rd August 2016, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harshavarthan

How is the road condition from Kargil to Padum? How long did it take? Please update your experience. I'm planning Zanskar by 3rd week of September.

The road condition is as bad as it always was, technically there is no road. This road damages tires, the corners of treads get chipped off, we had M/T tires this time in Fortuner and H/T tires in my XUV in 2013.

Also there is no point going all they way till Padum, there is nothing scenic beyond Drang Drung. Better spend more time at Penzi La and Drang Drung.

Ill updates the times soon.

hothatchaway · 25th August 2016, 13:23

Given the current turmoil in Srinagar and for someone looking to do the Ladakh circuit on a motorcycle, what if one plans both the ascent and descent via Manali Rohtang pass? Any concerns apart from the fact that you miss out the Kashmir part of it? I understand acclimatization would be steep given that the Kargil side is more gradual, any concerns re permits and roads?

Pls note that this is a motorcycle trip being planned sometime in the middle of September. Am assuming roads remain open until end of Sept.

TIA

7th August 2016, 15:57	#1231
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Re: Leh, Ladakh and Zanskar - The Ultimate Guide IMD has issued a red alert for next 5 days over JK/HP/UK for very heavy rainfall. Those heading to the hills, take care.
	(5) Thanks

15th August 2016, 20:33	#1232
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Re: Leh, Ladakh and Zanskar - The Ultimate Guide Those who have crossed Rohtang this season, where did you guys get permit from? I am told tourism permit(available online) is different from crossing permit which is available from SDM office only.
	() Thanks

21st August 2016, 18:48	#1235
mithunkb BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Thrissur , Kera Posts: 90 Thanked: 12 Times	Re: Leh, Ladakh and Zanskar - The Ultimate Guide Pardon me if this is no the right thread to ask this. Has anybody travelled in the HRTC bus from Delhi to Leh? How is the overall experience.?
	() Thanks

22nd August 2016, 19:25	#1238
HariRE350 BHPian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Bangalore Posts: 29 Thanked: 78 Times	Re: Leh, Ladakh and Zanskar - The Ultimate Guide Hello Everyone, Three of us are planning a trip to Leh on 3 bikes (CL350, TB350 & Himalayan). We will be starting from Delhi on 3rd September. Our initial plan was to ascend via Srinagar - Sonmarg - Zorji La -Kargil and to descend via Manali. Looking at all your invaluable inputs, we may need to do the Manali route both ways? So our route should look like this > Delhi - Chandigarh - Manali - Rohtang La - Keylong - Zing Zing Bar - Leh. Any help on which is the best possible route / things to do, will be of great help. Thanking you in advance. ~Hari
	() Thanks

22nd August 2016, 20:20	#1239
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Today at the tata workshop a taxi guy from leh had come with aria. He says they can't go to srinagar due to curfew etc. So even if locals are avoiding. ...it's better to stay away
	() Thanks

22nd August 2016, 20:57	#1240
.anshuman Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Good-Gaon Posts: 7,763 Thanked: 11,064 Times View My Garage	Re: Leh, Ladakh and Zanskar - The Ultimate Guide We drove from Leh to Kargil and back for our Zanskar valley drive early this month, there was close to zero Traffic towards Srinagar, it was mostly trucks.
	() Thanks

22nd August 2016, 23:26	#1241
rajamuneeb BHPian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Gurgaon/Srinaga Posts: 354 Thanked: 160 Times	Dear friends sadly Kashmir continues to be still on the boil. There is a tight curfew in place for last 45 days and situation doesn't seem to calm down soon. Kindly avoid this route please.
	() Thanks

25th August 2016, 13:23	#1245
hothatchaway BHPian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Kolkata Posts: 761 Thanked: 1,664 Times	Re: Leh, Ladakh and Zanskar - The Ultimate Guide Given the current turmoil in Srinagar and for someone looking to do the Ladakh circuit on a motorcycle, what if one plans both the ascent and descent via Manali Rohtang pass? Any concerns apart from the fact that you miss out the Kashmir part of it? I understand acclimatization would be steep given that the Kargil side is more gradual, any concerns re permits and roads? Pls note that this is a motorcycle trip being planned sometime in the middle of September. Am assuming roads remain open until end of Sept. TIA
	() Thanks