Leh-Ladakh

Season
The primary travel season in Ladakh runs from May to September. Most roads, lakes, and passes are open during this period. June, July, and August are peak months — warmest temperatures and all routes operational.

Road opening dates vary each year based on snowfall and Border Roads Organization (BRO) and local administration clearance.

Manali–Leh Highway (NH-3): Opens late May to November. Subject to weather conditions
Srinagar–Leh Highway (NH-1): Opens late March/April to November. Subject to weather conditions

Health Advisory
Acclimatisation is not optional in Ladakh. All visitors arriving in Leh must undergo a minimum of 48 hours of acclimatisation before travelling to any high-altitude area. Road travel does not help with acclimatisation — it builds up the altitude effect progressively, meaning arriving by road does not reduce the requirement.

Diamox (acetazolamide) 250mg is recommended — take twice daily after breakfast and after dinner, starting at least two days before arriving in Leh, and continue for two days after arrival.

There should be no active physical exertion on the first two days of arrival. Drink 2–3 litres of water per day. Avoid alcohol, smoking, and sedatives. Eat light on the first day to avoid indigestion.

Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the following: headache, nausea, coughing, lassitude, lack of concentration, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, irregular breathing, or breathlessness. If symptoms appear, take complete rest for 24–36 hours, avoid excessive sleep during the day, avoid sleeping pills, alcohol, and smoking, and drink 2–3 liters of fluids. Consult a doctor immediately.

Medical emergency contacts in Leh are CMO Office — 01982-252012 Medical Superintendent, SNM Hospital — 01982-252014.

Permits
Foreign nationals require a Protected Area Permit (PAP) to visit most destinations beyond Leh city. A permit is required for the Khardung La Pass, Nubra Valley, Shyok, Chang La Pass, Tangtse, Pangong Tso, Chumathang, Tsaga La, Tso Moriri, Dah-Hanu Valley, Batalik, Hanle, Chusul, and Loma Bend.

• Official Portal: lahdclehpermit.in through a registered agent (option available on portal)
• Offline: Permit Office, Leh — Open in Maps
• Validity: Maximum 15 days for foreign nationals
• Minimum group: Minimum 2 people for most restricted areas — solo foreign nationals may face difficulty for some zones
• Fee: Approximately ₹400 environment fee + ₹20 per day wildlife fee — approximately ₹590–650 for a 7-day permit
• Documents required: Passport copy and valid Indian visa copy
• Copies: Print 5–8 physical copies — one submitted at each checkpoint.

Chinese, Pakistani, and Afghan nationals cannot obtain PAP without prior clearance from MHA, New Delhi. PAP does not guarantee access to all areas.

Leh Palace
A 17th century nine-storey royal palace built by King Sengge Namgyal, modelled architecturally on the Potala Palace in Lhasa. The palace was abandoned in the 19th century when the royal family moved to Stok following the Dogra conquest.

Timing: Open daily, Sunrise to Sunset
Entry Fee: ₹250 (online or cash at counter). Entry is free for children below 15 years
Permit: Not required
Open in Maps | Official Booking Site

Shanti Stupa
A large white Buddhist stupa built in 1991 on a hilltop above Leh by the Japanese Buddhist order Nipponzan Myohoji, in collaboration with Ladakhi Buddhists. The stupa enshrines relics of the Buddha donated by the Japanese Buddhist society. The hilltop location at approximately 4,267 meters offers 360-degree views of Leh town.

Timing: Open daily, Sunrise to Sunset
Entry Fee: ₹50 (cash at counter)
Permit: Not required
Open in Maps

Leh Bazaar
The central market street of Leh. The bazaar contains shops selling Pashmina shawls, thangka paintings, prayer flags, Tibetan jewellery, dried apricots, Ladakhi carpets, and trekking supplies. The Tibetan Market section has a concentration of refugee-run shops.

Timing: Most shops — daily, 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Permit: Not required
Open in Maps

Gurdwara Pathar Sahib
Built in 1517 to commemorate Guru Nanak Dev’s visit to Ladakh. The shrine contains a smooth boulder that bears an impression believed to be made by Guru Nanak’s body. The gurdwara is maintained by the Indian Army. A langar (community kitchen) operates at the gurdwara, open to visitors of all faiths.

Timing: Open daily
Entry Fee: No entry fee
Permit: Not required
Open in Maps

Monasteries
The monasteries of Ladakh are active religious institutions open to visitors. Timing is generally 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM but varies by season and monastery. Entry fee ranges from ₹30 to ₹200 — payable in cash at the ticket counter. No permit is required for any of the monasteries listed below.

• Spituk Monastery
An 11th century Gelugpa monastery on a hilltop above the Indus river. Three temples at different levels contain ancient masks, thangkas, and arms. The annual Gustor festival features Cham mask dances in January.
Open in Maps

• Thiksey Monastery
A 12-storey Gelugpa monastery on a hill above the Indus Valley, often compared to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. The complex contains 10 temples, a nunnery, and a large Maitreya Buddha statue.
Open in Maps

• Hemis Monastery
The largest monastery in Ladakh, belonging to the Drukpa order, founded in 1672. Houses gold and silver statues, ancient thangkas, stupas, and sacred texts. The annual Hemis Festival in June or July is the largest monastic festival in Ladakh.
Open in Maps

• Alchi Monastery
One of the oldest surviving monasteries in Ladakh, founded in the 10th–11th century. Built on flat ground in a village, unusual among Ladakhi monasteries. Significant for its Kashmiri school murals and woodcarvings — among the oldest Buddhist art in the western Himalayan region.
Open in Maps

• Lamayuru Monastery
An 11th century Drikung Kagyu monastery set on a rock above the Lamayuru Moonland — a landscape of eroded clay formations unique to this valley. One of the oldest and largest monasteries in Ladakh.
Open in Maps

• Phyang Monastery
A 16th century Drigung Kagyu monastery in the Phyang Valley. Houses ancient weapons, thangkas, and statues. The annual Phyang Tsedup festival features a giant thangka display and Cham mask dances.
Open in Maps

• Likir Monastery
An 11th century Gelugpa monastery. A 23-meter Maitreya Buddha statue gilded in gold is visible from across the valley. The complex contains assembly halls with well-preserved murals, thangkas, and a museum of religious artefacts.
Open in Maps

Magnetic Hill
A section of road approximately 30 km from Leh on the Srinagar-Leh highway, where an optical illusion created by the surrounding terrain makes stationary vehicles appear to roll uphill. The phenomenon is a result of the visual horizon being obscured, causing a slight uphill slope to appear downhill. The site is marked and explained with a signboard.

Permit: Required
Open in Maps

Khardung La Pass
A high mountain pass at approximately 5,359 meters on the road from Leh to Nubra Valley, cited as one of the world’s highest motorable roads. The pass is the entry point to Nubra Valley.

Timing: Open May to November
Permit: Required
Open in Maps

Chang La Pass
A high mountain pass at approximately 5,360 metres on the road from Leh to Pangong Lake. The pass is typically the second highest paved road in the world. A military post and small temple are located at the summit. The pass is crossed on any visit to Pangong Lake.

Timing: Open May to November
Permit: Required
Open in Maps

Pangong Tso Lake
A high-altitude endorheic lake at approximately 4,350 meters. The lake is 134 km long and extends across the India-China border — only about 40% lies in India. The lake’s color shifts continuously from deep blue to turquoise to green depending on light and season.

Timing: Open May to September
Permit: Required
Open in Maps

Nubra Valley
A high-altitude valley formed by the Shyok and Nubra rivers, accessed via Khardung La Pass. The valley is known for its unusual combination of desert sand dunes and snow-capped mountain peaks. Diskit Monastery here houses a 32-metre Maitreya Buddha statue.

Timing: Open April to October
Permit: Required
Open in Maps

Tso Moriri Lake
A high-altitude lake at 4,522 meters. Tso Moriri offers a more remote and undisturbed experience. The lake is a breeding ground for bar-headed geese and black-necked cranes. Korzok village on the northern shore is the main settlement.

Timing: Open May to September
Permit: Required
Open in Maps

Zanskar Valley
A remote valley accessible only by road from June to October via the Pensi La pass, or during winter when the frozen Zanskar river becomes the Chadar Trek route. Zanskar is one of the most isolated inhabited valleys in the Himalaya.

Timing: Open May to October. Chadar Trek — January to February
Permit: Required
Open in Maps

Turtuk Village
The northernmost village in India accessible to civilians. Turtuk was part of Pakistan until 1971 when it came under Indian control following the Bangladesh War. The village has a distinct Balti Muslim culture entirely different from Buddhist Ladakh — apricot orchards, stone houses, polo grounds, and a community that speaks Balti.

Timing: Open April to October
Permit: Required
Open in Maps

Panamik
Natural hot springs in Panamik village at the northern end of Nubra Valley. The springs are maintained by the local community and are open for bathing. The water temperature is hot enough to be therapeutic.

Timing: Open June to September
Entry Fee: Hot springs — ₹30 (cash at counter)
Permit: Required
Open in Maps

Tso Kar Lake
Known as the White Lake for the white salt deposits left on its shores as water levels fluctuate. The lake is a breeding ground for bar-headed geese. Less visited than Tso Moriri and Pangong, Tso Kar offers a quieter and more remote experience.

Timing: Open May to October
Permit: Required
Open in Maps

Hanle Village
The dark skies of Hanle are among the clearest in Asia due to minimal light pollution, low humidity, and high altitude — the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye on clear nights. The area has been developed as a Dark Sky Reserve. Foreign nationals may visit Hanle but must stay in registered Astro-stays.

Timing: Open May to October
Entry Fee: Astro-stays charges varies by operator
Permit: Required
Open in Maps

Dah
A cluster of villages, inhabited by the Brokpa (Dard) people — a community believed by some scholars to be descended from soldiers of Alexander the Great’s army. The Brokpa have a distinct culture, language, dress, and religion that blends local pre-Buddhist traditions with later influences.

Timing: Open May to October
Permit: Required
Open in Maps

Road opening and vehicle movement across Ladakh passes are highly dependent on weather conditions.

Leh is connected to the rest of India by air year-round and by road via two mountain highways that are open seasonally. Whether arriving or departing, use the airport, station codes, and route information below.

Leh — Airport & Bus Stand

Airport: Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL)
Manali–Leh Highway (NH-3): Crosses Baralacha La (4,892m), Lachulung La (5,059m), and Tanglang La (5,328m). Open approximately late May to November. Closed November to May.
Srinagar–Leh Highway (NH-1): Via Kargil. Crosses Zoji La (3,528m) and Fotu La (4,108m). Opens earlier than the Manali route — late March or April. Closed November to March.
Bus Terminal: Leh Bus Stand

By Flight
Search by city name across IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet — these cover the all domestic flights from Leh.

By Bus
State buses operate from Srinagar and Manali to Leh. Head to the counter and ask for your destination. Or, use app-based platforms such as redBus or AbhiBus to search and book buses on your route. Both state-run and private operators are listed — prefer buses with ratings of 4★ or higher.

• Manali–Leh Highway
The Manali–Leh Highway is 490 km, crosses four high passes above 4,800 metres, and takes a minimum of two days with an overnight halt at Keylong, Jispa, or Sarchu. The highway is operated by the Border Roads Organization and opens late May — exact dates depend on snow clearance and vary by year. The highway closes in November. The route passes through Atal Tunnel (bypassing Rohtang Pass), Baralacha La, Nakee La, Lachung La, the 21 hairpin Gata Loops, Tanglang La, and descends via Upshi to Leh.

• Srinagar–Leh Highway
The Srinagar–Leh Highway is 434 km, crosses Zoji La (3,528m), and takes two days with an overnight halt in Kargil. The Srinagar route opens earlier than the Manali route — late March or April. It crosses lower passes and is recommended for travelers prone to altitude sickness as the ascent is more gradual. The route passes through Sonamarg, Zoji La, Drass, Kargil, Lamayuru, and descends to Leh via the Indus Valley.

India Manual is produced by Intodia. All content follows a continuous review cycle and is free from commercial influence, ads, or any affiliate arrangements. All fees and charges listed on this page are applicable to foreign nationals only.