A Complete Guide To The Manali-Leh Road Trip

Undoubtedly, the highway connecting Manali with Leh is a very picaresque piece of work and is full of beauty and magnificence. Charming features along the way include Manali and Lahaul's green and lush valleys as well as the beautiful Ladakh desert. Considered to be an absolute favourite for road trip enthusiasts, the road flanked by high passes remains to be a highly-respected roadway for motorcyclists and adventurers. Let's take a look at a detailed guide to Manali-Leh Road Trip.

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DETAILS OF THE ROUTE

Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org

The highway spans a total of 474 km beginning from Manali and opens up on the first day of June and shuts down on the 15^th of September. Technically, the highway remains motorable till October's end. Starting from Manali's forests (Devdar), you pass through Mahri's numerous Dhabas, all while witnessing the beautiful valley.  Further along, comes the Rohtang Pass, standing at an enormous 3978 metres. Weather in the region keeps fluctuating and therefore, travellers are advised to be prepared for extremities.

Landslides are very common and the descend into Lahaul is quite dangerous. Post this, the town of Khoksar comes, where entries are registered and foreigners' passports are checked. The Dhabas here are good and therefore, it is a famous stop for drivers. A famous night stop which comes afterwards is Keylong, a huge town in the region. The place is synonymous with Buddhism, which is apparent in the feel and vibe of the place. A fairly-good alternative to Keylong is the village of Gemur/Jispa (25 kilometres after Keylong).

Acclimatization is important to avoid AMS or Acute Mountain Sickness. Heading towards Zanskar, there is divergence at Darcha. Baralacha La aka “The Gateway to Ladakh, Spiti, Lahaul and Zanskar” is a famous spot. From here, you can visit all four regions after a day's walk. The descent from Baralacha La makes the town of Bharatpur temporarily visible. The road continues approaching Himachal and J&K's borders at Sarchu, where there is a police checkpoint, as well as a wine shop, is located.

Once you enter Jammu & Kashmir, you witness two extremely photogenic valleys. The highway continues to Nakee La which stands tall and high at 4915m. Further ahead is the Lachung La pass, standing at 5035 metres. The descent towards Pang is spectacular as well, especially the last 5 km. Finally comes the highest point of the trip – The Taglang La (5359m). The view from here is tremendously breathtaking. Post Rumtse village, the road starts travelling down the famous Indus Valley, passing Upshi and Karu villages. Finally, the entrance gate stating “Jullay, Welcome to Ladakh” arrives.

TOP HALT SPOTS

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• Manali – offers great housing places and food.
• Khoksar – Local food-offering Dhabas are highly famous
• Sissu, Gemur/Jispa – Cheap accommodations available

COMMUTING AVAILABILITIES

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• Government Buses by HRTC and HPTDC (very affordable)
• Local Pool Cabs and Mini Buses (pocket-friendly rates)
• Private Taxis (slightly expensive)

The Manali-Leh road trip is a bucket list item for almost every person who wants to live a truly fulfilling adventure. The path is filled with scenic visuals featuring lush valleys and magnificent rivers. To conclude, the hype for both the journey and the destination is completely justified.