Jispa Darcha Padum Road – Manali to Padum via Shinkula

by Vargis.Khan

shinkula pass

For people who have been to Ladakh numerous times and believe that they have seen it all, there is now a new reason for taking another trip to Ladakh. A road that had been under construction for quite a while and is probably one of the most anticipated in the region has been finally been completed. Yes, I am talking about the Darcha to Shinkula Pass road; also known as Padum to Shinkula road or Jispa to Shinkula Road.

This road is now completed. However, it is still in a bad condition at several places, especially towards the top of the pass. It runs from Darcha to Padum; connecting the two valleys of Lahaul and Zanskar.

Darcha to Shinkula to Padum Road

This road had remained under construction for several years. The only way to reach Padum from Lahaul valley before this was to either travel via Leh which would put the total distance close to 800 km of a road or to trek and walk over the mountains.

There is a high altitude pass on the way known as Shinku La, also as Shingu La or Shingo La at the height of 5,050 meters. It remains covered with snow for most of the year. With the construction of this road, the distance and travel time between the two valleys will cut down by a huge margin.

Apart from the travel enthusiasts, this road is highly critical for both the locals and the military. After the recent Chinese incursions, it had become of utmost importance for the Indian army to connect these areas better so that the movement of troops and supplies can be regular. It would also be a blessing for locals as the movement between the two towns will become significantly easier.

When is Shinkula Pass Open?

The road from Darcha to Shinkula will remain open from June to October. It will remain closed for the rest of the year for civilian traffic. In winters, there will be a high amount of snow at Shinku La top, blocking the route.

There are also talks of creating a tunnel under Shinku La pass. It would open the road for traffic movement in winter as well. After the much anticipated Rohtang tunnel is complete, all these valleys that remain closed in winter as of now will be accessible throughout the year.

Road Conditions

The only catch as of now is that the condition of the road is bad. It is badly broken at some places and is missing the tar entirely. The steep climb, dirt trail, and loose rocks make it extremely difficult to reach the top still. For now, you can only travel only if you have a 4×4 SUV or a high-powered bike.

A friend of mine tried in a 2 wheel drive SUV. But he had to turn back without making it to the top. If you have a 4X4 vehicle, you will easily be able to travel directly from Darcha to Padum or vice versa.

The entire route is highly scenic. It runs through some amazing vistas. For now, even the villagers are crossing it on the foot. But when it is accessible for all kinds of traffic, I am sure it will attract a lot of tourism and will support the livelihood of the locals.

Below are some pictures of the route.

Darcha to Shinku La to Padum Road Darcha to Shinku La to Padum Road Darcha to Shinku La to Padum Road river running along the road a small lake near the pass

Darcha to Shinkula to Padum Road – Conclusion

There are several villages en route that have so far been completely cut off from the rest of the country. Until now, all these villages could only be reached after a steep trek of a day or more. Once this road is completely operational, it will make the lives of these villagers much easier.

If you have any questions or need any other information about this route, please feel free to ask in the comments section below or at our Community Forum, and I will be glad to answer.

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51 comments

fujiyo June 2, 2023 - 4:00 am

Dear vargis,
Could you please let me know, is there bus or share taxi from Padum to Kelong (after that To Manali)?
If there are, kindly please let me know how much time does it take?
I am planning to trip from Padum to Manali on July this year
(I am a female solo traveller )
Fujiyo

Reply
Vargis.Khan June 2, 2023 - 7:11 am

There is no public transport on the Shinku La route … Shared cabs do travel but the frequency is way too low

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manish sharma September 25, 2022 - 7:39 am

can you help with expected time of travel and possible stay between Darcha to padum and Padum to kargil . Rangdum there was homestay earlier when i visited drang drung glacier.

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Vargis.Khan September 29, 2022 - 3:44 pm

It is a 2 days drive at least. One day for Darcha to Padum and then another day for Padum to Kargil. 10 hours drive on both days.

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Anush August 21, 2022 - 2:49 pm

Dear vargis,

Could you please let me know, what was the condition of darcha-shingula-padum-singela-photoksar- leh route last year in october(last week of october?)

Kindly let me know. I am planning to do a motorcycle trip from oct 22-30 ,2022.

Thanks,
Anush

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ashish riyal May 18, 2022 - 8:51 pm

We are 4 friends planning to go on this route on bike most probably himalayan in 2nd week of June.. We have three days including travelling.. What you will suggest… Upto which extent we can go on this route…. If we start from keylong… And where we can stay

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Tanmay Pisolkar May 10, 2022 - 11:05 am

Hi,
What is the distance from manali to Padum via shinkhu la?

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Prabir Roy Chowdhury May 10, 2022 - 3:15 am

We 10 persons plan to visit from Darcha to Padum in third week of August 2022 by 13 seater car/bus. Is is possible to visit there ? You please guide us about road condition etc. Thanks.

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Vargis.Khan May 10, 2022 - 7:28 am

I will not recommend it in a tempo traveler and you may not actually find a driver to take you there. I am going to be on this route in June first week so I can let you know the latest on the road conditions after I return. You can check back with me

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Ujjwal June 4, 2022 - 10:58 am

We look forward to hearing from you.. specially the road condition and if it has improved enough to be done in an compact SUV with 2 wheel drive. Many thanks for all your passion and efforts Vargis!

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Aditya bhattacharjee January 20, 2022 - 4:35 am

Which time is safest for Darcha to sinkula pass to padum to kargil by car?
Is it safe to night stay in my car at Gangbu ranjan?
I want to night stay either 10-09-2022 or 09-10-2022 in full moon.
Your suggestions please.

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Vargis.Khan January 21, 2022 - 10:38 am

May and June is the safest time. September is bad in terms of road conditions and water crossing and October in terms of snowfall. It will get very cold to stay in the car.

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ashish riyal May 18, 2022 - 8:50 pm

We are 4 friends planning to go on this route in 2nd week of June.. We have three days including travelling.. What you will suggest… Upto which extent we can go on this route…. If we start from keylong… And where we can stay..

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RNJAN KR. MANDAL January 8, 2022 - 11:55 am

Please read our month of journey from Darcha to Padum by car as ‘August, 2022’ in stead of ‘August, 2021’ as written. Sorry for the typographical mistake.

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RNJAN KR. MANDAL January 8, 2022 - 11:51 am

We are planning to travel from Darcha to Padum by a SUV-4×4 vehicle in August, 2021. Is it possible? If so, whether such vehicle is available at Darcha itself or to be hired from Keylong?

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Vargis.Khan January 12, 2022 - 9:33 am

You will have to actually hire one from Manali, will be hard to find in Keylong. In August, due to the monsoon season, the road will be an absolute nightmare.

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Rajarshi July 7, 2022 - 11:15 am

Between Darcha and Shinku La are there any villages to stay or all villages are beyond Shinku La towards Padum side ?

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Jaskirat Singh Banga July 22, 2021 - 6:13 pm

Hi Vargis,

Thanks for sharing such meaningful information. Just wanted to ask. Is there any update on the current conditions. Is it fit enough to travel by 4×4 in the month of August considering the rainy season around in the region?

Will really appreciate your inputs.

Regards
Jaskirat

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Vargis.Khan July 25, 2021 - 6:59 am

I will advise against going in the rainy season. Even without the rains, it was a little difficult to drive on

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Avanteeka Bakshi August 24, 2021 - 4:23 am

Hi Vargis. Thanks for your blogs. With little information available, your blogs are really valued
We are planning to do the darcha padum route end of September. What would your advice be?

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Dhruva September 26, 2021 - 6:21 pm

Darcha to Padum is open.
My friends have passed 2 days ago, after Shikula, the route is completely off-road. As per lates update that I got, the road is butter smllth and tarred upto 4kms before pass.

My question to Vergis, eill it be possible in Nov mod to do this?
You mentioned its not open for civilians, but is it because of ILP restrictions or military restrictions or becauee of chances of snow?

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Sanket+Jain September 27, 2021 - 12:07 pm

He must have written that because of snow. There is no ILP needed as such.
And yes november might be too much of a stretch. Infact, I was thinking to do it in october mid and now thinking of doing it a week before.
Were your friends able to reach Pensi La? Did they need each other’s help in getting through, after Shinku La?

Rajiv yadav March 5, 2020 - 10:51 am

We are planning to go from Srinagar to Manali via Darcha – Shinku La In July 2020 on bikes.
Will road be operational by then ?
if yes, will this route allow foreign tourists ?

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Atul March 5, 2020 - 6:09 pm

Srinagar to Manali ??
Firstly, Kargil to Padum road is almost always in a very bad shape. 240 kms will take you one full day of back breaking mind numbing journey
Padum to Shinku La is not complete yet
Shinku La to Darcha is motorable but heavy cars not recommended.

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Aman Sood March 7, 2020 - 9:59 am

ur best bet is to try this route in mid September. it should be do able via bike, i mean for padum to darcha.

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Sanket Jain June 27, 2019 - 12:56 pm

Hi, I am planning a trip to Spiti in mid July and on return, can I drive my SUV (NOT 4*4) uptill Shingo La and trek to the Durang Durung glacier?

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Vargis.Khan June 27, 2019 - 4:37 pm

Not without professional help and guides. And Shingo La to Drang Drung will take at least 2 days to reach by trek.

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Rahul kataria June 11, 2019 - 8:00 pm

Hi sir , will i be able to reach shingo la pass in jeep in last week of june? Is it recommended or should we go only to baralacha la pass?

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Jacob April 4, 2019 - 7:02 am

Are there any updates on through travel from Darcha, past Shinku La, all the way to Padum?

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Vargis.Khan April 4, 2019 - 6:58 pm

Not complete yet, won’t be for at least until next year.

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sandeep June 9, 2017 - 10:55 pm

Hi bro,is their any update about this road.is it still under construction?

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atul June 10, 2017 - 12:09 pm

I m afraid there is precious little information about the road. I haven’t been able to travel this year or last year so all I hear is jersey. Vargis said last year that you can drive your SUV from Darcha to Shingo La. Needs to be confirmed from people who have been there this year though.

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Vargis.Khan June 12, 2017 - 5:29 pm

You are absolutely right Atul Bhai. People have been to the top of the pass but let us see how it turns out this year.

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Vargis.Khan September 26, 2016 - 1:32 am

Thanks for the insight Marc

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atul September 25, 2016 - 7:14 pm

Wow. I really need to plan a trip to Darcha and Shinku La !

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Aman Sood September 3, 2016 - 10:22 am

Hi is it possible to reach zanskar from darcha via shingo la on bike

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Vargis.Khan September 5, 2016 - 4:10 pm

No it is not. The stretch from Shinku La till Padum is still under work.

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Murtaza R E August 6, 2016 - 10:25 am

Is it possible to travel by SUV, say Mahindra Scropio from Padum via Darcha via Shingo La pass to Keylong?

Google shows road from Padum upto Anmo and after that just a walking trail upto Purne (Near Darcha).

We are beginning our trip in Aug2016 End from the Manali side, going to Tso Moriri, Pangong Tso (via Chushul), Hundar, Leh, Kargil. After Kargil we actually want to go to Srinagar, but if conditions in Srinagar are unsafe, then we want come back to Manali, but we do not want to come back thru the traditional Leh-Manali highway. I found a way thru Kargil-Rangdum-Padum-Darcha-Shingo La Pass-Keylong. Is this road drivable?

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Vargis.Khan August 7, 2016 - 1:55 am

The road from Darcha to Padum is not drivable completely, you can only take your SUV till Shinku La. from Darcha

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Murtaza R E August 10, 2016 - 6:02 am

Thanks Vargis. So Darcha to Shingo La can be considered.

Can you elaborate on “Darcha to Padum is not drivable completely”?

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marc michel September 23, 2016 - 6:53 am

there is a road from darcha to the pass. after the pass, a monk started to build the road in direction of kargyak. when i was there in the end of august 2016, there was only 10km “road” on the zanskar side, but probably not drivable. the monk wants to build the road all the way to kargyak by the end of september 2016. but between kargyak and amnu, there is no road at all, only trekking path

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Vargis.Khan September 24, 2016 - 9:36 am

Thanks Marc

atul September 24, 2016 - 5:49 pm

I m not sure what you meant there ! A guy is building a road from Shingo La towards Padum all alone ?? And 10 kms of the road is already complete ?

marc September 24, 2016 - 6:29 pm

yes, more more less: the monk is building (as far as i know only with the help of one driver) a road from shingo la to kargyak and in the end of august 2016, there was only a little bit (approx. 10km) of “road” (i.e. bad quality) on the western side of shingo la. afaik, the monk will continue in 2017 from kargyak in direction of amnu. but around amnu, i saw some other roadworking going on, so i guess that the indian government (BRO) is working there… there will be a documentary about it on french tv in 2017…

Pradip Kr. Naskar July 7, 2016 - 2:34 am

Is this Possible to reach Darcha by Car from Himachal side?

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Pradip Kr. Naskar July 7, 2016 - 2:59 am

I mean to say about Darcha Village in Zanskar.

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Vargis.Khan July 8, 2016 - 10:51 pm

Darcha is not in Zanskar … Did you mean Padum?

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atul June 23, 2016 - 6:30 pm

Anil the article clearly mentions that the Shingo La Padum stretch is still under works. But even this small 39.6 km stretch from Darcha to Shingo La is an enormous achievement. Coupled with the all weather Rohtang tunnel, which reduces the distances between Manali and Keylong by nearly 40 kms, this new road is really exciting. Soon you will be able to reach Shingo La from Manali in about 4.5 hours flat. The planned tunnel under the mighty Shingo la will be another major step because it will make the trip forward to Padum an all weather one. I m not sure how long the run from Shingo la to Padum is going to be, but my guess is that it will be another 4 hours. So in nut shell. You would be able to reach Padum from Manali even in peak winter in about 8 hours. From somewhere close to Padum, a road will take off for Nimmu onwards to Leh

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Vargis.Khan June 23, 2016 - 6:51 pm

Thanks Atul

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Anil May 24, 2016 - 12:03 pm

would you know if this is connecting yet to Padum or not?

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Vargis.Khan May 25, 2016 - 1:44 am

Not yet

Reply

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