Manali Leh Highway Closed for 2017: With the entire Himalayan region experiencing snowfall all across, Manali Leh highway has been closed for year 2017. With temperatures dropping, a layer of frost has formed on the road at several places between Keylong and Leh; forcing the authorities to halt vehicular movement on this route. As of now, locals are being allowed to travel between Manali and Keylong only between 9 AM to 4 PM but this too will soon stop. All the 5 high altitude passes between Manali and Leh have already started to experience snow and the road right now is not safe to travel on at all.
Overall, a road trip to Ladakh right now is not feasible; either via Manali or Srinagar. For now, catch a flight to Leh if you have plans in near future; or postpone your trip after the road is open in 2018.
Manali Leh Highway Closed for 2017
Usually Manali Leh highway gets closed around late to early November. This year however has been an exception with late snowfalls. Locals are plying on the route and even the stretch till Kaza remains functional still. But for tourists, the situation changes drastically. As of now there is almost no accommodation available anywhere on the route. Once you cross Keylong, chances of finding another hotel, chadar tent or dhaba is next to none. Add to it the fact that snowfall can happen anytime; and may leave you stuck or stranded anywhere on the stretch. Temperature at night can drop to several degrees below here and will definitely leave Black ice on the roads next morning.
I hope the information above was of help. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask in the comments section below; or at our Community Forum; and I will be glad to answer.
3 comments
Hi Vargis. Great site. What is the latest one could do Delhi – Srinagar – Leh – Manali? Am thinking about this year. Is mid October OK?
When the road will open approximately in 2018 . Can we come from leh to pang by road this month or next month
Manali Leh usually opens by early June each year. As for Leh to Pang, you will not be able to come direct after Tanglang La is snowed out. Only way then will be to take the Chumathang route from Upshi and reach Pang via Sumdo and Polo Kongka La.