Keran is a small village located in the Kupwara district of Kashmir. It is one of the many villages in the region but two things make Keran unique. The first one is that it sits right next to the line of control on the India-Pakistan border and the second one is that you are allowed to go there.
It is a village that has remained divided for decades. Half of the village is in India and the other half is in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Kishanganga River, flowing through the village acts as the natural border between the two habitations.
It really presents a unique sight. As you stand on the banks of the river and look to your front, on the other side of the river which is merely a stone-throw away, you are looking into a neighboring country and it is truly a feeling like none other.
People from both countries come to this spot and wave at each other which is one of the favorite tourist activities out here. It is possibly the only spot in our country where you can do so which is also so easily accessible. Confused? Take a look at the video below to know what I am talking about. I shot this during my recent visit to Kashmir. On one side of the river is India and on the other side, it is Pakistan.
Due to this unique setting and the sight it presents, Keran is fast coming up as a favorite tourist destination in Kashmir. How you can visit there and what are some of the things you should keep in mind is what we will be talking about in the post below.
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About Keran Village
Keran is really just a tiny village consisting of a couple of narrow streets, a few shops, and some houses. Farming was the primary source of income for the people here until tourism was allowed and they started to get visitors.
On the Indian side, the entire valley that this village is located in is called Keran Valley or Keran Sector. The river that acts as a natural border and cuts the village and the valley into two parts is called the Kishenganga River.
On the Pakistani side though, the River is known as the Neelam River, and the valley is named after it as Neelam Valley. At a point called Cobra Post, where the river gets really narrow, the distance between the two countries is hardly about 10 meters of water in between.
See the image below. The people you see are standing in India. A few meters ahead of them, on the other side of the river, those buildings are in Pakistan.
Due to this, this entire region was among the foremost infiltration routes used by the militants in the early 1990s. They would just swim across the river and enter India. This is also the reason why the entire Kupwara District has remained off the tourist map for so long.
Keran Border Tourism
But with the introduction of border tourism a couple of years ago, this entire situation is changing fast. As people are becoming aware of the beautiful places on this side of Kashmir, the number of visitors is increasing with each passing year.
Until 2021, only the villagers from Keran and Army personnel were allowed to travel on this route and go to the village. Tourists were a complete no and a visit to Keran would mean getting several permissions from different offices.
But the situation now is very different than how it was a couple of years ago. Now you can just apply for permission online or get it from the police station in Kralpora and you are free to travel to Keran Village.
When I was in Keran, I could see how the villagers greeted this change with open arms and hearts. They are all so excited about it because this provides them an extra source of income.
The biggest role is of the Indian Army though and we must appreciate their honest efforts. Working with the villagers, the Army is doing all that it can to promote tourism and attract visitors. Let us now take a look at how you can reach Keran, what to see, where to stay, and how to get the permits.
Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Kashmir – A Complete Travel Guide
How to Reach Keran in Kashmir
To reach Keran Village, you will first have to reach Srinagar and then Kupwara. The valley is located at a distance of 145 kilometers from Srinagar and 60 kilometers from Kupwara. The route of the journey will be as mentioned below.
Srinagar – Sopore – Drugmulla – Kupwara – Kralpora – Pharkian Top – Keran Village
The condition of the road on this route is mostly good, except for the last 10 kilometers near Keran. If you were coming from Srinagar, it would easily take you anywhere between 6 to 8 hours to reach Keran. From Kralpora, it will be a journey of 3 to 4 hours. Before starting the journey though, you will have to get your permits in order.
How to get a permit for Keran
There are two ways to get a permit for Keran Valley. The first one is an online process and the second option is to get it in person from the Kralpora police station. The online process is much easier but even if you get it stamped from the police station, that should also not take long.
Online Process
In order to get your permit online, please visit http://epass.kupwara.co.in/. Once the page is open, scroll down and click on Apply Online.
On the next page, select Citizen in the ‘Applying As’ dropdown and hit Next. It will take you to another page where you will need to fill in all the required details, upload your Aadhar Card copy, and click on Submit Application.
If you are traveling in a group, then hit Add More Person at the bottom and enter details of people traveling with you one by one. Once the permit is generated, take a printout and ensure that you are carrying at least 8 copies of it. To be on the safer side, keep 10 copies handy.
In Person
To get the permit in person, you will have to first reach the Kralpora Police station. It is at a distance of about 15 kilometers from Kupwara. The road to Keran Village bifurcates from Kupwara Market so you will anyway have to cross the town.
Once you reach Kralpora, first of all, find a stationery shop there or a photocopy shop. They usually keep printouts of applications handy in the following format.
Just buy an application, fill in your details, go to the police station, and get it stamped. After that, go back to the photocopy shop and get 8 to 10 copies of the stamped application made.
If you were not able to find a stationery shop or did not get a copy of the application, just write it on a piece of paper by hand and get it stamped. That will also work fine. You can use the same verbiage that is written on the attached image.
Both processes are more or less hassle-free. The thing with the online process is that you can get your permits in advance and won’t have to spend time in Kralpora trying to get the permit stamped.
Also Read: Clothes for Kashmir Trip – What to Pack
How to reach Keran Village from Srinagar
Now that you know how to get the permit, let us briefly take a look at the journey to Keran Village from Srinagar. Ideally, this should be a 2-day trip with a night stay planned either in Keran itself or near Kupwara.
Though you can plan to do it in a single day as well, it will be way too long and way too tiring. Most of your time will be spent on the road and you will have very little time in Keran. Hence it is better to plan a trip of 3-4 days toward Kupwara and you can also include Bangus and Lolab Valleys in your itinerary.
Srinagar to Kupwara to Kralpora
The first part of your journey will have you travel to Kupwara and then to Kralpora. Make sure you get an early start from Srinagar, possibly by 7 am so that you can at least avoid the traffic.
The road from Srinagar to Kupwara is a single-lane road that sees heavy two-way traffic. So even though the journey is only about 85 kilometers, it can easily take you anywhere between 3 to 5 hours to complete, depending on the traffic.
There is not much to see on this route. It is really a very boring drive on a flat road with no views anywhere in between. You will cross a few small villages and towns on the way and reach Kupwara.
Cross the town of Kupwara and continue driving on the same road for another 15 kilometers to reach Kralpora. If you did not get the permits online, this is where you will have to get those stamped.
Kralpora is just a small town so finding the police station will not be a problem. Ask anyone where the police station is and the locals will point you in the right direction.
Get your permits signed and then drive back to the main market. There, you will see a road that bifurcates towards Keran. If you weren’t able to find it, ask the locals.
The road to the left is the one that goes to Keran Valley. We were coming from Chowkibal and that is why it is on the left. If you were coming from the Srinagar side, you would come from the opposite direction and the road would be to your right.
Kralpora to Pharkian Gali Pass to Keran
After Kralpora, the road will remain flat for a few kilometers more, and then it will start climbing up to Pharkian Gali, which is a mountain pass located at an altitude of 9,840 ft. The views will improve tremendously and you will start getting a panoramic view of the valley.
You will drive uphill for about 21 kilometers to reach the top of the pass. On the way, there will be a few check posts where you will need to submit a copy of your permit.
Pharkian Gali is not like any other pass that you would have seen before. Its top is actually an Army base. You will be stopped, will have to submit your permit, entries of your name and driving license will be marked in a register and you will also need to show your Aadhar Card before you are allowed to go any further.
Photography and videography are strictly prohibited at Pharkian Gali. So make sure you do not get your cameras out. Complete all the formalities at the check post and then start driving down to the other side of the pass.
Keran is at a distance of about 25 kilometers from the top and the condition of the road so far will remain good. You will continue crossing several other check posts on the way and you will have to submit a copy of your permit at each of them. This is why I said that to be on the safer side, keep around 8 to 10 copies of it with you.
About 10 kilometers from Keran, the condition of the road will start to deteriorate.
Keran Village
As you get closer to the village, it will keep getting bumpier and the last couple of kilometers are a complete nightmare. Crossing a badly broken dirt road, in the end, you will finally reach Keran Village.
You will reach the spot in the picture toward the end of your journey. It may confuse you to think that this is the village but it isn’t. This is just a taxi stand. The actual Keran village is about 2 kilometers from here.
Continue driving and you will finally arrive at a spot where there will be a lot of vehicles parked.
This is as far as your vehicle will go. Tourist cars or bikes are not allowed inside the village. You will have to either park it by the road, which most people do, or drive down to the parking area to your right.
After you have your car parked, walk the remaining distance to the last check post. Here, you will have to again have entries of your names marked in a register, and show your permit, and your Aadhar Card. Your bags will also be searched here.
Get the formalities completed, cross an Army Gate and you have finally arrived in Keran Village. You are now standing right at the border, along the line of control, and will have a clear view of the Pakistan side of the village right in front of you.
What to See in Keran Village
Now that you are here, what is it that you see or do in Keran Village? The answer is not much really. You came here to see the border and that is what you see.
As you start walking after the Army gate, you will first reach the main village. There are a few shops here and a few homestays as well. Take a break if you need to and then again start walking toward the river.
Kishanganga River
You will cross a narrow bridge on foot to finally reach this spot. This is the Kishanganga River, also known as the Neelam River. This is the same river that first flows down through Gurez Valley and then enters Pakistan after this point.
The building on the other side of the river is Pakistan. You are now standing right along the LOC. You can get some pictures here but do not spend a lot of time. The views further ahead are much better.
You will notice this road leading further ahead next to the river.
Walk for another 2 kilometers and the river will keep getting narrower, and you will start getting a closer view of Pakistan and people on the other side.
Raja Dhaba Valley View Point
After walking around, you will finally reach Raja Tent Valley. There is a dhaba here if you want to get something to eat and a campsite if you want to stay in Keran for the night.
It is one of the two viewpoints and camping areas in Keran. The view from here is great and you will see a lot of tourists around. Most probably, there will also be loud music playing at the Dhaba. Overall, it is a good spot to take a break after all the walking you just did.
Cobra Viewpoint
The main tourist spot in Keran is Cobra Viewpoint. It is basically a spot where the river is in its narrowest form. The width is barely 10-15 meters. Out here, you will see a lot of people on both sides of the border waving at each other.
To reach Cobra Viewpoint, just keep walking straight ahead for about 1 kilometer after Raja Tent Valley. If you aren’t sure of the path, ask any of the villagers and they will be happy to help you. It will only take about 10 minutes to walk the distance.
There is another campsite at Cobra Viewpoint where you can stay for the night. The dhaba at the campsite also offers lunch if you want to get something to eat. Otherwise, just sit, relax, and enjoy the view.
The reason why this point is known as Cobra Viewpoint is because there was earlier an Army post at this spot. That post was known as the Cobra post. But now the place has been vacated by the Army and locals have set up a campsite there instead.
First Post Office of India
As is the case with almost all border villages, there is a post office in Keran Village that can be of interest. It is the first post office of India as right across the river is an entirely different country.
These signboards are definitely interesting. A good spot to click pictures and selfies.
Keran Village
The entire village of Keran is really a beautiful place. I am not referring to the border aspect of it but rather the natural beauty and the overall setting of the place. There are plenty of fields all around, a lot of greenery, and some old houses, and with the Kishenganga River flowing right next, it really looks beautiful.
Local Life
Once you are in Keran, you are witnessing a side of life that you probably would never have seen before. This is a place that was closed to the outside world for decades. The locals here lived in constant fear for their lives with no phone, no mobile, no internet, and minimal contact with the rest of the world.
All that has now changed. Their small village is now a tourist attraction that receives hundreds of visitors every day. They are now experiencing something entirely different and are pretty excited about it. So if you can, spend some time with the locals, talk to them, and get to hear their side of the story.
Where to Stay in Keran Village
There are two forms of accommodation choices available in Keran. The first are the campsites at the two spots that I mentioned above – at Raja Tent Valley and Cobra Viewpoint.
These camps are available at very reasonable rates. For a small tent, you pay only Rs. 500 to Rs. 600. For a large tent that can easily accommodate 5 to 6 people, you only pay Rs. 2000.
I looked at the camps and most of them were new, considering the fact that tourism in this village was only recently allowed. There were proper washroom arrangements and overall, it looked like a decent enough stay.
If not the camps, you can also stay in the village as a paying guest. A lot of villagers here are offering this service now in return for a small fee. Just talk to the locals and you will easily find a homestay for a night or two.
Accommodation near Keran and Kupwara
Outside of the village, the next available accommodation is in Kupwara, in the form of two small hotels. One is called City Palace and the other one is called Raj Palace.
Now as I said, tourism in this area was recently allowed. Before that, Kupwara saw no tourists at all and because of this, there are no hotels on this side of Kashmir.
The two hotels in Kupwara that I mentioned are in a very bad state. They are old, small, smelly, dirty, and with broken washrooms. These are basically restaurants that also have 2-3 rooms on the top floor that they rent out. But take my advice, you do not want to stay here. I did and regretted it deeply.
JKTDC Rest House / Dak Bungalows
Your best bet for accommodation is the JKTDC rest houses. There are a lot of them here in the small villages. There is one rest house in Kupwara, another one in Kralpora (behind the police station), and a third one in Chowkibal (5 kilometers from Kralppra).
These are the ones that I know of. I am sure there will be several others more in surrounding villages. Lolab Valley is only about 10 kilometers from Kupwara and I knew that there are several rest houses in the villages there. There is one in Chandigam that I have heard is good and well-maintained.
My recommendation will be that you either stay in the rest house in Kupwara or the one in Chowkibal. I stayed in Chowkibal for 3 days while I explored this side of Kashmir and loved the rest house there.
You can read a detailed review of this rest house in this post JKTDC Resthouse Chowkibal – A Good Place to Stay. If you want to book this rest house for your trip, you can contact Iqbal at 9682649223.
Public Transport
Planning this trip by Public transport will be tricky and is not advised. You may be able to find a bus from Srinagar to Kupwara but there is no regular bus service beyond Kupwara to places like Bangus Valley, Lolab Valley, Keran, and Teetwal.
In Srinagar, depending on where you are staying, you will first have to reach Parimpora. That is where you will get either a bus or a shared cab to Kupwara.
You can travel from Srinagar to Kupwara by Bus but after that, it is best advised to look for a private taxi. The Kupwara bus and taxi stand are right there in the main market. You can go there and ask for a bus or shared cab to Keran but I highly doubt that you will find one. You may find a shared cab for Kralpora or Chowkibal at most but not for Keran.
If you can only travel by public transport, then first find a cab from Srinagar to Kupwara. Then from Kupwara, look for a shared cab for Kralpora. Once you have reached Kralpora, ask around in the market area about where you can get a shared cab for Keran. This is the only way you can do it and it will not be an easy journey.
Private Taxi
If you want to rent a private taxi for your trip, you can plan this in two ways. The first one is that you hire a private taxi from Srinagar itself. This will cost you anywhere between Rs. 5000 to Rs. 8000 for a two-day trip to Keran.
The second way is that you first go to Kupwara by public transport and hire a cab there. This will cost you anywhere between Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2000 for a trip to Keran Village lasting 6-7 hours approximately. For more details, please take a look at Taxi Union Rates in Srinagar.
Mobile Network
Electricity is available in the village but the phone network is still a problem. None of the networks works in Keran so far. Airtel and Jio have strong connectivity until about 10 kilometers before the village with 4G data speed. But as soon as you get close to Keran, you will go off the network.
This is likely to improve in the coming years but for now, there is no reception inside the village. There is no landline phone either that I know of. In case of an emergency, you will have to seek help from the Indian Army.
How to Plan a Trip to Keran Valley
Last but not least, let me also talk about how you can plan a trip to Keran Village. If you only have two days and are only interested in Keran Valley, then on Day 1, start early from Srinagar and reach the Keran Village. You will stay for the night in the village. The next day, start early and return to Srinagar by late evening.
As I previously mentioned, it is a minimum of 2-day journey from Srinagar. There is absolutely no way that you can do it in a single day. Ideally, you should keep at least 3 to 4 days in hand to explore this side of the valley. Below is how you can do it.
- Srinagar to Lolab Valley – Day 1
- Explore Lolab Valley and reach Chowkibal Rest House – Day 2
- Chowkibal to Bangus Valley to Chowkibal – Day 3
- Day trip to Keran Village. Return to Chowkibal – Day 4
- Chowkibal to Srinagar – Day 5
Another way to plan this journey can be as mentioned below.
- Srinagar to Lolab Valley – Day 1
- Lolab Valley to Sadhna Pass to Tangdhar – Day 2
- Day Trip to Teetwal and return to Tangdhar – Day 3
- Tangdhar to Bangus Valley to Chowkibal – Day 4
- Day trip to Keran Village. Return to Chowkibal – Day 5
- Chowkibal to Srinagar – Day 6
Keran Village & Valley – Conclusion
Most of the tourism in Kashmir is limited to Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam. Some other areas that are getting attention now are Doodhpathri, Gurez, Yusmarg, Aharbal, etc. But Kupwara and places like Keran, Bangus, and Lolab which are located within the district, are still a long way from being known as a tourist destination.
Hopefully, in the coming years, all of this will change and even this beautiful part of our country will find its place on the tourist map. I hope the information above on visiting Keran Village was of help. If you have any questions, you can contact me on Instagram and I will be happy to answer. You can also consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and asking a question there.
120 comments
In April of 2023, we went to Keran Village. It was a lovely location; you could spend a couple of days there. You need valid permission for Keran Village & have to go through several army check points. We stayed at Raja Tent Valley (we stayed in Rooms). Can contact Zahid Wani or Bilal Wani for whole accommodation & food , contact no. 9149535834 / 6006463117
Visit Keran, a hidden gem, if you want to see Kashmir in its unadulterated, authentic form.
Is the route in manali and kasol good for bikes in december last in new year time.
Yes you can travel to both Manali and Kasol during December end
Hello Vargis bhai,
Thank you for your continuous help to travelers.
We are a group of 9-10 friends and we are planning to visit Ladakh in 1st or 2nd week of the Jun 2018.
We will start from Delhi to Manali on Friday night by Volvo. Our plan is to take Manali Leh route while going and take flight while returning to Delhi on Sunday.
So we have approx 9 days in total.
Can you help us in making an itinerary of this trip along with recommended stay and taxi options in Ladakh.
Regards
Rohit Joshi
Hello Rohit Bhai – If you are planning to take the bus from Manali to Leh than I would recommend delaying your trip by another week or so. The HPTDC Manali to Leh bus starts sometime after June 15th after the road has been declared open.
Definitely do the same. Dear Vargis Bhai Your best wishes are always with us. While my son was on J&K- Leh-Ladakh- Manali-Pune Bike Tour, We were getting all updates regarding everything related to this tour from you only. We Thanks you lot. DILIP RAJGURAV PUNE MS.
Dear Vargis Bhai, Namaste. My son and his group reach Pune today at 17.00 PM safely. Thanks. DILIP RAJGURAV PUNE MS.
That is great news Dilip Bhai. I am glad he has reached home safe and sound. Please do give him my best. God Bless you and your family. Do keep it touch please.
Dear Vargis Bhai, Namaste. First of all Thanks for updating latest info. With some photos send by my son Ar.Mayur. My son and his group is now on return journey and reach Pali- Rajasthan today. On way back they visit Ajmer Sharif in this Holy month of Ramzan and this is great spiritual experience for them. Your advices make their Leh-Ladakh tour easy and safe despite several challenges and as You say full of events. Thanks a lot. DILIP RAJGURAV. PUNE MS.
“May Allah always guide you all throughout your journey in life. I wish this Ramadan will infuse you with courage That will help you be triumphant over the adversities of life.” Happy Ramadan!
Dear Dilip Bhai, I am glad that your son had a good trip and now is on his way home safe. May Allah keep you and your family blessed and safe forever. Happy Ramadan to you as well. God Bless you !!!
Hi Vargis Bhai,
you’re doing a great job by giving valuable information.
I have a question. We are planning to do Chandigarh – Srinagar – Leh – Manali – Chandigarh circuit, starting from June 16th in a self drive rental car. We want to visit tso moriri lake while coming back from Leh to Manali. Will it be problematic considering the fact that locals dont allow self drive vehicles for areas in Ladakh ? We can’t hire a taxi, visit tso moriri lake, go back to Leh, pick our vehicle and start for Manali. It will cost us two more days unnecessarily.
Thank so much for your appreciating words Bhai.
Yes it will be a problem taking the self drive to Moriri. They won’t allow it and I highly advise you against taking the risk. There have been incidents of self drive rentals getting attacked and vandalised. The only work around is that you rent a taxi in Leh, talk to the driver and ask him if you can tail the taxi in your self drive, so most of you can sit in the taxi and one person can drive the rental right behind it, thus avoiding the need of having to go back to Leh. On the way back, the taxi can drop you on Manali Leh highway and you can be on your way back. And yes, it will cost you about 13-15k additional for this.
THANKS A LOT DEAR VARGIS BHAI. My son and his friends safely reached to Mandi today and now planning for return journey to Pune. We will surely share entire his tour exprience with you as this Tour is not possible smoothly without your assistance. Thanks again. DILIP RAJGURAV PUNE MS.
Thank you Dilip Bhai. While he is traveling back, can you speak to him and ask about the current road conditions on Manali Leh highway? He just traveled back so he is the best person who can update us. I wanted to add that information here on this article in order to help anyone who is traveling this way in coming few days.
Dear Vargis bhai, Namaste. Is Manali situation is really worst? My son and his group is return to Manali today itself. They are planning to go to Amritsar. Pl. inform. I will share Trip Photos when he reaches home. Trip is going smoothly and safely till now. Thanks for your advices. DILIP RAJGURAV PUNE MS.
Namaste Dilip Bhai, Situation in Manali is not that bad now. Taxi union is still creating problems. Earlier this week the Bike rental union too joined them and decided to make a self implemented law that Manali bikes wont cross Sarchu towards Leh and Leh motorcycles won’t cross the border at Sarchu to come to Manali. This however was an un-necessary fuss created in order to bother tourists and pull administration’s attention. Long traffic jams were observed when they initiated the bandh and chakka jam, people stranded on the road for hours altogether. But this was the story on Sunday and Monday, it is no longer the case. And as far as I know however, your son is on his own motorcycle, correct? He should be Ok.
On a lighter note, his trip was full of excitement though. When he was going, problem started at Srinagar. Now when he is coming back, problem is at Manali. Trust me, I am sure he had fun and will talk about it for years to come about how his trip was full of events. I envy him.
Cant wait to hear about his experience more and see some great pictures.
God bless you and your family Sir.
Hi Vargis,
Today I heard that currently there is a clash going on between Manali bike rental association and Leh Bike association. Bikes rented from Manali are being halted in Leh and are not allowed to return. The Bike keys are taken by locals in Leh? Is it true?. I am planning to start from Manali on 11th June and I am really worried about this.
People travelling on the same day/week. Please reply to this post. I am really very worried.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Abhishek – Yes this is true, do not take a risk as of now. Problem is both at Leh and Manali as well.
Hi Abhishek – Just spoke to my contact in Leh, problem is only with people trying to use Manali bikes towards Nubra or Pangong. If only until Leh, there is no issue at all.
Hi Vargis Bhai 🙂
What is the situation in Manali, i heard that section 144 is imposed and the locals are not allowing any private vehicles.
Since the situation in Srinagar is also tense, i was wondering if going via Manali would be feasible. I am in a mix as to which route should i take (Manali or Srinagar), i will be leaving on June 22nd. Would really appreciate your reply.
Hello Manik Bhai – Situation in Manali is really bad due to all the mess by local taxi union. Stike, chakka jam, protests, clash with leh unions etc. For now, Srinagar is a better choice to go to Leh. From Manali, you may not even get to cross Rohtang. I am trying to get more clarity, will know tomorrow and update here.
Hello Manik Bhai -Just received an update. Situation is a bit better in Manali now and you are Ok to go after getting Rohtang permit.
Thanks Bhai ! I have made up my mind now to travel via Sonamarg! 🙂
That is better actually. At least you will avoid the un-necessary hassle called Rohtang Pass. Go via Srinagar and come back via Manali.
Aur haan, dont forget to share some pics after you are back. And do let others know here about the road conditions as well, it will be helpful for anyone goiing that way.
Would that mean the tourist vehciles wont be allowed beyond rohtang pass untill the highway is officially declared open? Asking this because i know for sure that few of my friends on a packaged tour travelling on an Innova have already gone past Keylong.
Until Keylong is already open as a mater of fact you can go as far as Darcha. It is Baralacha La Pass where Army may not allow you to travel on. Locals are already traveling on the route though, it is just a matter of official declaration now.
Ok, I got it. Thanks for the clarification. Those guys reached sarchu last night as per schedule and have left for Leh this morning.
Yep road is open throughout …. Friend of mine reached Leh via Srinagar and arrived at Manali today via Manali Leh highway.
Hi,
Can you please tell me by when would the manali – leg route be officially declared open and by when would the public busses start running on this route.
I was planning on reaching manali by 15th June so would that be a safe bet to rely on public transport?
And thanks for all the information, its really helpful!
It should be declared open within next few days however the bus service will not be available at least until late June or early July
Hi vargis
So would shared cabs(manali-leh) be easily available by 15th June? And what would the approximate cost be
I really need some kind of cheap options to travel from manali to leh or else I’ll have to cancel the whole trip.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Ravi – Shared cabs should be available by 15th June, fare would be anywhere between Rs. 2000 to Rs. 2500. If you want to travel within budget, why not delay the trip by a few weeks, wait for the HPTDC bus service to start and travel to Leh by Bus?
Dear vargisji I am planning manali to leh by 16 th June with my family with ertiga disel car it will be safe or not
Hello Nilesh Ji – Highway will be open in next few days so yes, you can travel around 16th. Just be prepared for bad roads.
We 4 frnds planing to leh on manali leh highway on 11 june in diesel i20 give some suggestion and manali leh highway open or not
It should open within next few days.
plz suggest i20 is ok for manali leh highway or not in july plz rply
I know people who have travelled on Manali Leh highway in a Maruti 800 brother so yes, the car can be taken but you really need to be good at the wheel for that. There will be several water crossings on the way and if you are not careful, belly of you car will hit the ground at several places. May even get stuck at some spot. Low ground clearance can if the biggest concern while taking an I20 to Ladakh.
Hello Vargis,
Thank you for all the valuable information that you provide us!
I am travelling to Leh starting from Manali on bike for the first time.
From your Earlier post, I understand that we should not stay at Sarchu as I our body will not be acclimatized by then.
How is the condition of road between Jispa and Leh?
Can I cover the entire stretch from Jispa to Leh in a day, considering if I leave at 5AM and keeping in mind the the current road condition?
Thanks in Advance.
Hello Abhishek – Road between Jispa and Leh is a mix of good and bad but yes, if you started early by 5 AM from Jispa, kept your breaks limited, then you can easily make it to Leh by evening. It is doable.
hi sir finally manali leh highway is open for light vechil.
bike is allowed or not for highway.
Hi Vipin – It is not yet open Bhai, just the Army and locals here traveling right now.
hi sir ….how r u ..
today we are in shimla.tommorow we wil move towards to manali.and we are planing to move towards to leh by manali leh highway on 8th june weather the highway will open for tourist or not.
Bhai it is expected to open by 8th but I really cannot guarantee that it will
Hello Vargis,
What is the status of Manali Leh highway as of June 1st. I am planning to start from Manali on 11th June. Is this plan viable and safe?
Thanks in Advance.
Hi Abhishek – It should open within next week so you are Ok to travel on 11th
Hi vargis,
Can u please tell me the atatus of kunzum pass. Is it open ??
Hi Vaibhav – It should open in next few days, by June 7th.
Hi, Is the sarchu-leh rout open now?
No it is not
Vargis bhai, Is it ok with Datsun go plus via manali to leh in auguest
Hello vargis ji,
As per latest update srinagar route is closed near jawahar tunnel befor anantnag..due to army nd situation of kashmir
Is this news is correct nd what u suggus now nd can we travel on this route 6 june
Hello Rahul Bhai, Yes this is correct. Army is escorting people from Jammu Sriangar highway and leaving them on the outskirts of Srinagar, on Ladakh highway. They are hoping that the curfew will be lifted tomorrow but cannnot really confirm.
Hi Vargis, really like your blog. Very informative. Could you please tell me the general condition of the road from manali to Leh. Are there numerous water crossings? And is the road to Baralacha top from patseo side fully carpeted? Also, is there any stretch on this highway which is as bad as the road from Gramphu to Batal? I’m travelling to sarchu from manali on the 18th of June.
Hi Harkirat – Actual conditions of the road will only be known once the road is open but there has been a lot of snow this year, especially at Baralacha La so that section may really be damaged. There will be a lot of water streams but it won’t be as bad as Batal Gramphoo stretch.
Hi sir
Good Morning
My name is khawinder Sharma from Punjab
Actually we are planning to go leh as on dated 20/06/2017.
My querries is
1. I am planning to go leh via srinagar. I have a hyundai i10. Is it good to take i10 around the trip from punjab to leh via srinagar and than return leh to punjab via manali.
2. Please also advice what to carry in this tour.
3. Is srinagar safe during this tour.
4.is june 20 is good means Road condition in around the trip.
5. Any other Precaution which should kept in mind.
6. Please guide us for how many days required throug out this trip.
Wiating for ur response sir.
Thanks
Good Morning Khawinder Bhai,
Though I will not recommend an I10 for Ladakh, a lot of people have indeed taken their hatchbacks to Ladakh successfully. I would advise that you take a look at the below mentioned article.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/best-car-for-ladakh-trip/
Srinagar is Ok to go, just keep a close check on the news before your dates of travel. June 20th is a god time, all the roads will be open. If you can afford, I will recommend 12-14 days to really enjoy the trip.
Rest depends on your itinerary. You may have to make arrangements for fuel etc if you want to travel to some remote areas.
Take a look at the articles below, should be helpful.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/clothes-for-ladakh-trip-pack/
https://vargiskhan.com/log/important-tips-driving-through-ladakh/
Hi sir, how r u .l think very busy to answering the questions of tourists.
I have a question that we are in manali on 4th june and want started towards leh on 5th june so ,it would be possible manali leh highway is opened on that time.
Hi Vipin, I am fine Bhai, how are you?
I really cannot confirm the date brother. I know it will open sometime in June 1st week but no set date has been declared yet.
Hi sir, today is 28th may wat is current status of manali leh highway.
Hi Vipin – It will take about a week more at the least.
Hi Friends Manali leh was opened on 25th May 2017.
No it is not Mayank. It will take at least a week more.
Hey Vargis,
Thanks for the regular updates.
We’re planning to go to Leh on 17th June via the Manali-Leh highway. I know the dates have not been confirmed yet but do you think the highway will be open by then?
Thanks
Hi Akash – Yes it should be open by 17th. Expected date as of now is of June 1st week.
Sir, please give leh manali highway latest update…
Rohtang pass nd keylong open for tourist or not…
Can we visit 4 june to srinagar to leh nd return from manali side …its possible or not route is open or not leh manali..
Rahul – There is no confirmed date still.. Better would be that you go via Srinagar and return via Manali.
Sir,
Is it safe to ride to leh via srinagar, as demonstration and terrorist attacks were reported recently?
It is quite safe. A lot of people have already traveled from Srinagar to Leh, nothing to worry about right now.
Sir,we are at manali now.bikes are not allowded to go to rohtang pass.taxis are only allowded till mandi.there is ordinary bus from manali to keylong.but there will not be return bus.what could i do to see rohtang pass.kindly suggest me a plan.
Razi Bhai there is a bus from Manali to Rohtang Pass by HPTDC. Book your seat for that at Himachal Tourism office on Mall Road, next to Hotel HPTDC Kunzum.
Otherwise, you can take the HRTC bus from Manali to Rohtang Pass but before you leave Manali, inquire the timings for the bus that comes from Keylong to Manali and plan according to that.
We have visited rohtang pass today.we went by local bus from manali at 7 o clock to keylong.bus conductor didnt allowed us firstly but then we requested.from there we came back by asking lift.no taxis are allowded there.only few buses(3 or 4)are there.thanks for your valuable advise.we have seen such beutiful things and i feel pity about so many people spend rs 5000 and only go up to gulaba.
Thank you Razi Bhai. How are the conditions at Rohtang Pass? Do share some pictures.
Hi. Sir .we r from kanpur u.p.we are planning a leh trip by manali by our royal enfleld on 3rd june 2017.
We bought new bike and i think i could not get RC of my vehicle but on this date we get the bike number.
Sir my question is that could i get pass to cross roathang without vehicle R c.
It entirely depends on their mood Vipin. They may or may not allow you to go. A better choice would be to not take the risk, go to Leh via Sriangar and return via Manali.
Thanks for your advice sir ji.
You are welcome brother !!!
Hi sir how r u .
Finalliy Today i got the R c of my bike and we start our journey on 28 may and reached manali on 3rd june .and started to leh on 4th june.on this date manali leh highwag will open or not.
Hello Vipin – I am good bhai, how are you?
Manali to Leh may or may not open at this date. I would advise against planning your travel on this road right now, there is no confirmed date, just an estimate that it may open by late May or early June. Better would be to go via Srinagar, inquire in Leh and if the road is open then return via Manali.
Hello sir,
Please give latest update about leh manali highway… we are planing of 1 june… according to status we booked our hotel nd finalised the plan…
Nd please give daily updates anything
Hi Rahul – Bhai there is no further update. Highway is expected to open by late May or early June but there is no confirmed date yet.
Please tell me about rohtang pass is possible visit on date 29may or 31may from Manali we are planning for on date
It should open in next couple of days so you are safe to plan by May end.
Hello sir,
Please give latest update of leh manali highway, we are planing for 1 june for leh is road is open…
Hi Rahul – Bhai there is no further update. Highway is expected to open by late May or early June but there is no confirmed date yet.
sir we are planing manali to leh journeyby my car in 18th june sir please tell me that we need the pass to
Hi Nitin, You will have to obtain permits for Rohtang Pass while traveling from Manali. Please take a look at the article below.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/rohtang-pass-permits-details-charges-apply/
Hi, I am Jigmat, may I possible to go by 28 May in my car from Manali to Leh
It depends on whether the road is open for tourist traffic or not. It will open sometime between May 25th till June first week.
Hi..I am Amitava..Try to plan a Leh trip by my car Creta..Is it safe to drive by this car..Can you pl suggest..I will like to go by Manali..
Hi Amitava – Yes you can take your Creta to Ladakh, shouldn’t be a problem.
Hi,
I am planning to travel on bike to Leh via Manali-Leh highway. Is there any way to take permit online if yes, please share link. I am thinking of leaving from Delhi between 5th June to 10th June, is it fine? I hope roads are clear till that time.
Hi Anuj,
Please read this.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/rohtang-pass-permits-details-charges-apply/
https://vargiskhan.com/log/how-to-get-rohtang-pass-permit-online/
Bhai should i buy the camping tent and sleeping bag in delhi or from leh or srinagar ? Any good shop for good stuff in resonable price??
Bhai if you want to buy then you should buy from Delhi. You will have better options and it will cost you less than what it will if buy in Srinagar or Manali.
Hi,
First of all, very helpful blog. Great info.
Secondly, I have few queries:
1) You’ve mentioned Rohtang Pass status as OPEN above but online permit booking is still not available. So, has Rohtang Pass actually opened for travel or not? I am planning to travel Manali from 25th to 28th May 2017. Any idea if it will get open by then or not?
2) I am coming from Delhi and, hence, planning to visit Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara first. I heard they provide accommodation in gurudwara also. So, any idea if I cant stay there for 1 night?
Thanks, Mayank
Hi Mayank – Thank you for pointing it out. I have updated the status to closed again. It did open a few days ago but after a massive slide at Rani Nallah, the road closed again. It will definitely be open by 25th though.
I am not really sure about the accommodation at Gurudwara. There are several budget hotels around though.
Hi,
It is good to hear that Rohtang Pass will be open by then. Definitely don’t want to miss it.
Also, could you please tell how much does it cost approx. for visiting rohtang by taxi (individual or shared)? I looked up but couldn’t get a good estimate.
Thanks
Hi,
Thanks for the info. Really hoping to not miss Rohtang during my visit.
Also, could you please give an approx idea about how much it costs to visit rohtang by cab (either shared or individual cab)? I looked up on internet but couldn’t get a good estimate.
Thanks
For individual cabs, Alto 3500, Dzire/Indigo Rs. 4000, Sumo.Tavera, Qualis Rs. 5000 and Innova Xylo Rs. 5500
I am not really sure about shared cabs though.
Thanks for the info. 🙂
If in case Rohtang Pass isn’t open by the time I am in Manali, till what point can I go? Somewhere I read we can go till Marhi and some places I read Gulaba. Could you please share exact info on this.
Thanks
You are welcome Mayank. You can go till Gulaba check post.
Hey,
Is Rohtang pass open for tourists? Can I go there by bike?
Actually a friend of mine is in Manali and she told that Rohtang is closed because of some problem between the government and local people.
Could you please check and tell the exact status on this?
Also, I’ll reach Manali 26th morning and can apply for permit then. So, can I expect to get permit of 27th or I’ll get for 28th only? I’m asking because permit can be booked in 2 days advance so I’m worried if all permits for 27th will be booked on 25th itself.
Thanks,
Mayank
Hey Mayank – I will check and let you know if there is any issue at Rohtang. It could be because of the commercial vehicle restriction but I call my contact in Manali.
Really thanks Mr. Vargis Khan sir for all such status which is day by day coming for us. I had done 2 times journey from Rajasthan to leh by road on bike and right now we waiting to 3rd journey this year on May. I search every where but no one is clear about road status but finally I found you thanks for being with journey lovers. I follow ur status today and in feature
Hello Avinash – I thank you for your kind words and taking the time out to drop an appreciative note brother.
Thank you.
Thanks for replayed me sir.. i m going to plan for leh. The journey will start from Rajasthan-Delhi-Jammu-Shreenager-kargil-Leh. Journey date 20-5-2017 after 4 days (Rajasthan to leh) from leh to Nubra valley-Pan gong for 4 days journey .after 9 days total (20-5-2017 to 28-5-2017) we plan for leh to Serchu-Manali-Delhi-Rajasthan.
My question is:- will open the road from leh to Manali till 28/29 may.
Please reply me soon we are waiting for your next Update.
Hello Avinash – There is no confirmed date as of now. Manali Leh highway is expected to open by late May or early June but I cannot really guarantee it.
Thank you Sir,
Is any permission require to travel via bike Srinagar to Leh from government department ?
our journey will start on 20-05-2017 from Rajasthan..
No permission required if you travel from Srinagar. How many days are you planning the journey for? If it is 10-12 days, then plan it in a way that you reach Leh from Srinagar via Kargil and come back via Manali. Leh to Manali road will probably be open by then but make inquiries in Leh before you start back. In case Leh to Manali is still closed, you can return to Srianagar again via Batalik.
Hello Vargis, thanks for the regular updates on the Manali – Leh highway status. We are a group of 6 people planning to take Manali-Leh route starting 4th June for a 10 days trip, do you think the highway should be fully operational by that time.
Hi Ratul – As of the road is expected to open by last week of May or early June, so yes, you should be able to travel as planned.
Hello vargish… im planning a road trip from leh to manali starting from 5th june…. will roads be opened by that time …can you please suggest us the itinary … if we want to visit kaza ?(consider we need to come back delhi by 9th …there is a flight in early morning on 10th) thank you
Hello Bhagyarajsinh,
Expected date of opening for Manali Leh highway is early June as of now so chances are that yes, you should be able to do the journey but let me ask first, are you saying that you will be in Leh on 5th June and coming towards Manali to Delhi. If yes, you can follow the following itinerary.
5th – Leh to Sarchu
6th – Sarchu to Keylong
7th – Keylong to Kaza
8th – Kaza to Manali
9th – Manali to Delhi
Or you can do the following.
5th – Leh to Keylong
6th – Keylong to Chandratal
7th – Chandratal to Kaza
8th – Kaza to Manali
9th – Manali to Delhi
Hmm thank you so much vargish… well is it possible to reach
leh to keylong 5th
.keylong to kaza 6th
Kaza to manali 7th
Manali to shimla 8th
Shimla to delhi 9th ???
Do we need any permits for rohtang pass /spiti valley in this case???
Yes you can do this as well easily. No permits required for Rohtang if you are coming from the other side. Permits are only needed if you are traveling from Manali towards Rohtang.
The only problem with your plan is that you will miss Chandratal which is the highlight of going this way. What you can do rather is that while coming back from Kaza to Manali, start from Kaza as early as you can, by first light of the day. Take a detour from Kunzum Pass towards Chandratal, spend some time, come back to Kunzum and continue to Manali.
From Kunzum top, Chandratal is only 14 kilometers so a quick trip to the lake and back will add about 2 hours max.
How are you traveling btw?
Ohk surely we’ll try our best to cover chandratal as well… problem is that road will be open in june starting???
Hmm we are travelling by selfdriven 1car and 1bike … !!! Thank you so much… your info is useful for us… any recomendation for place for night stay at keylong and kaza???
You are welcome.
The way things are right now, Chandratal should be all open by June first week. I have personally never stayed at Keylong so don’t really know any hotels there. Keylong is more of a town and I do not find it scenic to be quite honest. Whenever I went that way, I just crossed Keylong and proceeded straight to Jispa. There are a couple of camps sites and a wooden cottage site as well which is my preferred place to stay.
As I know vehicle from Manali remains closed for Rotang on Tuesday. Can you please tell me whether is it possible if we travel to Manali from Losar on tuesday?
Thanks in advance.
That restriction applies to people who only want to go to Rohtang and come back to Manali. If you want to cross over to Losar, the Tuesday thing doesn’t apply. You can go.