Sightseeing in Lolab Valley means that you move from one village to another, enjoying the place’s natural beauty, seeing its water springs, and spending some time observing the local life of the region. There is really no one place or village that is more beautiful than another. Rather, it is the entire valley that you should explore.
How long will it take you to do that? Well, it depends but one day is sufficient in my opinion. But for that as well, you will have to say either in Lolab Valley itself for the night or somewhere nearby. Planning this as a day trip from Srinagar is not ideal, though doable. You can either find accommodation in Lolab Valley itself or stay somewhere near Kupwara.
In our case, we stayed for the night in a hotel in Kupwara, which unfortunately we regretted because of the bad condition of the hotel. The next day, we started our tour of Lolab Valley and spent about 6 to 7 hours traveling from one village to another, in the form of a circuit. The post below is a brief narration of our sightseeing in Lolab Valley. To read the previous parts of the travelogue, you can take a look at the links below.
- Delhi to Pahalgam – Day 1
- Achabal Mughal Garden – Day 2
- Daksum Valley – Day 2
- Sinthan Top – Day 2
- Chatpal Valley – Day 2
- Betaab Valley & Aru Valley – Day 3
- Kalaroos Caves & Satbaran – Day 4, 5 & 6
You can also take a look at the YouTube video below that I shot during our travel to get a better idea of the place. It can help you decide whether or not you should include it in your Kashmir itinerary.
Sightseeing in Lolab Valley
How was our experience of Lolab Valley? Well, to be honest, it was a mix of excitement and disappointment. The disappointment was in terms of the weather and the fact that authorities are not making enough efforts to promote this area as a tourist destination, even though it has all the needed potential.
The excitement was because we were traveling around in a region that was not even open to tourists until a couple of years ago. It is a part of Kashmir that has long remained off the tourist map because of the militancy-related problems in Kupwara but is now starting to see a rise in the number of tourists each year.
Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Kashmir – A Complete Travel Guide
Kalaroos Caves & Satbaran
We started from our hotel in Kupwara at around 9 am and first went straight to Kalaroos Village. This village is famous for its caves that are said to be part of an ancient tunnel system to Russia. This is why the name of the village is Kalaroos, roos meaning Russia.
The second thing that makes this village famous is the giant Satbaran Rock. It has 7 door-like carvings on it but no one knows who made the carvings. There is no historical or archaeological data available about this rock but it sure looks mysterious.
We spent about 2 hours in Kalaroos, exploring the caves and Satbaran. I have talked about this in the previous part of this travelogue and I would request you to take a look at it. After sightseeing in Kalaroos, we then drove out of the village and moved on to see the other villages of the valley. But before that, there was a high-altitude pass that I wanted to cover.
Zamindar Khan Gali / Z-Gali Pass
Zamindar Khan Gali is a high-altitude pass located about 21 kilometers from Kalaroos Village. It is popularly known as Z gali and is at an altitude of 3150 meters (10,334 feet). On a clear day, you can also get a view of Nanga Parbat from the top of Z Gali.
The top of the pass is located at a distance of about 21 kilometers from Kalaroos and 32 kilometers from Kupwara. It is one of the lesser-known passes of Kashmir. Only a few have been there because of the fact that it is not open to tourists without getting a permit.
Machil Valley
After Zamindar Gali Pass, if you drive down another 15 kilometers to its other side, you will reach Machil Valley. There are about 15 small villages located in this valley. The group of these villages is known as Machil and it is the last village on the border sitting right along the line of control.
Machil is a Dardic name meaning fish, which are in abundance in the streams in this valley. It is a charming village with lush green meadows during spring and summer.
The problem however was that to go to both these places, you need to get permission from the DC office in Kupwara. Lolab Valley has been declared open for tourists but Machil Valley still remains closed. To get there, one still needs to go through all the formalities and secure permits.
We did not have the required permission to go that way so Machil Valley was anyway not a part of the itinerary. But I wanted to see if we could at least go to Z-Gali Pass and return from there.
The road to Zamindaar Gali Pass and Machil Valley is the same that you take to reach Kalaroos Village. You drive on this road for about 10 kilometers from Kupwara and if you turn right, you will enter Kalaroos but if you continue on the same road, it will take you up the Z-Gali Pass and further to Machil.
So after visiting the caves, we drove out of the village and reached this main road. We were about to take the turn to Z-Gali when I noticed a few Army trucks parked along the main road. So rather than driving up and then getting sent back somewhere midway, we decided to ask the Army folks.
Also Read: Mobile Network in Kashmir & Data Connectivity
Kalaroos to Khumriyal to Badibera
Much to our disappointment, we were told by the Army that we could not go to Z-Gali without permission. We will be sent back from the first post itself and driving that way was in vain. We were disappointed but at least thankful that we asked around or would have driven a few kilometers extra to no avail.
Nonetheless, we started on our way back to Khumriyal. At the time of this trip, information available about Lolab Valley on the net was almost negligible. I really had no idea about the best way to plan this trip or our sightseeing itinerary. The little information I had was gathered after talking to the locals only.
This is what Lolab Valley looks like, paddy fields everywhere.
This is the view of the entire valley from Satbaran. The village on the slope of the mountain is Kalaroos.
So the best plan that I could come up with was to complete the sightseeing in the form of a circuit. See the map below. From Kupwara, we reached Khumriyal Village. That is where the road to Kalaroos Village bifurcates to the left. After visiting Kalaroos, we were now driving back to Khumriyal so we could go toward the other villages on the other side of the river.
The drive back to Khumriyal did not take long. We crossed the market area, then a small bridge, and were now driving toward the small village of Badibera. This was going to be the center point of our circuit. From Badibera, we were to turn right and then circle back to the same point.
Sogam – Chandigam – Gundmancher
We reached Badibera in no time and turned right. I will keep posting sections of the map so that you are able to relate to the journey.
Lolab Valley is a part of Kashmir that is underdeveloped in terms of tourism and receives minimal tourists. Once upon a time, efforts were made to promote it as a tourist destination but were never completed. Signs of those efforts are still scattered all over the valley though.
You will keep coming across recreational Eco parks and grounds that were once a feeble attempt at developing the region but now lie ignored. Nothing out here is in good condition except for the road. The condition of the road throughout the valley is super smooth.
Sogam is the largest village in the valley and serves as administrative headquarters as well. After Badibera, we crossed Sogam Village and arrived in Chandigam Village.
Chandigam is the place where the JKTDC rest house is. I have not stayed in it but from what I have been told, it is a well-maintained rest house and a good place to stay in Lolab Valley. Other than that, Chandigam is just another quiet little village and there is nothing worth seeing that I know of.
We crossed Chandigam and started on our way to Gundmancher. What I was really chasing were these small blue dots that we were seeing on Google Maps. There were several of them all over Lolab Valley and it made me wonder if these were actually small lakes. See the map below.
Tekipora
So my plan was to reach Gundmancher and then circle to Tekipora from there while seeing these lakes. Since the road was good, it did not take us long to cover the distance. We crossed Gundmancher and were soon in Tekipora, starting at something that I thought would be a beautiful lake. This is what we saw.
This is when I realized that what we were looking at were just village ponds, dirty and not pretty at all. Well except for the ducks swimming in it. They were sure pretty. I do not know if I was disappointed or not but I still got down from the car to click some pictures of the ducks at least.
While I was doing that, a village boy walked up to me and looked at my Nikon Z6 ii with interest. They do not see many outside tourists out here. Me and my camera definitely invoked his interest.
He started talking to me, asking where I was from and how much the camera cost. I answered his questions and in return, he advised me to backtrack a little and go toward Wani Dorusa. This is what he was suggesting.
As per him, the region that this road passes through was really beautiful and I should see that. He also talked about another huge lake there that I should take pictures of.
I saw no harm in doing what he was suggesting. After all, we were just exploring, going wherever the road took us. So I turned the car around, drove back a little, and started driving up a narrow road.
Also Read: Clothes for Kashmir Trip – What to Pack
Wani Dorusa
This road was gradually climbing up and with the increase in the altitude, we were also driving through the forest area. The boy was right about one thing. This indeed was a beautiful area that he sent us to.
The road climbed up a little and then went back down to Tekipora Village. I think it was a distance of about 7 kilometers that we drove, in the form of a circuit. I did not mind this part of the drive at all.
We circled on the entire road and reached back Tekipora again but I did not see anywhere the lake the boy was referring to. I later found out that it was another water reservoir built up in the forest to harvest rainwater and the water flowing down from the streams. To get there, we would have to leave the car and walk up a short distance to reach.
Not going there was a wise decision though because I later found another such dam in the valley and that too was anything but scenic. Now after Tekipora, we started driving up to our next destination – Kairwan.
Kairwan
Kairwan is at a greater altitude than the rest of the villages in Lolab Valley. This is also the village that was once on top of the plans to be developed as a tourist attraction. In fact, they even built a tourist resort and an ECO park out here but all that is now ignored and in bad shape.
Kairwan is also the starting point of a few treks into the forests of Lolab Valley. One trek leads to a high-altitude pass called Trimukha Top and another to a meadow called Nagmarg. There are actually a few other treks as well going to the other parts of the forest.
I however was still foolishly chasing another blue dot on the map. It read water dam on it.
My thought was that if it is a dam, then it must be large and there must be a river flowing into it. I did not see a river on the map though, just the blue dot reading Water Dam. After a short drive, we reached this spot and left our car.
From there, we walked for about 100 meters uphill and this is what the water dam turned out to be.
It was just another water reservoir, built for the purpose of harvesting rainwater and water from the melting snow. This dam even had an outlet for the water to flow down into the villages.
Even though the dam was far from being pretty, the location was quite scenic. It was a very peaceful spot and we spent about 30 minutes just sitting on the grass there.
Some more locals here were intrigued by seeing tourists in their valley and walked up to me to have a conversation. They requested me to help promote the valley which I promised that I would.
Diver – Lalpora – Badibera
Our sightseeing of Lolab Valley mostly just ended at this spot. The hot weather and the harsh sun were driving us crazy and making it difficult to enjoy the views. It was burning hot and even sitting in the car with AC running at full seemed like a task.
From Kairwan, we drove down to Lalpora and started on our way to Badibera, to complete the circuit.
For a minute, I thought of taking the road toward Warnow and seeing that side of the valley but in my heart, I knew that it would be nothing new. We will just drive through a few more villages and that would be it. So we gave up that plan and soon reached Badibera.
From Badibera, we drove back to Khumriyal and then arrived in Kupwara.
We were going to stay on this side of Kashmir for a couple of days because I also wanted to see Bangus Valley and Keran Village. The previous night, we had stayed in a hotel in Kupwara but for the next three nights, our stay was booked in a JKTDC rest house near Chowkibal. It is located in a small village called Reddi, about 6 kilometers from Kralpora.
JKTDC Rest House – Chowkibal
It is a beautiful rest house located right next to a river. The rooms were well-maintained, spacious, and had clean bedding. The name of the caretaker here is Iqbal and his phone number is 968 264 9223. You can call him directly to book your stay.
The rest house has a kitchen as well and you won’t have to go out to have food. You can just let the caretaker know and he will cook for you as well. You can read a detailed review of this rest house at J&K Dak Bungalow – Reddi, Chokibal.
The rest house in Kralpora is behind the Kralpora Police station if you want to stay there. I have not stayed there but from what I was told, it is also in good condition.
After Kupwara, we drove for about 15 kilometers and reached Kralpora, another major town on this route. After Kralpora, we traveled for another 6 kilometers and finally arrived at the rest house. It had already started to get dark by then.
- Journey Ahead: Bangus Valley – The Virgin Beauty of Offbeat Kashmir
Not much happened after that. We rested for a while, had dinner, and called it a day. The plan for the next day was to go explore Bangus Valley, another one of the lesser-known valleys of Kashmir. Please click on the link above to continue reading the next part of the travelogue.
Sightseeing in Lolab Valley – Conclusion
In the end, to conclude, it is the natural beauty of Lolab Valley that is its primary attraction. It boasts stretches of apple, cherry, peach, apricot, and walnut orchards, giving it the status of the ‘Fruit Bowl of Kashmir’.
Together, Satbaran and Kalaroos Caves are the biggest tourist attractions of Lolab Valley. There are however a few other places of interest that I will list down below.
I cannot verify these details because I have not been to these places. This is the information that I found on the web actually. Maybe the next time I am in Lolab Valley, I will try and look for these spots.
There is supposedly the final resting place of the saint Kashyap Reshi located in Lolab Valley, at a distance of about 1 km from village Lalpora. There are two springs near this spot, one called Lavnag and another one called Gauri Spring.
I did not know about these places during my visit to Lolab Valley so I cannot really confirm where these are or if the springs are worth visiting. This is on my list to see the next time I go to Lolab.
I read about a new Tourist Site in a village called Kairwan that was being developed by the authorities but I did not really find anything when I went there. But I know that it is an eco-park somewhere up in the forest that was developed by the forest department.
I hope the travelogue, pictures, and information above on sightseeing in Lolab Valley were 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.
174 comments
Hi Vargis, I’ve been following your website for a few days and it has most of the info I need. Thank you and keep up the good work! I have a plan next year to go from Srinagar to Leh in mid April. Will the highway open around that time? I also read that the road from Leh to Manali will be closed during April, is that true?
It all depends on the weather Syabilla, no can predict so early. In 2017, it opened in May and in 2018 it was opened in March itself. All depends on how much it snows. Manali to Leh yes will definitely be closed in April.
Are roads to leh via Srinagar clear now??
Yes
will the Srinagar Leh Highway be open till 15th Nov 2018
Depends on the weather. May close if it snowed heavy at Zojila
Hello sir, is it possible, i rent a bike in jammu and drop in manli
Yes you an but they will charge you money for it, approximately 10 to 15k
Hey Sir, i m planning to go to Leh coming January 2019 and also planning to go to Gulmarg via road…suggest me its okk to travel via road?
You cannot reach Leh from Srinagar by road if that is what you were asking. The road to Gulmarg however remains open in January.
Dear Vargis,
Your website has been so usefull so far! I had one question though: I Have a flight to Srinagar 30 september 2018. I was hoping to take the road to Leh, but my guesthouse in leh told me it might be better to fly to leh because of wheater conditions in beginning of oktober. Would it be best to book now in advance this flight from srinagar to leh? Or could I also wait until im in Srinagar the end of september. Im a bit afraid the flight then will be full in case the road is closed off. Ofcourse I would prefer the road for the experience of it. Thank you!
Arjan
Hi Arjan – 30th September is fine by road. It will be cold but you will still find people traveling by bikes so it is doable. No need to fly.
Hi we have already booked ticket delhi to leh 9 November and return flight 16 november srinagar to delhi.
My question is that mid november road are open or close?
Yes, internal roads in Ladakh remain all open in November. Srinagar Leh route will depend on the weather but historically, it is open until Mid November.
Hi Vargis,
Thanks for the informative blog
We are traveling to Leh from Srinagar on early morning of 5th May. will the roads are open on that day?
what is the current status of the road?
Thanks,
Hi Anil – Yes it will be open by 5th May
Dear Vargis
Thank you very much for all your efforts to keep us updated on Srinagar – Leh and Manali – Leh Highway. After recent snowfall, what’s the possibility of opening Manali – Leh highway within May 20?
I am planning to start my Ladakh trip via Srinagar and if everything goes right, then my Ladakh trip will be completed within May 20-21 . Will it be possible to return to Delhi via Manali – Leh Highway at that time?
Hello Biplob,
It is really hard to predict right now. It snowed at Zojila top even today. It entirely depends on the weather but the way things are right now, chances of Manali Leh opening by May 20th are a little tough. It may get pushed towards June first week as well.
Dear Vargis,
I am planning my trip from Holland and I read your article on Manali to Leh and is was very helpful!! Augustus will be the time I will arrive in Delhi and than on to Shimla and the Manali-Leh Highway. I want to complete the circuit so after Leh go to Kargil and Srinagar, Jammu, Dalhousie, Dharamshala, Amritsar. Until what time is the Leh – Srinagar highway open? Is it better to do the trip in reversed order? Do you have an article on Leh to Srinagar?
Love to hear your repsonse
Buyo
Hello Buyo,
If you are arriving in August then you are OK doing the journey anyway that you wish. Srinagar Leh route remains open until November and Manali Leh route is open until Mid October.
Thank you for your prompt reply!! I might contact you again if i have some more questions……
Buyo
No problem Rene. Happy to help
Thanks Vargis for your assistance To go to leh from Srinagar.we hv completed the journey safely.wonderful journey. It will be memorable.your blog is definitely useful.pl follow it though wañt to go leh by road.
Hi Jagannath Bhai, You are welcome. How was your trip? Would you mid sharing some pictures and a little bit of details to help others?
hello sir, what kind of footwear would you recommend for the Leh trip in first week of May?
Just take your normal sports shoes, they will do fine.
Hello Vargis bhai,
Thank you for putting efforts on providing updates.
I am planning to visit Leh from Srinagar this week: I have few doubts
1. Is it possible to visit major sightseeings such as Nubra valley, Pangong Tso Lake, Tso Moriri, Khardung La etc?
2. Do I need a permit to visit these places? If yes, could you please help with the link or information?
3. What other places I can visit during this trip?
Regards,
Geetesh
Hello Geetesh, Thank you for your kind words.
1. Yes all of these places are open for visit.
2. Yes you do need a permit. Please see the article below.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/obtaining-ilp-for-ladakh/
3. It depends on how many days you have in hand and how you are traveling.
Thanks Vargis bhai I am planning to start from Ambala on 13 Oct and back to Ambala by 21 Oct by my i10. Will it be possible to drive by Manali during 13 Oct. What all places can I see around Leh and where all I need to make a halt during journey.
It all depends on the weather really but historically the route should remain open on 12th. Make this journey in 2 days at most, Manali to Keylong OR Jispa and then straight to Leh the next day.
Hi Vargis bhai, Planning to visit Leh in mid October. Have some queries, kindly spare some time. Which route will be best to enter and exit from Leh from Manali or Srinagar.Can you give me an itenary. Where to stay on route and which places to visit in or near Leh. Will it be possible to drive i10 in this route.
Hi Aninda Bhai, If you can make it in first 10 days of October then you must take Manali route to reach Leh and return via Srinagar. How many days are you planning to travel for? Yes you can do the trip in an i10 but will have to be extremely careful due to low GC.
Dear sir,
I read that due to recent disturbances in valley, the Srinagar- Sonamarg road is closed. Is it so.? Looks like there is also some shutdown in Kangan area. will this affect travel on the Srinagar – Sonmarg road?
We are planning travel on Srinagar – Leh on April 15.
Hello Venkatesh Bhai, There were some protests at Kangan a few days ago but it is all settled now. As a matter of fact, the official opening ceremony of the road was conducted yesterday only
Hello Vargis Khan Sir
I was there when operation is on going. Some bikers and Private car are passed from Kangan.
If you want to pass Kangan, wait there sometime when you get clear raod some hours and you can go easily. And Don’t worry about Kangan people. There are so Good people and also take care about us.
Thanks for sharing this Monti Bhai
I am planing to go Ladakh by April 29 so which route would be better by road to Ladakh from Manali so will Manali Leh road open by that time or should I choose the route of manali-srinagar-leh road
For now plan to go via Srinagar Leh route only. When you are in Leh, ask around about Manali road status and if it is open, then return via Manali.
Thanks for the information and its best blog
so my route is Manali to Srinagar to Ladakh?
Thanks Athif. And yes, ,you will go to Ladakh via Srinagar. If the Manali route is open then you would come back via Manali or you would return to Srinagar only.
So how many day will it for the whole trip and permits required for the trip for manali to srinagar to leh route
10-14 days for the trip at least. For permits, see the post below.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/obtaining-ilp-for-ladakh/
Is there any requirement for permit while traveling to ladakh from manali to srinagar to ladakh
that is till I reach ladakh by that road do I need to get any permit to travel on that road
MANALI-SRINGAR-LADAKH
No you do not need any permit tor each Ladakh by either Srinagar or Manali. Permit is only needed after you reach Leh and want to visit other places like Nubra Valley or Pangong Tso.
Around how much would be the whole cost(rough figure) for Manali – Srinagar – Ladakh by road including stay, bike rent, fuel, food etc
Take a look at this article. Depending upon which bike you rent, add a daily rental of around Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2000 to the calculation I have made here.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/cost-of-motorcycle-trip-to-ladakh/
Just read on your Manali page that the road will be open by April 20th. Can I plan a trip in a way that I go to Leh by Srinagar and return via Manali around 5th May?
You can but nothing is guaranteed right now. Best to wait for now until further updates.
Vargis Sir, just wanted to say that you are doing a great job sharing all thsi information with travelers. Keep up the good work and thank you once again.
Thanks Yuvraj Bhai
Thanks, Vargis.Khan
I had completed my Road trip Srinagar to Leh by private Swift car (30th March to 5th April).
It was imaging journey. I have seen lost of snow at Zijila pass and kargil.
Thanks once again.
That is great Monti Bhai. Do share some pics of your trip. What were the Zojila timings when you crossed the pass?
Will Srinagar Leh bus will be operational in April this year if the road is open already?
Most probably not. It usually gets operational by May
Thanks for your help
You are welcome
Is there any public transport bus operated now from Srinagar to leh..please inform
Not right now. It probably will not start until late April.
Are they letting private vehicles to travel now?
Yes they are
Any idea on by when an official announcement will be made? I have been waiting to travel and right now the plan is of around 15th April.
It will happen sometime this week
vergis bhai kya khardungla pass or marsimik la pass b open ho jaega 11 may se phle????
Shiv Bhai Khardung La toh already open hai. Marismik La ka bhi chance hai ke shayad open mile May 11th tak.
Hi, Vargis, can you please tell, oxygen pouches are available for purchase?
Hi Jagannath, Yes they are available at both Srinagar and Leh. Please take a look at the post below.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/rent-oxygen-cylinder-for-ladakh-trip/
hello vargiss bro I heard somewhere that local traffic will be allowed from sgr to leh on 28 march is that true please reply me fast
The highway opened today Imtiyaz Bhai though it has not been announced officially yet.
HELLO,..WHEN SRINAGAR/MANALI TO LEH ROADS ARE OPEN?
YESTERDAY I HAVE PLAN MY TRIP ON 2ND APRIL.
Srinagar leh is open already.
Manali Leh will probably open by late April or early May.
vargis sir i m work in leh i plan a schedule of leh to jammu on 17 april than is it possible to go ..by road
Surender Bhai right now it looks like it will be all open by then
thanks a lot my bro please give me update on regards this and may god bless you to supporting us like as a govt guiders even net is not given update regards this you are osm bro….
Thank you Surender Bhai for your kind words. I really appreciate it. God Bless you and your family !!!
I will update as soon as I receive further word on the opening.
bro current status please
Surender Bhai road is open though it has not been announced officially yet.
Hello Vargis Sir,
First of all, I must say that your blog is the best blog for any information on Leh-Ladakh. You have designed and written the different topics and pages so so very well.
I have following questions as we plan to Travel from Srinagar to Leh instead of Manali.
1) Is bus service available from Srinagar to leh ?
2) Can we get buses from Srinagar to Leh at the spot ?
Please help.
Hello Suprotim Bhai – Thank you so much for your kind words. I am glad that the information posted was of help.
Yes there is a bus available from Srinagar to Leh that you can board on the spot. I have covered the topic with complete details at the link below. Please take a look.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/srinagar-to-leh-bus-service-fare-schedule-book/
Hello Vargas, any update on condition and date of road clearance?
Hello Debarpriya – Snow is expected to be cleared by end of this month. BRO will assess the condition of the road and will probably declared it open around April 10th to 15th.
Vargis bhai any update. ….
Of sgr leh road
Rameez Bhai as of now the estimate on opening is around 10th to 15th of April.
thx alot for information bro
You are welcome Rameez Bhai
Hi, will the road from srinagar to leh opened by April 24 2018?
Per the estimate as of now, yes it should.
Sir, is it possible to go Leh from Srinagar on 14 th April,this year? Is there Chopper services from Srinagar to Kargil at that time? Kindly suggest.
Hello Debapriya – If you mean by road then yes, there is a high chance that the road may open. The Pawan Hans helicopter service remains operational in winter; ticket for which can be bought at TRC Srinagar.
hello vargis khan bro…….any new update. Of Sgr leh road ……
Hello Rameez Bhai – Haven’t heard any new updates yet.
Updated now Rameez Bhai
Hello Vargis
Heard from someone that during the travel season that is May till Oct you can say roads from Srinagar To Kargil or some stretches in between are open alternatively for one side. Is it true? If yes is there any schedule kind of which can help. What I mean is if 6th March is open today towards Kargil it will he closed on 7th but will be open the other way.
Sorry but heard this from somone hence asked.
Hi Prashant – That traffic regulation is around Zoji La Pass, between Sonamarg and Drass. For the first half of the day, traffic from Sonamarg side is released and then from Drass in second half of the day. This is to avoid traffic congestion at Zoji La top and this usually only happens in early opening days of the pass.
Hi Vargis, I am planning a road trip by car from Srinagar to Leh via Zojila. This will be in June 2018…Was wondering how safe it is to self drive (probably an XUV or similar vehicle) through the region especially the 9 Km belt of the pass?
Hi Ankita – It depends on how experienced you are at the wheel. If you have done some amount of driving in the hills and are in a vehicle with good ground clearance, then you will be able to tackle it. There is usually a lot of slush at Zoji La which makes it difficult for people to get across.
Dear
Thanks for your blog. Infact am planning a leh solo drive trip as I will be reaching Delhi by 25th June. Am pretty confused to go with Delhi Manali Leh or Delhi Srinagar Leh. As coming back will be for sure by Manali highway itself. But on my way to Leh will it be safe enough to go with Srinagar highway due to uncertainty conditions. Looking for your expertise advice…
If you are sure that you will be coming back via Manali then you must take the Srinagar route to reach Leh. You must not miss driving on that side of the valley, it is very beautiful. And yes, it is quite safe for tourist. Thousands of people travel each year via Sriangar.
Hello,
We are planning to travel from Srinagar to Leh on 3rd may.. will it be open? We are confused as we are heading from south and flight charges are costly and requires booking at the earliest!!
Srinagar to Leh should be open by 3rd May this year.
I am planning to visit Srinagar during 11 to 18 March 2018. Is there any chance of flights being cancelled due to snowfall in Srinagar
No chance. There is almost no snow in Srinagar this year anyways. Just one snowfall so far in the year and that too very light one.
Great blog Sir. I and a group of 5 friends plan to travel from Sri-Leh-Dri in mid-end Oct. Can you tell me if the road is good enough at that time? Also, while at Leh, is traveling by own vehicle allowed to places like Pangong, Khardungla, Hunder, Changla, Tso-Moriri and other sightseeing places? Or do we have to rent a taxi from Leh?
Hello Mr. Ghosh – If you are not planning on traveling via Manali then yes you can do the trip in October as well. As long as the vehicle is registered in your name then you are free to bring it anywhere in Ladkah, no need to rent a taxi.
Hi Vargis, I hv booked tickets along with my friends to go to Leh via Srinagar and night stay at kargil.we will reach Srinagar on 14th April,and planning to go road to leh on 16th. What will be the road conditions.is it wise to go by road, pl suggest
Road conditions will definitely be bad so early in the season. But a bigger question is of whether or not the road will open. To be on a safer side, delay the plan towards April end or early May.
Hi bro…we are planing road trip on 10th april
Will any chances road open by 10 april?
We will come via scorpio
When will the srinagar.leh road open this year?
Hi Sandeep – Chances are opening by 10th April are a bit slim right now. The road is expected to open sometime around 20th.
hello vargis
Sir I have booked my tickets to Srinagar and return tickets from Leh.. here goes my itinerary
June 2nd Arrive Srinagar mid afternoon
June 3rd Srinagar – Kargil Enroute Sightseeing
June 4th Kargil – Leh enroute Magnetic hill, Gurudwara Sahib, Spituk Kali Mata mandir, sangam, Hall of fame. Leh
June 5th Local Siteseeing
June 6th Rent bike to Leh – Khardungla Pass – Deskit – Hunder
June 7th Hunder –Khardungla – Leh
June 8th Leh – Pangong Lake over Changla Pass
June 9th Pangong lake – Tsomoriri Lake via Tsagla
June 10th Tsomoriri Lake –Leh via Tsokar Enroute visit Shey, Thiksey , 3 Idiot School
June 11th Leh Airport Drop
We are 6pax and thinking to take a innova for entire trip.. all of same age group 26-28..
Sir should I take a package from Srinagar or just book a taxi and do everything by our own we are looking to cut down prices because our flight price is way too high.
Will the road from Srinagar to Kargil be open by this time?
Hi Sharan,
1. Yes the roads will be open
2. Your itinerary is OK except for June 9th. That is ideally a 2 days journey. Pangong to Hanle and Hanle to Tso Moriri
3. If you are on budget then try to use shared cabs and bus services wherever you can.
1)You are saying we cant travel directly to tsomoriri from pangong?
2) I have taken qoute from few taxi drivers directly all are qouting plus or minus 3-4k to 50k..
3) but the travel agents are scaring me that you may get stay in leh but interior places like kargil nubra, tsomoriri were only few options of stay it is diff to get accommodation as june is a peak season.. online booking in this place seems to be too high
1. No I am saying that it is a 2 days journey, not one. You will have to stop midway at Hanle and then continue to Karzok the next morning. If you want to do this in one day then make sure that you start early From Pangong, possibly by first light of the day and keep your breaks limited to minimum.
2. That sounds about right. Taxi charges in Ladakh are quite high.
3. They will definitely scare you because if they don’t, no one will hire them and everyone will travel on their own. Do not worry, you easily get accommodation everywhere.
Thank you so much.. sir do you have any recommendation for cheap n best accommodation or taxi ?
You are welcome. Are you asking about Private or shared taxis? Shared taxis are more like on the spot thing. Reach the bus stand and find one going towards your destination. Take a look at the posts below for some hotel information.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/tag/where-to-stay-in-ladakh/
Hi Vargis,
Am planning to fly to leh on may 10th(10th to 16 i will be staying in LEH),then on may 16th i will be travelling to srinagar via kargil, Is this fine to travel, we are 2 kids and 4 adults, is it safe.. am not able to plane late may as the flight prices are super high 🙁
TIA,
Smitha SV
Hi Smitha – The only problem will be of acute mountain sickness on first two days since you will be reaching there by flight. Are you planning to board a bus to Sriangar or rent a private taxi?
Hi.. If i plan to stay overnight at kora camp pangong lake.. How wud the experience be? Wud it be too unbearable to spend the night in the tent. Pls advise
hi..in continuation to the above query.. I meant travel dates from may 4th to may 14th
No it will not be too unbearable. All the camp sites are pretty warm and protected so you will be OK.
thanks so much:) but what wud be the min night temps like at pangong and nubra valley camp sites? Also i hv heard there are no heaters provided at pangong camp sites. Is it true?
There are no heaters but the camp is quite windproof with proper warm bedding so you will not really need a heater. Temperature at nights can be close to or below 0
Is it possible to road trip to leg via Kashmir and kargil in the first 2 weeks of April?
*road trip to leh.
Most probably not. Sriangar Leh road opens by Mid April and even at this time, chances of closure again are high. Better plan towards late April or early May.
if i want to travel mumbai-leh-mumbai in the month of may…which dates in may would be the best to enjoy the scenic beauty and the snow?
If you mean to travel by flight then early May, if you mean to go by road then mid to Late May.
Hi vargis
Any updates on road condition. Will BRO start clearing road in March 1st like the previous year. I think the snow is not very heavy when we compare it with last year. So any chances for early opening. Last year they opened on May 8 to 12…
Hi Srinivasan – Yes the snow is not that great this year so the snow clearing and road opening may even be a bit early this year.
I may travel from Srinagar to law on April 8
Is there any govt or private buses available for travel to leh from Srinagar
Nothing that early in April. Buses most probably will not be available until May.
Hi.. i am planning Jammu to leh by road trip with family, will May end be a good option.?
Also want to know if there are any cab/taxi services available from jammu to Leh?
Because i want to travel via Kargil
Hello – Yes you can travel towards May end. Shared taxis too will be available from Srinagar.
Thankx,
Thank you so much for the reply. 🙂 🙂
However are there any cab/taxi available from Jammu to leh direct? in order to avoid hassle from Jammu to Srinagar and then from Srinagar to Leh
Unfortunately no. You will have to first reach Srinagar and look for a mode of transport there for Leh
Thanks for sharing the information…
You are welcome
Hi, I want to travel sringar kargil leh from on 10th may.will roads be opened? How will be the atmosphere by then in leh kargil. As you say roads are just a nightmare to travel in may, will it be so much of hectic?
Hello – You can travel in early May as the highway usually opens in April. The road is usually bad towards early season while BRO works to restore it but you can still make the journey. A lot of people do it.
Hi mr Khan, I am planning a trip to Vesno Devi from Delhi on May 18th. On May 20th my plan was to hire a Inova and travel through Sri Nagar>SonMarg>Kargil>Leh by May 23rd. Will it be safe to travel to Manali from leh by then? Roads open? Do you suggest Rothang Pass? We wanted to come back to New Delhi after Manali. Please suggest safe route or plan. If we need to eliminate Manali and go back that also is not a problem. Looking forward to your guidance .
Hello Prince,
You can travel from Srinagar to Leh but do not plan Manali route as of now. That road usually opens by late May or early June. There is not much snow this year so it may open a bit early but do not count on it. For now, just plan to return to Srinagar itself. While you are in Leh, ask around and if the Manali route is open, you may consider to change your plan.
Hi Vargis,
Can you share when sonemarg and yousmarg will open to visit i am planning to visit kashmir in march last week.
Hi Pramod – It is open right now. There is not any snow at all this year. Hasn’t snowed in Srinagar even once this season.
Thankyou very much for this information.I will visit both .
You are welcome
Very nice blog and hope so the manali leh will be open and can I help me with umlingla information for traveling there on bike in June month ?
Thank you Sameer. Please take a look at the link below or more information on Umling La.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/umling-la/
Is October a good time for travelling to Leh and Kargil.
Yes it is. Try to plan in early October though and avoid Manali Leh route.
Hi sir, we’re planning a ride on 5th June to Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil, keylong and Manali. In Royal Enfield will that be a right time?
Hi Andrew, Yes you can plan your ride at this time. All the roads will be open by June
Hi
Sir we are planning to travel on 8th may from srinagar to leh via kargil stop. Is it good to travel on this date.
The highway will most probably be open by that time but since it is just start of the season, roads will be in terrible condition with a high chance of temporary closure. To be on a safer side, delay your plan by a couple of weeks.
Hi. Your blog is very interesting and useful. We, an enthusiastic group of 25 members half of it 60 plus, and the remaining adventurous and very energetic youth, planning a trip to Srinagar from 16 th to 23 rd May 2018. Trip includes Leh. Please give suitable advice.
Please let me know what your questions are and I will be happy to answer.
Thank you. We are in Srinagar on 16 th May. Can we make a comfortable tour to and fro Kargil to Leh (19th May to 22nd) 19 th at Kargil and then to Leh . Have to return back to Srinagar Airport by noon on 23 Rd May.
Yes you can.
19th – Kargil
20th – Leh
21st – Sightseeing in Leh, take a drive to Khardung La
22nd – Board a shared taxi from Leh that runs non-stop to Srinagar. About 15-16 hours of journey
Will it be open from 1st June 2018 to 10th June 2018
Yes it will be open at that time
We are planning to Leh from Srinagar by 15th May. Will that be a right time by road to Leh?
You can plan but roads will be terrible. Better to delay it by a few weeks and plan in June
i just want to know whether leh-kargil-Srinagar highway will be open on 1 june to 8th june since we are planning our trip in between tohse dates
Yes it will definitely be open by then.
is may mid good for doing the circle manali -leh- srinagar ?
Manali Leh highway usually opens by late May or early June so best to delay your plan by a few weeks. June mid at earliest will be good.
We are planning to go Leh from Srinagar by road on 17th April 2018. Kindly suggest whether road will open during April or suggest to skip program.
To be on a safer side, delay the travel by a couple of weeks at least. This year the highway opened towards early May. Very low chance of opening by Mid-April and even if it does, the roads will be a total nightmare with a high chance of temporary closures along the route.
We plan our Leh trip during march-2012 (2ndweek). is there any chance for road from Srinagar to Leh get openned on march 2nd week
No, it will open sometime in April
Sir, thank you the way you are helping the travellers. We want to plan our Leh trip during May-2018. When the road from Srinagar to Leh get openned for tourist?
Hello Mhp – Srinagar Leh highway usually opens by late April or early May. To be on a safer side, plan after Mid-May.
If i want to travel leh via zhozila in dec 2017 last week . Will roads remain open til that time.
No the highway is already closed
Thank you so much, it will be of great help to the travellers like us who wish to explore the route to reach Ladakh ,July 2018
You are welcome and thank you for your encouraging words.