Every Ladakh season, one of the most common questions I answer on my blog is “How is the mobile phone connectivity in Leh Ladakh?”. The season for traveling to Leh Ladakh is in full swing from June to September every year. Thousands of people make a trip to Ladakh by road or by flying directly to Leh in this season time. However, they are worried about being connected to the family back home in such a remote place.
Of course, the Internet and mobile phone connectivity are an integral part of our lives nowadays. One cannot imagine a life without a mobile phone or the Internet and not being connected with our loved ones, even living seven seas away from home.
So, Leh – Ladakh isn’t a special place when it comes to mobile phone connectivity or Internet access. Hence, knowing about mobile connectivity in Ladakh will help you in many ways in making a trip to Ladakh.
Let's quickly dive into the details:
Tips on Mobile Phone Connectivity in Leh – Ladakh
Well, in this article today, I will share some tips on mobile phone connectivity in Leh – Ladakh. Communication or staying connected with our loved ones is one of the prime necessities of our lifestyles in this era. Unfortunately, things aren’t as rosy as we may assume when it comes to communications or staying connected when we talk about remote parts of the Himalayas, including Leh – Ladakh.
Hence, the below tips will surely help you to set your expectations right in terms of phone or mobile connectivity in Ladakh before you make a trip to Leh – Ladakh in the upcoming season.
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Given below are some important tips on details related to mobile phone connectivity in Leh – Ladakh and surrounding regions including Srinagar – Leh Highway and Manali – Leh Highway. Please read them carefully before planning for your Leh – Ladakh trip.
1. Only post-paid mobile connections work in Leh – Ladakh
The first and foremost thing to keep in mind is that only postpaid mobile connections outside J&K Union Territory & Ladakh Union Territory work in Leh – Ladakh and other parts of Jammu & Kashmir. The prepaid mobile phone connections outside the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory & Ladakh Union Territory do not work in Ladakh. Hence, do not carry any prepaid mobile phone connection for mobile connectivity in Ladakh.
So, always carry a postpaid mobile phone connection only from your hometown. Otherwise, your phone will be dead all throughout your stay in Leh – Ladakh, and parts of Kashmir without any phone connectivity.
You may be able to get pre-paid SIM cards within Leh – Ladakh or Kashmir in case you have forgotten to carry a postpaid phone connection from home. However, you need to complete KYC and must show some local proof of address to get the local mobile SIM card. You can give it a try to stay connected wherever possible, at max, they will say NO 🙂 🙂 … Mostly it works if you know someone closely in Ladakh.
2. Only a few routes/places have phone connectivity in Leh – Ladakh
Only very few places in Ladakh have phone connectivity available to be in the network area. Otherwise, you will mostly be out of phone network coverage when you travel to Ladakh.
Mainly mobile phone connectivity is present around Leh and local areas around Leh. As you travel from Leh to Nubra Valley, the phone signal starts to go away. As you almost reach the top of the world’s highest motorable road, Khardung La (falsely claimed), it further deteriorates.
Nubra Valley & Pangong Tso
As you reach the top of Khardung La and start to descend into Nubra Valley, the phone signals fade away and only come back when you reach Diskit / Hunder in Nubra Valley.
If you are traveling from Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso directly, there will be no mobile phone connectivity on that route.
But, once you reach Pangong Tso, you will find phone signals of BSNL and Reliance Jio at Lukung, Pangong Tso. Even Tangtse, 34 km from Pangong Tso has BSNL / MTNL mobile phone connectivity. Reliance Jio is also making progress up there near Pangong Lake.
If you are traveling from Leh to Pangong Tso, the phone signals will go away near Chang La pass and no phone connectivity will be present between Changla and Tangtse.
Hanle – Tso Moriri
Now, if you are traveling from Pangong Tso to Chusul to Hanle to Tso Moriri, there is no phone connectivity up to Hanle.
Even in Hanle, there is very limited and erratic mobile phone connectivity of BSNL. So, the moment you get phone signals in Hanle, do make a call to your loved ones 🙂 🙂
Nyoma village does have phone connectivity and even Internal connectivity.
When it comes to Tso Moriri, there is no mobile phone connectivity or phone signals at Tso Moriri or Korzok village. Nowadays in 2023, there are some phone signals that have started to come for BSNL network.
The nearest place to Tso Moriri where mobile phone signals are present is Chumathang, about 70 km from Tso Moriri and even Mahe and Nyoma has started getting signals as of 2023.
Then from Chumathang, if you move to Leh, you will get mobile phone connectivity from Upshi to Karu and will be there up to Leh.
3. Intermittent phone connectivity on routes to Leh – Ladakh
When traveling to Leh Ladakh by road from Manali Leh Highway, you will not find much phone connectivity as well. The majority of long sections on Manali Leh road to Ladakh do not have phone signals.
Only few places or towns that come in between Srinagar to Leh or Manali to Leh where mobile phone connectivity is present.
So, you must pass the messages to your family and friends before leaving on these long routes. You might not get a chance to pass a message for a day or two after leaving from the main towns.
Manali Leh Phone Connectivity
If we consider mobile phone connectivity on the 450 km long Manali Leh Highway, it is quite intermittent and a large portion of Manali Leh Highway does not have any phone signals.
As you leave Manali cross Rohtang Pass or Atal Tunnel and reach Keylong or Jispa for a night stay, for most part of this day you will have phone signals and the Internet as well barring a few sections in between. However, on the next day when you leave Keylong or Jispa to Leh, once you cross over Darcha the phone signals go away for the rest of the route.
You will not find any mobile phone signals or connectivity at Baralacha La, Sarchu, Pang, or Taglang La. The first time the mobile signal will come at Upshi after descending from Taglang La or a few kms before Upshi. So, you can see that mobile connectivity in Ladakh is a luxury on a road trip to Ladakh from Manali.
In September 2023, work on laying cables for mobile connectivity on Manali Leh Highway is going on by Reliance Jio and they are going to introduce mobile phone connectivity on Manali Leh Highway up to Sarchu from Leh. They have already launched the phone services in Ladakh in 2018.
Srinagar Leh Phone Connectivity
Similarly, when you travel to Ladakh from Srinagar Leh Highway, the phone connectivity is much better when compared to Manali Leh Highway. You find the phone signals between Srinagar to Sonamarg, but then phone connectivity is lost as you reach Zoji La pass.
Once you reach Drass and Kargil, mobile phone connectivity is present, and you can make phone calls at these places. So, I will say the first day of the Srinagar Leh trip you will get fair connectivity.
The phone signals fade away as you cross Mulbekh, and travel over Fotu La and Namkee La to reach Lamayuru. Mobile phone connectivity is present at Lamayuru, but as you start towards Leh for the rest of the 125 km, it fades away in between. Finally, mobile connectivity is restored near Nimmu and remains mostly with you up to Leh from Sham Valley.
4. Well inform your family and friends
On most of the routes to sightseeing places in Leh – Ladakh, you will not get any mobile connectivity in Leh Ladakh. Hence, you should call at home or inform your loved ones whenever there is a connection available or before venturing out for sightseeing or reaching another place on that day.
Pro Tip: If you are doing a self drive to Zanskar Valley, then make sure to read the article 40 Must Have Things to Carry on a Self Drive Trip to Zanskar Valley
5. Use satellite phones only in an emergency
Many of the remote places or villages in Leh – Ladakh or Manali – Leh Highway do have satellite phones available at Rs 2/minute for STD/ISD to make a call in case of emergency but again keep them only for emergency.
These phones in remote areas of Ladakh are not meant to call your girl or boy and say that you love her so much :P. Who knows that abusing such lifesaving emergency facilities in such remote regions of Ladakh may end up in a lost cause in real emergencies? Even you could be the one to suffer too by such acts.
Hence, use such facilities only in case of emergencies, not for any personal use. Always inform your loved ones before leaving for sightseeing in Ladakh and make sure they know your whereabouts of the plans and the day.
6. BSNL mobile phone services have the widest coverage followed by Reliance Jio, Airtel
BSNL mobile phone services have the widest coverage of mobile phone connectivity in Leh Ladakh. Reliance Jio is followed by BSNL in terms of mobile phone services in Leh – Ladakh coverage. In September 2018, even Reliance Jio launched its services and is being considered to beat both BSNL and Airtel in terms of quality and coverage.
Now, when it comes to the quality of phone calls in Ladakh, Jio and Airtel offer much better call quality than BSNL or MTNL. However, I feel it is much more important to get the coverage of phone signals than quality to deliver a short message.
Hence, you should always carry a BSNL / MTNL postpaid mobile phone connection when traveling to Ladakh for coverage. Let’s wait for Reliance Jio in the upcoming season to get more updates on the phone services in Ladakh in terms of coverage and quality. They are going to offer one of the widest coverage in Ladakh as per the news.
Other networks just remain alive around Leh City only. Mostly they buy the airtime from these providers only.
Again, I prefer wide coverage over better quality any day because at least you can convey your message by SMS if you have connectivity with you. However, sometimes, SMS also does not work. The connectivity and reach have greatly improved in the last few years and improving every year.
7. Data connectivity or Internet in Leh – Ladakh
Data connectivity or Internet in Leh – Ladakh is improved a lot. Airtel and Reliance Jio are offering 4g speeds in Leh, Nubra, and Kargil areas. However, the remote areas in Ladakh like Pangong, Tso Moriri, or Hanle are mostly limited to 3G/2G. The 4G connectivity is rarely experienced in remote areas and of course, does not match up speeds you are used to in cities :)…
Starting in 2018, the data speed or Internet speed in Leh Ladakh by Reliance Jio has been praised a lot. And now in 2023, the results are visible with such good data speeds or the Internet in Leh from Reliance Jio as well as Airtel.
Otherwise, you can use Wi-Fi in Leh Ladakh which is available in hotels, restaurants, or cyber cafes. Almost most hotels in Leh offer free Wi-Fi connectivity, so make the best use of it.
What I remember most from my remotest and disconnected experience is that WhatsApp always works to communicate somehow. You might not be able to transfer pictures, but for sure, you will be able to pass the messages or communicate most of the time. Yes, even when in the rarest of cases if the connection is too slow even to load Google properly 😉 ;)…
8. Plan for no connectivity in Ladakh
As you might have known by now in this article mobile network coverage in Leh Ladakh is fairly limited. Hence, you should never plan a Leh – Ladakh trip based upon the fly communications believing that you will call someone and get connected to prepare for the next move or help find a better stay or find some help on the way by just dialing a phone number.
This might not favor you due to the non-existence of the mobile phone network in Leh Ladakh when you are in dire need. Hence, plan everything before venturing to the Leh Ladakh trip.
9. Be proactive and disciplined
Be ready to be proactive & disciplined because at times in remote places the mobile connectivity tower will work just in the morning working hours and or when there is light.
So, make the best use of available phone connectivity you get any time of the day at any remote place to connect with your family and friends. Otherwise, who knows when you get mobile network coverage next time when doing sightseeing in Ladakh?
Don’t have time to read the full article? You can check this short video on Discover With Dheeraj YouTube Channel on this topic. If you like my video, please do not forget to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel.
10. Have patience
Last but not least, have patience with yourself and consider you are back in an era of landlines with poor connections. Either your effort to call will not go through, or phone calls will drop off, or take 100s of attempts to make one phone call in Ladakh.
Be ready to have tons of missed call alert messages once you return home from Ladakh :). These alerts are most usually in places with connectivity other than Leh. Hence, tell your family and friends before leaving for a Ladakh trip because they might also not connect through due to the same phone network issues in Ladakh.
So, nothing to worry about, it is usual in general to get connected on the phone at a single time.
11. Always carry a couple of power banks to charge your mobile
Leh weather or electricity in Ladakh may get erratic. And, in case you are sleeping overnight at some remote place, power banks may come in handy. Power banks will not only help to restore the power of your phone but enable them to take more pictures and videos too.
Places like Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Hanle, Chusul, Chumathang, etc. or other remote places in Ladakh or the Manali – Leh Highway may or may not have electricity. Sometimes the electricity is available in the morning/evening only. So, having a good backup power bank could prove helpful to charge your mobile phones regularly.
I wonder how much more I use my iPhone camera now than my DSLR camera only. It is because of ease of use, flexibility, features, and even transfer/sharing of pictures in an instant. So, it is not just talking time or SMS that I require battery power on my phone.
Hence, while traveling to remote places in the Himalayas like Ladakh, Zanskar Valley, or Spiti Valley, it is always wise to carry a good power bank of 20000 mAH.
Does UPI / PayTM work in Ladakh?
Well, PayTM or UPI payments in Leh Ladakh are only limited to Leh town or Kargil town and some hotels may accept them in Nubra Valley. However, I will always recommend that you carry enough cash when traveling outside Leh town because the mobile or Internet network may not be that reliable to ensure you have a successful UPI payment outside Leh or Kargil.
In remote areas of Ladakh like Pangong, Tso Moriri, or Hanle, the UPI payments do not work anyway due to a lack of mobile or Internet connectivity.
FAQs Mobile Phone Services in Leh Ladakh
Prepaid mobile phone connections outside Leh Ladakh do not work in Ladakh. As a union territory, J&K & Ladakh does not allow outside-state prepaid phone connections to work. The postpaid connections from BSNL / MTNL, Airtel, and Reliance Jio do work in Leh Ladakh.
Reliance Jio seems to be the best mobile network in Leh Ladakh in terms of coverage, quality, and Internet data speeds. Airtel mobile network also works in Ladakh, but coverage is fairly limited to Leh and Nubra Valley while Reliance Jio offers similar quality but more coverage in Ladakh. BSNL / MTNL outside-state mobile postpaid connections offer the best mobile network coverage in Leh Ladakh. Of course, the Reliance Jio and Airtel networks offer better quality than BSNL/MTNL.
As of September 2023, Reliance Jio is one of the best mobile networks available in the Leh Ladakh region. The Internet data speed of Reliance Jio connections is quite fast as per locals. Reliance Jio is also planning to provide mobile phone connectivity up to Turtuk in Nubra Valley and Sarchu on Manali Leh Highway. So, it will become the best in terms of coverage too.
Most of the time the Vodafone prepaid and postpaid phone connections do not work in Ladakh.
Mostly Aircel prepaid and postpaid phone connections do not work in Ladakh.
Conclusion
I hope the above tips on phone connectivity in Leh – Ladakh, and the Internet in Leh will help you plan your trip to Ladakh in a better and expected way without any surprises.
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LAST UPDATED: Sept 2023
This article has been updated with the latest information about phone connectivity in Leh – Ladakh. It is kept up to date every season to reflect the current status. Feel free to suggest any further updates you deem fit.
73 Comments
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What about vodafone
Does it work?
No Himanshu, Vodafone also mostly do not work. Sometimes they buy airtime but now Aircel gone, I do not think it will work.
Is there idea network in leh?
No Urvi, Idea connections do not work in Leh
Hello Dheeraj,
Any idea if the recently launched Jio postpaid will work there… since it has better coverage compared to its competitors everywhere else.
No Ankit, so far I have not heard from anyone that Jio working in Ladakh
HI …we are planning to visit leh in july …and i am an asthma patient…will it b tough for me?are there medical facilities nearby?
Yes Anku, it may be tough. I will highly recommend talking to your doctor first and then going for the trip. There are no nearby medical facilities and you must carry an oxygen cylinder in Ladakh
hi dheeraj ,, i m landing on leh on 14 september ,, if i have to buy sim there ,,, how much time does it take to start sim??
I don’t have that idea Harry. I think it will take time same like it takes locally for pre-paid. However, you need to consider how you will buy the local sim as they might need local address proof.
Hi Dheeraj,
Please inform…vodafone postpaid will work in leh ladakah.
If it’s in between the city then it’s also ok.
Please let me know.
Thanks
Sashwata
No, Vodafone post paid in general does not work in Ladakh. Sometimes they buy some air time from others and mostly they don’t work though.
Does idea postpaid work there??
I do not think Idea post paid works. Best will be Airtel postpaid near Leh and more connectivity is BSNL/MTNL postpaids
Hi,
Nice informative article.
we are planning a leh trip from aug 13th to 20th. Places we are planning to cover is leh–nubra–turtuk–pangong–leh. Wanted to know about the weather conditions ,so that we can carry clothes accordingly.
Also would it be raining at that time?
Dipti, you can read: Tips for Carrying Clothes for Ladakh Trip
Hi Dheeraj…
Sincerely thankful to u for the tips u provide on ur blog…
We are 4 friends planning a trip to laddakh from Ludhiana. Trip will start on 25th of june and we are planning to reach Ludhiana by 5th of july. Can you please tell us if its a good idea..?? If yes.. then please provide some suggestions for the trip regarding precautions & weather & road conditions etc. Will be extremely thankful to u my Bro…
Regards
Akash.
Thank you Akash !!
It is fine to travel duing that time of the year. You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 13-14 days: Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh.
You can check the nice, preferred list of accommodation options in entire Leh – Ladakh (Leh, Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri) including moderate (cheap budget hotels as well) in the series of articles starting on the link here
For the list of good restaurants in Leh – Ladakh or eateries or food joints where food is enjoyed by many travellers including me, you can check the link here: List of Good Restaurants in Leh – Ladakh | Restaurant Reviews
Check the list of things to carry for Leh – Ladakh or other trip including basic medical kit, clothing, must haves etc. at the link here: List of Things to Carry for Leh – Ladakh trip.
To know about AMS and acclimatization including the tips to combat AMS, please DO READ: Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization
We are staying overnight at pangong is facilities are good there haw is temp. There in June end
There are many camps available in Pangong Tso. You can check the nice, preferred list of accommodation options in entire Leh – Ladakh (Leh, Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri) including moderate (cheap budget hotels as well) in the series of articles starting on the link here
Very Informative.we are senior citizen friends Group of 6 is it advisable to travel leg ladakh?
Yes, you can surely travel. Please plan the trip with a good number of days, fly to Srinagar and travel at ease by road and then you may fly out of Leh.
Thanx my brother is travelling from Usa to visit Leh ladakh in mid June. He will be in Delhi for one night only from your posts I understand he should have post paid Bsnl.can I mail one from Ahemdabad?
Yes, you can mail/courier him as long as it reaches him on time 🙂
Hi Dheeraj, a very informative post. As a non-indian tourist I will be in Delhi for a few days then I will go to Srinagar – Ladakh. What would you recommend regarding provider or possibly multiple providers?
Being able to call in Leh is essential I think to book hotels etc.
Also being able to call/use whatsapp/google maps in Delhi, Pathankot and Srinagar would be nice.
Hello Zarm,
If you are comfortable searching for few hotels here and there after reaching Leh, it should be OK. You will get a prepaid number only as a non-Indian which does not work in Leh – Ladakh as post paid connections only work up there. So, buying it in Delhi will not be a choice unless you want to just make reservations which if required you can do over emails as well, now.
You can only use Google Maps and Whatsapp too unless you have not entered J&K state because post that only postpaid connections work up there. So, you may need to buys the sim again.
Regards
Dheeraj
Hey Dheeraj.. I want to ask u that we are 5-6 person nd we are planning for leh in start of april. What u say,it works?
Vikas, you can fly in to Leh and fly out of Leh as roads to Ladakh are closed during that time of the year.
Hiiee Dheeraj
Just wanted to know is it legal to carry and use satellite phones in India. Read that civilians are not allowed to carry and use them
No, it is not legal to carry satellite phones in India.
Thanks a lot Dheeraj!!
What about hookah?
Is it allowed to smoke there? If yes do we need to bring our flavours or we get there at pan shops
And one more thing is there any type of rafting available as I can see some options in tours and travelers list
It may or may not be there, carry your own flavours. I will restrain from smokking and drinking in high altitude places of Ladakh. Rafting can be done near Leh in Zanskar and Indus rivers around Phey and Nimmu
Hey we are going to come on 25th July to ladakh!
Can u tell how will be the weather at that tym so we can carry clothes according to that!!
Which is the best network so we can carry that!
And do we get wine shops easily in ladakh or we need to carry from Delhi
Hello Aadarsh,
Only post paid connections work in Ladakh. BSNL has the widest coverage in Ladakh so it is always preferred to be carried with you.
There are couple of wine shops in Leh but drinking alcohal may cause AMS symptoms to elevate and cause more trouble. Weather will be nice and pleasant, cold at times. So, one light jacket is a must to carry with light woollens.
We a group of 12/13 want to visit Ladakh in in middle of August, 2017. We will start from Srinagar and complete at Manali. Whether I can get a BSNL prepaid Mobile connection FROM Srinagar with necessary documents. I come to know that only post paid connection of other states are working but I want to use prepaid connection. Please advise me.
Dulal, I am not 100% sure if you will be able to get the SIM car for pre-paid in J&K as you need to provide residency proof of that state AFAIK.
Okay Thankuu…..
Best wishes for you trip, feel free to post any question you may further have for your trip.
Hey
Dhiraj M planning to go on feb 16th to feb 23 ,2017
Is dis gud tim to visit leh Ladakh….
Wat vl b the climatic condition,weather n oxygen level??
Shrenik, if you are going as a tourist and have never been to Ladakh, I will highly recommend making a trip in Season time May to September. In winters, Ladakh is harsh and if not go well prepared, things can turn out bad.
Hay DOW,
Nice post. I am going to do a cycle trip this year to ladakh and currently preparing for the same physically and mentally. I have a question regarding the stay. I would be carrying tent with me eradicating the expense of staying in a hotel. Can I pitch tent anywhere of do I have to take permission to pitch tent in ladakh? If so any idea about the cost?
Varun, I will suggest you to read: Top 10 Tips for Camping in Ladakh & Spiti Valley and it will answer all your questions on camping in Ladakh
Which network will provide me a better connectivity in BSNL Postpaid or Airtel Postpaid?
Wide coverage, go with BSNL any day if you want limited but good connection, then Airtel may be better but only around Leh.
i am planning a roadtrip on my Avenger 150 cc Street. is the bike safe and compatible enough to ride through leh ladakh??
Yes Harender, your bike have enough power to make a Ladakh trip.
can you get a temporary sim in Leh?
It may be possible but I am not 100% sure. You do have to submit some proof not sure if address proof is required or not.
Hi! Does BSNL pre-paid connection work in Leh-Ladakh region? I’ll be travelling mid of August, from Bangladesh. I think getting pre-paid connection will be easier for me!
Anis, no, prepaid of any company does not work in Jammu and Kashmir. You need to have a postpaid connection
Hi. I will be travelling to leh on July 15th 2016. just wanted to know will Bsnl prepaid work for incoming calls.
No Pooja, BSNL does not work in Ladakh
i have a vodafone post paid. will it work at leh?
Most likely yes as for last couple of years it has started working in around Leh.
Hi Tushar and Dheeraj,
Vodafone post paid connection did not work for us in and around Leh, we visited in June this year.
Yes, it is year by year. Sometimes vodafone works and sometimes it does not support.
Hi 🙂 I’m coming to Leh next month and I’m confused about getting BSNL or Airtel Postpaid. I’ll be staying @ Jammu n Srinagar n Leh n Manali. So can yu suggest which has better connectivity? BSNL or Airtel postpaid ? And I’m making a solo trip so network is important for me! Thanks 🙂
If I were you, I will get a postpaid BSNL which I have. In fact I have both of them but BSNL always comes to rescue when in need in Himalayas.
Hi Dheeraj,
My husband is doing a bike ride from delhi to Leh. He started this Sunday at 2 AM. Last time I connected with him on Monday nite when he was in Mandi HP. After that his both of the no are coming switch off. I was very tensed as we planned everything except this connectivity issue. He is having an Airtel postpaid and a bsnl no. I am very tensed. I am also leaving for Leh this Friday via flight. And then we will b Cmg back together on bike. After reading ur blog feeling a bit relaxed but plz help me what possible I can do to get connected.
Priya, I think you should wait a couple of days once he reaches Leh, he should be able to connect with you. In between signals are scarce on Manali – Leh Highway
Hey…i just wanted to ask when is manali leh highway opening this year..?? Any status update..?
Ronnie, well, Manali – Leh is expected to open most likely by mid of May this year. Here is the thread: Manali Leh Highway Status 2016
thanks alot Dheeraj.
regards,
jimit
Thanks a ton !! Just a small query which cars can go till leh ?? Can wagon r be a good option ??
Yes Sangeeta, for sure Wagon R can go to Ladakh. For hatchback/sedan taking on Manali – Leh Highway and Ladakh, I will say:
You will indeed face few tough challenges on the route. The hatchback/sedan will increase the level of every challenge even further, sedan is the worst candidate. My suggestion will be to go via Srinagar route as it will help you feel comfortable with the driving, provide more acclimatization and then once you have done the local Leh-Ladakh, then come back via Manali side. Secondly, since you are in hatch/sedan, then you need to drive with extra care as well. There will be some sections on the Manali – Leh highway in which you might need to sacrifice some scratches on the underbelly. Just make sure you do not bump the engine sump (know it before where it is placed in your car). You need to protect it all around the trip. Thirdly, whenever in doubt do not rush into the section rather park aside and feel the section with your foot, see how other vehicles are crossing it and make a planned route in your mind to cross that section. At the very least do carry Mseal, quick fix, funnel, jerry cans and towing rope with you all the time.
Also, I will strongly suggest that you go through and read my series on Ladakh Self Drive tips at the links below:
7 Useful Tips for a Self Drive to Leh – Ladakh, Routes and Road Conditions In Leh – Ladakh | Ladakh Self Drive Tips, Fuel Availability In Leh – Ladakh | Ladakh Self Drive Tips
Really required information Dheeraj, nice work, Keep it up.!!!
Thanks Amol, glad it is helpful.
Dheeraj, Good information once again. How about vodafone network? Only BSNL and Airtel works in Leh?
Thanks for your info. Regards , Ravi
Vodafone at times work in Leh but mainly limited to only Leh only. AFAIK from the locals, they work on yearly contracts and hence depend upon year to year. From the last couple of years they do work in Leh and vicinity of Leh.
The post is very informative but I feel you won’t realise there’s a world to connect to when you connect with the serene and mesmerising beauty of Ladakh..
Divya, absolutely in agreement 🙂 🙂 … I can definitely relate to the feelings 🙂
hey
me n my fiancee planning to go leh ladkh by road in July..is it safe by road?
Monika, 1000s of people travel by road to Ladakh every year. Risk is always associated with adventure.