Khardung La pass is a gateway to some of the most enchanting and unexplored landscapes. This famed mountain pass is very popular amongst adventure seekers and regular tourists alike. Located in the Leh district of the Indian Union Territory, Khardung La is situated at an elevation of 5,359 meters. It is hailed to be the highest motorable pass all across the globe. Historically speaking, Khardung La is quite significant as it lies on the major caravan route that links Leh to Kashgar in Central Asia.

During the second world war, an attempt to transfer war well to China was made through this route. Khardung La was constructed in the year 1976 and was made accessible to public motor vehicles in the year 1988. The pass is maintained by the Border Roads Organisation and is of great strategic importance as it is used to carry goods to the Siachen Glacier.

 

Highlights

  • The Khardungla Pass is famous for being one of the highest motorable roads in the world with an elevation of 5359 metres above the sea level.
  • Anyone who plans a bike trip to Ladakh ensures that they add one day of riding a bike through the Khardungla Pass to reach Nubra Valley.
  • The pass has several small villages located on its way, all of which have little to no population.
  • The Khardungla Pass was once a part of the ancient silk route, hence has a huge historical importance.
  • The condition of the road here varies from season to season. While it remains closed during the winters due to snowfall and landslides, the best time when you can venture out here is during the summer months between May to August.

How To Reach

Khardung La is located 39.7 Kms from Leh by road. It does not have an airport so you’ll have to take a flight to leh and from there you can board a taxi to reach Khardung La Pass. Here are few other options to reach Khardung La Pass From Leh.

  • It is highly advisable to take a taxi or bike in order to reach Khardung La from Leh. By car, Travellers will reach the destination within 1 hour and 23 minutes. If you take a bike, you will reach the pass within 1 hour and 15 minutes.
  • Bus service is available daily from Leh to Nubra Valley which passes through Khardung La Pass.

Best Time To Visit

Mainly the months between March-May and September -October are the best to visit the Mountain Pass. Here is the breakdown of a few other seasons when you can visit Khardung La Pass.

   – March-May(summer)

The region witnesses an abundance of sunshine, with the temperature lingering around 21°C during summer. Nights are relatively colder than the day time as the temperature experiences a significant drop down to 7°C or below

  – June-August(Spring)

Khardung La is inaccessible during the months of June and August because of the incessant rainfall.

  – January-February

Wintertime is equally challenging as the region witnesses heavy snowfall, making it impossible for tourists to access the road. The temperature drops to -30 degrees Celsius during winters.

Essential Information

– The distance between Leh and Khardung La is 39 kilometres.

– The first 25 kilometres until the South Pullu Checkpoints are very smooth. There might be some bad patches here and there, but the road is in good condition overall.

-The road starts to deteriorate past the South Pullu Checkpoint until the very top. It consists of melted snow, broken rocks, landslides, etc.

-Moving towards the Nubra Valley, the road is again in a very bad condition until the North Pullu Post. After crossing the post, it starts to get better.