Have you ever wondered why Leh Ladakh always seems difficult to reach? On one end, it is a 1 hour 30 minute flight from Delhi, but it feels like a faraway alien land.
We will help you bridge the gap and make you plan a complete itinerary for Leh Ladakh from Delhi.
How to reach Ladakh from Delhi?
There are four ways to reach Leh Ladakh from Delhi:
By Air
The most convenient way to travel to Ladakh from Delhi is to choose a flight. There are both non-stop and connecting flights available every day.
The time duration will differ accordingly. The shortest possible time to reach it is 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Leh has no airports, and the Ladakh Airport (Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport) is the closest.
By Bus
Delhi to Leh Ladakh by bus is one of the cheapest but inconvenient journeys. The duration of the entire transit is 36 hours.
Standard HRTC buses provide this service with multiple halts to ensure sufficient breaks. There is one bus available on every alternative day.
The bus takes 5 hours 30 minutes to reach Chandigarh for a break. It continues for 8 hours until it reaches Manali. Halt for another 5 hours to change bus and resume the journey again.
The travellers must stay overnight at Keylong after a 9-hour journey from Manali to Keylong. The journey resumes again the following day and reaches Leh within 12 to 14 hours.
By road
When you have a private vehicle, you can change the itinerary how you want, unlike bus service.
Depending on your vehicle (car or bike), you can choose how far you want to travel before you choose your stop.
Chandigarh and Manali are two necessary halts. Delhi to Chandigarh is 281 km, while Chandigarh to Manali is 272 km.
The route from Manali to Ladakh takes you through criss-cross terrains covering an area of 472 km.
The Manali Leh Highway covers four passes of Rohtang la, Baralacha la, Lungalacha la and Tanglang la.
By train
There are no direct rail routes to reach Ladakh from Delhi. Jammu Tawi connects Delhi to Jammu over a 12-hour train ride covering 626 km. Jammu to Ladakh is another 700 km by road.
Delhi to Joginder Nagar Railway Station (closest to Manali) is another option. It covers 522 km over 11 hours. From here, the route to Ladakh is 580 km via a 14-hour road trip.
Famous food to try in Leh Ladakh
Here are the must-try foods to eat in Leh Ladakh:
- Tingmo
- Skyu
- Butter tea
- Chhurpe
- Khambir
- Chhutagi
- Aktori
- Dham
- Thukpa
Ladakh Permits
Inner Line Permit (ILP) is a permit that Indian nationals can take for 21 days and foreign nationals for seven days. It is to allow the entry of non-locals in an area close to India’s borders.
You have to fill out a form from the official government website of Leh Ladakh before booking your trip. Perm fees are applicable depending on the number of days you book.
For the latest updates and prices, click here.
Time to Go
Summer is the best time for anyone from southern parts of India or hotter climates and lower altitudes. Summer is pleasant and not extremely cold. The snow melts, and you can see the brown mountain ranges by the Pangong Lake. During this time, the Hemis Festival is held. Road trips are also possible during the summer. Having a Delhi to Leh Ladakh trip during the winter is impossible.
