🇮🇳Roads in India
3 roads found in India, Asia
Khardung La Pass
🇮🇳 India
Khardung La is a mountain pass in the Ladakh region of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. At approximately 5,359 meters (17,582 feet) above sea level, it is one of the highest motorable passes in the world and serves as the gateway to the Nubra and Shyok valleys. The 39-kilometer road from Leh to the pass summit climbs steeply through a barren, high-altitude landscape of rocky terrain and snowfields. The pass was originally built in 1976 and opened to public motor vehicles in 1988. It is maintained by the Border Roads Organisation and remains a bucket-list destination for adventure motorcyclists and overlanders from around the world. The thin air at the summit can cause altitude sickness, and weather conditions can change rapidly with snow possible even in summer months. The views from the top are breathtaking, with panoramic vistas of the Karakoram range stretching into the distance.
Leh-Manali Highway
🇮🇳 India
The Leh-Manali Highway is one of the world's highest motorable roads, stretching 479 kilometers across the Indian Himalayas between Manali in Himachal Pradesh and Leh in Ladakh. The route crosses several passes above 4,000 meters, including Tanglang La at 5,328 meters, one of the highest mountain passes traversed by a public road. The highway is a lifeline for the remote region of Ladakh and serves as a critical military supply route for the Indian Army. The journey typically takes two days by road and passes through an otherworldly landscape of barren mountains, high-altitude desert, and vast plateaus. The road conditions range from well-paved sections to rough dirt tracks washed out by rivers and snowmelt. Major challenges include river crossings where the road simply fords mountain streams, loose gravel switchbacks on steep mountainsides, and the ever-present risk of altitude sickness as the road repeatedly climbs above 4,000 meters. The stretch near Rohtang Pass and the approach to Tanglang La are particularly demanding. The highway is open only from June to September, with exact dates depending on snowfall and the Border Roads Organisation's ability to clear the passes. During the open season, the road attracts thousands of adventure motorcyclists and overlanders from around the world, making the Leh-Manali route one of the bucket-list motorcycle journeys. Along the way, travelers encounter Buddhist monasteries, nomadic camps, and the stunning Pangong Lake region. The construction of the Atal Tunnel (completed 2020) has improved access to the Lahaul Valley section, extending the travel season slightly.
Rohtang Pass
🇮🇳 India
Rohtang Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,978 meters (13,051 feet) on the eastern end of the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, India. The name Rohtang means 'pile of corpses' in the local language, a testament to the historically treacherous nature of this crossing. The 51-kilometer road from Manali climbs through alpine meadows, glacial streams, and snowfields to reach the pass, which connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti valleys. The road is famous for its challenging conditions including narrow stretches, hairpin bends, loose gravel sections, and frequent landslides during the monsoon season. Despite the opening of the Atal Tunnel in 2020 which bypasses the pass, the original road over Rohtang remains popular with adventure seekers for its raw, unfiltered mountain driving experience and stunning Himalayan panoramas.