About Ladakh

Ladakh is a land abundant in utterly natural features, lying in a vast and majestic terrain. It is pierced by two additional parallel chains, the Ladakh Range and the Zanskar Range, and is bounded by two of the world's foremost mountain peaks, the Karakoram in the north and the Great Himalayas in the south. This is a young land in geological terms, having formed about a few million years ago. Its basic contours, erected by tectonic movements, have been modified over millennia by wind and water erosion, shaping it into the structure we see today. Ladakh was once covered by an extensive lake system, relics of which still can be discovered on the south-east plateaux of Rupshu and Chushul, in the drainage basins or lakes of Tso-moriri, Tso-Kar, and Pangong-Tso, sheltered from the rain-bearing clouds of the Indian monsoon by the barrier of the Great Himalayas. Yet, winter snowfall is the main supply of water.
On the Himalayas’ northern slopes, Dras, Zanskar, and the Suru Valley probably get a lot of snow in winters, leading to form the glaciers, which feed the fields in the summer with melted glaciers carried down by streams. Snow on the peaks is essentially the only source of water for the majority of the region. The peaks' snow is almost the only source of water. The inhabitants pray not for rain, but for the sun to melt the glaciers and replenish their water as the crops flourish. Ladakh is placed in the Karakoram Range at altitudes ranging from 9,000 feet (2750 m) at Kargil to 25,170 feet (7,672 m) at Saser Kangri more intense than it does at lower altitudes. 

How can I make my trip to Leh-Ladakh

Bangalore to Leh-Ladakh 

There are no direct flights from Bangalore to Leh. To reach Leh-Ladakh from Bangalore one has to take connecting flights that run from Bangalore-Delhi-Leh. The earliest time taken by flights from Bangalore till Leh is 5hr 45 min. Though connecting flights is seen as a hectic task it is the easiest and earliest way to reach Leh-Ladakh from Bangalore. The airlines that have frequent landings in Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL) of Leh are; Indigo, Spicejet, Vistara, Go First
As the rail connectivity is not yet reached the newest union territory of India, Ladakh, no trains are connecting other places to Ladakh directly. Yet many nearby railway stations are well connected by roads further to Leh.
The nearest railway station to Leh are;

• Shri Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station (654 km from Leh)
• Chandigarh Railway Station ( 739 km from Leh)
• Ambala Cantt Junction (770 km from Leh)

Regular trains that connect Banglore and the above-listed stations are;

• Yeshvantpur-Chandigarh Karnataka Sampark Kranti 
• KSR Bengalore-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Spl
• Karnataka SF Special 

To reach Leh by road commencing from Banglore there are two routes accessible; NH44 taking 62 hrs for a distance of 3128 km and Nh 52 taking 65 hrs for a distance of 3149 km.

Hyderabad to Leh-Ladakh 

No direct flights from Hyderabad to Leh are available. Connecting flights from Hyderabad-Delhi-Leh can commence the distance of Hyderabad to Leh. Reaching Leh by train is also an option though the place doesn’t abode any railway station. Trains can be taken to Chandigarh, Katra, or Delhi. Trains that run from Hyderabad to these places are;

• Tirupati -Jammu Tawi Hamsafar Special
• Telangana SF Special
• KSR Bengaluru Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Special
• Dakshin SF Special
• Karnataka Sampark Kranti

By road, there are two routes connecting Hyderabad and Leh that are through NH44 which takes 53 hrs covering 2536 km, and NH46 which takes 54 hrs covering 2602 km.

Mumbai to Leh-Ladakh 

There are direct flights that take off from Mumbai to Leh, one has to take connecting flights via Delhi, at the earliest the flight might take 6 hr 5min to commence the total flight journey. There are a few trains that run till Shri Vaishno Devi Katra, Chandigarh, or Ambala. Mumbai to Delhi trains is also an option and further its individual choice to take a flight to Leh or choose Road route. Trains frequently running for the same are;

• Swaraj SF Special 
• Pashchim SF Special
• Kerala Sampark Kranti 
• Bandra Terminus -Chandigarh SF Special
• Goa Sampark Kranti SF Special

The roads that connect Mumbai -Leh are NH48 taking 48 hrs to cover 2372 km and NH03 taking 50 hrs for 2405 km.

Kolkata to Leh-Ladakh 

To reach Kolkata to Leh by air one has to take flights from Kolkata -Delhi- Leh taking a minimum of 6 hr and 35 mins. There are trains that run till Chandigarh and Delhi. Further, the journey can be recommenced by flight till Leh or by road. Few frequent trains available are; 

• Nejati SF Special 
• Howrah - New Delhi Rajdahani 
• Sealdah -New  Delhi Rajdhani
• Poorva SF Special

The National Highways that connect Kolkata and Leh are Nh19 taking 50 hrs for 2500 km and  NH 27 taking 54 hrs for 2651 km.

Ahmedabad to Leh-Ladakh 

Flights from Ahmedabad to Leh are all connecting flights via Delhi which take a minimum of 5 hr and 35min. Trains are available till Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra which is the nearest railway station to Leh, the trains that run from Ahmedabad to Katra are weekly trains on different days;

• Sarvodaya  SP Special
• Jambagar -Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra SF Special
• Hapa- Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra SF Special

The road routes connecting Ahmedabad to Leh take 40 hr via NH03 at 1881km distance another route is via NH 48 and NH03 at a distance of 1903 km.

Delhi to Leh-Ladakh 

Delhi to Leh can be reached directly by flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi( IGI) to Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh (IXL). The minimum time taken by flight from Delhi to Leh is 1hr and 25 min. Trains can be taken from Delhi to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra or Chandigarh railway station. Some of the frequent trains from Delhi are;

• Malwa Sf Special
• New Delhi- Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Vande Bharat Express
• Shri Shakti AC SF Special
• Jammu Mail Special
• Uttar Sampark Kranti SF Special

National Highway NH 03 connects Delhi to Leh at a distance of 968 km taking a time of 25 hrs.

Manali to Leh-Ladakh 

Manali to Leh is at a distance of 427 km. The only means to reach Leh-Ladakh is by road which takes approximately 12 hours to reach via NH03. The Journey can be commenced by bike, car, or bus. One bus is run by HP TDC  and the other buses are run by HRTC. Bike trips to Ladakh are a popular activity in Ladakh done by many adventure lovers. 

Srinagar to Leh-Ladakh 

Srinagar to Leh is connected by the National Highway 01 covering a distance of 418 km. It takes nearly 10 hrs and 15 mins to cover the total distance. Another way to reach Leh from Srinagar is by flight which takes a minimum of 1 hour. No rail connections are available as Leh doesn’t have any railway stations.