The Manali - Leh highway winds itself through some of the highest mountain passes in the world and takes you through some truely unforgettable scenery.
Once over the 4000m Rohtang pass an hour and a half out of Manali, the landscape changes from steep Alpine slopes covered in conifers, to a stark high altitude desert. Treeless and barren, you could be forgiven for thinking that your four-wheel drive has transported you to another planet.
The road winds upwards over successive mountain passes, zig-zagging across the high Himalayan slopes, in between jagged snow capped peaks rising above 7000 metres. Below you, fast flowing rivers cascade through steep gorges, carving pathways through the mountainous terrain.
The road is narrow, heavily potholed and needs constant repair. There is a constant danger of landslides and all along its length you'll see migrant workers from Bihar clearing the rock falls and rolling bitumen: it's a mind-boggling struggle to keep the road open.
At just over 300km's long, it can be done by Jeep Safari comfortably in three days and you can fly out of Leh with Indian Airlines to Delhi for around $100. Avoid taking the Himachal Pradesh State Transport buses, as they drive perilously fast and provide heart stopping moments as they negotiate the tricky hair pin bends, often balancing on a knife edge.
On reaching Leh, a bhuddist monastery town, just spend time soaking up the fantastic atmosphere and the remote and rugged scenery. The views from the fortress are breathtaking and will remain with you forever.
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Advantages: Spectacular Scenery, a real adventure in a four wheel drive. Disadvantages: Heart stopping moments on tricky mountain roads. Altitude sickness.
cyrano 08.09.2000 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Leh (India)
Advantages: Spectacular Scenery, a real adventure in a four wheel drive. Disadvantages: Heart stopping moments on tricky mountain roads. Altitude sickness.
cyrano 08.09.2000 ·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Leh (India)
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