Kashmir Vale — Srinagar to Kargil via ZojiLa.
Distance
205 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
3,000 m
Kashmir Vale — Srinagar to Kargil via Zoji La.
A 200km traverse from the Vale of Kashmir to the high desert of Ladakh via Zoji La, the strategic NH1 pass between Srinagar and Kargil. The road climbs through the meadows of Sonamarg, then crosses the gravel-and-mud Zoji La (3,528m) onto the rain-shadow side of the Himalayas. Drass is the second-coldest inhabited place on earth, and Kargil is the major staging town for the second leg of any Ladakh circuit. Open mid-May to October.
Quick facts
SurfaceMixed
Distance205 km
Days1
Total climb3,000 m
DifficultyChallenging
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The route.
SrinagarStart · Start in Srinagar at the Dal Lake shikara stand. Top up fuel — Zoji La has no services for 100km. NH1 heads east through Ganderbal.
SonamargScenic Point · Meadow of Gold at 2,800m. The Thajiwas Glacier is a 5km horse trail off the road. Last grocery and chai stop before the pass.
Zoji La Pass (3,528m)Mountain Pass · The strategic 1948-fought pass between Kashmir and Ladakh. Mud, ice, and sheer drops on a single-lane track. Only one direction allowed at a time — wait for the BRO traffic signal.
DrassPhoto Spot · Second-coldest inhabited place on earth (record minus 60C in 1995). The Kargil War Memorial commemorates the 1999 conflict. The road relaxes from here as you enter Ladakhi rain-shadow country.
KargilEnd · End in Kargil, the second city of Ladakh. The Suru Valley extends south from here toward Padum and Zanskar. Continue east on the Srinagar-Leh highway to reach Leh — a further 200km.
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