BLR → LEH → BLR | Epic Road Trip 2026

Day by Day

THE ITINERARY

Friday, May 15th

Bangalore → Nagpur

📍 ~890 km 🚗 12–13 hrs ⏰ Depart 4:00 AM

Bangalore → NH44 North
Nagpur overnight stay

★ Needs Action: Book Nagpur stay — Check-in May 15 · Checkout May 16 · 1 night · 1 room

Saturday, May 16th

Nagpur → Jaipur

📍 ~850 km 🚗 12–13 hrs

Nagpur → Bhopal bypass (NH46 west, avoid city)
Kota bridge crossing — last major fuel before Rajasthan
Enter Rajasthan via Bundi/Kota by early evening
Jaipur arrival ~8–9 PM — stay near NH48 for easy exit tomorrow

💡 Jaipur overnight tip: Stay near Ajmer Road / Tonk Road area — quick NH48 access for the Chandigarh run. You arrive late and leave early, so skip the old city. Hotel Sarovar Premiere or Lemon Tree near NH48 work well. If you have energy: walk to Hawa Mahal (5 min from most hotels on this corridor) for 15 minutes — it's lit at night and worth it.

★ Needs Action: Book Jaipur stay — Check-in May 16 · Checkout May 17 · 1 night · 1 room · Near NH48/Ajmer Road for fast morning exit

Sunday, May 17th

Jaipur → Shimla

📍 ~600 km 🚗 10–11 hrs

Trans-Haryana Expressway
Continue through Kalka and hill section to Shimla
Arrive in Shimla and settle into WFH base

★ Needs Action: Book Shimla WFH stay — Check-in May 17 · Checkout May 22 · 5 nights · 1 unit · Reliable WiFi required

4–9

May 17–22 (Sun–Fri)

WFH Base & Prep: Shimla

💻 WFH ⚠️ Service & Prep

WFH from Shimla till May 22 — confirm fast WiFi at apartment before booking
May 18–20: Buy trip supplies — jerry can, tow rope, jumper cables, puncture kit, pulse oximeter, medical kit
May 20–21: Complete documentation and offline maps setup
May 22: Drive Shimla → Chandigarh, check in, and keep evening buffer before group drive
May 23: Car readiness check in Chandigarh, luggage load validation, rest early
May 23 evening: Optional service check at Chandigarh Mahindra if needed
May 24 early morning: Depart for Srinagar
Do a loaded test drive. Confirm everything works.
Pay Ladakh EDF online at lahdclehpermit.in — ₹400 × 2 persons. Print receipts ×2 copies each.
Print all documents: RC, insurance, DL, both Aadhar — 6 copies each
Download Google Maps + Maps.me offline for entire route
Sunday May 17 (arrival day): Long drive in — settle in, unpack, early night in Shimla.

★ Needs Action: Book Shimla serviced stay — Check-in May 17 · Checkout May 22 · 5 nights · 1 unit · Fast WiFi essential, confirm upload speed

May 22nd–23rd (Thu–Fri)

Chandigarh → Srinagar Transition 🚗

🌿 2 Days Buffer

May 22: Shift from Shimla to Chandigarh and settle in
May 23 early morning: Drive Chandigarh → Srinagar
Arrive Srinagar on May 23 evening and settle in
Pack the Thar and prep for onward Ladakh route from Srinagar

💡 Note: WFH is in Shimla till May 22. Chandigarh is only a transition stop before Srinagar on May 23.

Sunday, May 24th

Srinagar Acclimatization + Self Exploration

📍 Local Day 🚗 Light Movement

Recover from travel and settle into Srinagar stay
Dal Lake / Mughal Gardens / local walk
Hydrate and rest early before mountain drive to Kargil

Monday, May 25th

Srinagar → Kargil

📍 ~200 km 🚗 6–7 hrs

Srinagar → Sonamarg → Drass → Zoji La → Kargil
War Memorial stop at Drass (time permitting)
Overnight in Kargil

Tuesday, May 26th

Kargil → Leh (Reach Leh on May 26)

📍 ~230 km 🚗 7–8 hrs

Kargil → Mulbek → Namik La → Fotu La → Lamayuru
Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hill, and Sangam stops
Arrive Leh and rest

Wednesday, May 27th

Leh Acclimatization Day

🌿 Rest Day 🏯 Local Leh

No long drive today - acclimatization only
Optional local visits: Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, Hall of Fame
Hydrate, light meals, early sleep

Thursday, May 28th

Leh → Diskit / Hunder

📍 ~160 km 🚗 6–7 hrs

Leh → Khardung La → Nubra Valley
Diskit Monastery and Hunder dunes
Overnight in Hunder / Diskit

Friday, May 29th

Hunder → Pangong Tso

📍 ~180 km 🚗 7–8 hrs

Hunder → Shyok River route → Pangong Tso
Scenic lakeside evening
Overnight near Pangong

Saturday, May 30th

Pangong Tso → Hanle

📍 ~170 km 🚗 7–8 hrs

Pangong → Rezang La War Memorial → Hanle
Hanle observatory visit (if timing allows)
Overnight in Hanle

Sunday, May 31st

Hanle → Umling La → Hanle

📍 ~150 km ⚠️ 5,798m Altitude

Early start for Umling La and return to Hanle
Keep summit stop short and controlled
Overnight in Hanle

Monday, June 1st

Hanle → Tso Moriri

📍 ~200 km 🚗 7–8 hrs

Hanle → Nyoma → Mahe Bridge → Tso Moriri
High-altitude lake views and overnight stay

G10

Tuesday, June 2nd

Tso Moriri → Jispa

📍 ~310 km 🚗 10–12 hrs

Tso Moriri → Moore Plains → Pang
Lachung La → Nakee La → Gata Loops → Baralacha La → Jispa
Overnight in Jispa

G11

Wednesday, June 3rd

Jispa → Manali

📍 ~100 km 🚗 3–4 hrs

Jispa → Keylong → Sissu (Lake & Waterfall) → Atal Tunnel
Arrive Manali by 2pm (Relax Day)
Continue on return leg toward Bangalore

P4-1

Wednesday, June 3rd (Afternoon)

Manali — Check-in & Rest

🌿 Rest Day

Arrive in Manali from Jispa by 2 PM
Check into WFH base / Homestay
Afternoon: Rest and recover from the high-altitude circuit
Evening: Walk Old Manali or Mall Road

★ Needs Action: Book Manali WFH stay — Check-in June 3 · Checkout June 10 · 7 nights · 1 room · Confirm fast WiFi (10 Mbps upload)

P4-2

June 4th – June 9th (Thu → Tue)

WFH Base: Manali

💻 WFH Days 🏔️ 6 Days

Full WFH mode from Manali homestay / cafes
Explore cafes in Old Manali (Drifters, Dylan's, etc.)
Weekend (Jun 6-7): Nearby exploration if energy allows

P4-3

Wednesday, June 10th

Manali → Chandigarh

📍 ~310 km 🚗 Afternoon Leave

Work in the morning from Manali
Afternoon: Start drive to Chandigarh (NH3)
Late evening arrival in Chandigarh & overnight stay

★ Needs Action: Book Chandigarh stay — Check-in June 10 · Checkout June 11 · 1 night

P4-4

Thursday, June 11th

Chandigarh → Jaipur

📍 ~460 km 🚗 Afternoon Leave

Morning in Chandigarh (WFH / Chilling)
Afternoon: Drive to Jaipur via Trans-Haryana Expressway (NH152D)
Arrival in Jaipur late evening & dinner

★ Needs Action: Book Jaipur stay — Check-in June 11 · Checkout June 12 · 1 night

P4-5

Friday, June 12th

Jaipur → Ujjain (MP)

📍 ~520 km 🚗 Afternoon Leave

Morning in Jaipur (Sightseeing / Work)
Afternoon: Drive to Ujjain (via NH52)
Stay the night in Ujjain

★ Needs Action: Book Ujjain stay — Check-in June 12 · Checkout June 13 · 1 night

P4-6

Saturday, June 13th

Ujjain → Solapur

📍 ~720 km 🚗 Full Day Drive

Early morning start from Ujjain
Drive across Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
Arrival in Solapur for the final night stay of the trip

★ Needs Action: Book Solapur stay — Check-in June 13 · Checkout June 14 · 1 night

P4-7

Sunday, June 14th

Solapur → Bangalore 🏁

📍 ~600 km 🚗 Target 7 PM Home

Final leg of the Bangalore → LEH → Bangalore epic trip
NH65 and NH44 route back home
6:00–7:00 PM: 🏠 Bangalore — HOME. Trip Complete! ✅

🎉 Epic Achievement Unlocked! ~9,000 km. Highest passes done. Sunday night home — ready for Monday morning routine. What a trip!

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HEY FRIENDS,
JOIN US.

We're driving from Srinagar to Leh Ladakh and back to Bangalore in a Mahindra Thar Roxx 4×4. 8 days. 4 people. One trip you'll talk about for the rest of your life. Here's everything you need to know.

🚘

The Vehicle

Mahindra Thar Roxx — diesel 4×4 with diff lock. Built specifically for Ladakh terrain. You ride in comfort while Shrinandan handles all the mountain driving. No rental cars, no shared cabs. Your own private expedition machine.

📅

12 Days Together

Fly into Srinagar on Saturday May 23rd. We regroup there and continue together through the full circuit back to Bangalore. Total: one continuous roadtrip together (weekends cover the rest).

🌿

100% Vegetarian

We've researched every pure veg restaurant from Chandigarh to Leh. You will eat well. Krishna Vaishno Dhaba in Srinagar, Tibetan Kitchen in Leh, and everything in between. No compromises on food.

💰

Split Costs

Everything split 50-50 between couples. Your share: ~₹60,000 for 12 unforgettable days — flights, fuel, hotels, food, all of it. That's ₹5,000/day/person for Kashmir + Leh Ladakh. No trip on earth gives this ROI.

🗣️

No Hindi? No Problem

We handle all navigation, communication, checkposts. Tourist industry in Kashmir and Leh is extremely English-friendly. Hotel bookings are all pre-done. You just sit back, look out the window, and be amazed.

🏥

Safety First

We enter Ladakh via Srinagar — gradual altitude gain over 4 days. No sudden jumps. Medical kit for 4. Diamox prescribed. Shrinandan has mountain driving experience. We never rush.

⚡ Your 12 Days — Join in Srinagar

DAY 1 · MAY 23

✈️ Arrive

Fly BLR→SXR
Meet in Srinagar
Early rest

DAY 2 · MAY 24

🌸 Kashmir

Srinagar local day
Dal Lake + old city
Acclimatization

DAY 3 · MAY 25

🕌 Srinagar

Mughal Gardens
Hazratbal Shrine
Houseboat evening

DAY 4 · MAY 26

⛰️ Zojila

Srinagar → Kargil
Sonmarg glacier
War Memorial

DAY 5 · MAY 27

🏔️ Leh!

Kargil → Leh
Lamayuru Moonland
Arrive Leh

DAY 6 · MAY 28

🌿 Acclimatize

Leh Palace
Shanti Stupa
Hall of Fame

DAY 7 · MAY 29

💙 Pangong

Chang La 5,360m
Pangong Tso lake
Return Leh

DAY 8 · MAY 30

🐪 Nubra

Khardung La
Camel dunes
Turtuk village

DAY 9 · MAY 31

🇮🇳 Thang

India's last village
2.5km from Pakistan
Hot springs

DAY 10 · JUN 1

🦅 Tsomoriri

High altitude lake
Puga hot springs
Kiang wildlife

DAY 11 · JUN 2–3

🌌 Hanle

Best stargazing Asia
Umling La 5,798m
World's highest road

DAY 12 · JUN 4

🏁 Manali

Hanle → Manali
Changthang plateau
Continue roadtrip together

What You'll Be Able to Say After This Trip

✅ Drove to 5,798m — Umling La, the world's highest motorable road on Earth

✅ Stood at Khardung La 5,359m — gateway to the Nubra Valley

✅ Saw Pangong Tso — the lake that turned blue with your own eyes

✅ Rode a Bactrian camel in a cold desert surrounded by snow peaks

✅ Stayed on a Dal Lake houseboat in Kashmir

✅ Saw Lamayuru Moonland — landscape from another planet

✅ Watched Milky Way with naked eye from Nubra Valley

✅ Driven through Zojila Pass in a real 4×4

✅ Experienced zero cell signal and loved it

The Answer Is YES. Pack Light.

One soft bag. 40L max. See you in Chandigarh on Friday May 22nd.

Leaves Needed

₹60K

Your Share

High Passes

Iconic Lakes

∞

Memories

Before You Leave

CHECKLISTS

★ Book These Now — In This Order

1 · NOW Hanle guesthouse — 1 room. Check-in May 30 · Checkout June 1 · 2 nights. Fewest options of entire trip. Book this first.

2 · NOW Leh hotel — 1 room. Check-in May 26 · Checkout May 28 · 2 nights. Peak season, fills very fast.

3 · NOW Hunder / Diskit stay — 1 room. Check-in May 28 · Checkout May 29 · 1 night. Book Nubra stay in advance.

4 · SOON Tso Moriri camp / Korzok — 1 room. Check-in June 1 · Checkout June 2 · 1 night. Very limited options, call directly.

5 · SOON Srinagar stay — 1 room. Check-in May 24 · Checkout May 25 · 1 night. Dal Lake houseboat. Book early.

6 · SOON Shimla serviced apt — 1 unit. Check-in May 17 · Checkout May 22 · 5 nights. Fast WiFi, confirm upload speed.

7 · SOON Manali full stay — 1 room. Check-in June 3 · Checkout June 13 · 10 nights. Confirm fast WiFi before booking.

8 · PAY Ladakh EDF — lahdclehpermit.in · ₹400 × 2 persons. Print ×2 copies each.

9 · LATER Kargil hotel — 1 room. Check-in May 25 · Checkout May 26 · 1 night. Less demand, can book a month before.

10 · LATER Jispa + Chandigarh + Nagpur — Check-in Jun 2 / Jun 13 / Jun 14. Standard hotels, book 2 weeks before.

Paperwork

PERMITS & PERMISSIONS

✅ JUST PAY ONLINE

Ladakh Environment Fee (EDF)

Indian tourists no longer need a separate Inner Line Permit. Just pay ₹400/person Environment Fee at lahdclehpermit.in. Valid for Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri, Khardung La. Print and carry receipt ×4 copies per person.

✅ NOT REQUIRED

Leh City Sightseeing

No permit needed for Leh palace, Shanti Stupa, markets, monasteries in and around Leh town, or travel on Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways.

⚠️ EDF RECEIPT NEEDED

Nubra Valley + Khardung La

Show EDF payment receipt at checkpost. Carry Aadhar + printed EDF receipt. Apply and print before leaving Bangalore.

⚠️ EDF RECEIPT NEEDED

Pangong Tso Lake

Show EDF at Chang La checkpost. Military is strict here — have both persons' receipts and Aadhar cards ready in one folder before approaching checkpost.

⚠️ ARMY ARRANGED

Turtuk → Thang Village

Thang is India's northernmost village, 2.5 km from the Pakistan LOC. No online permit — your Turtuk homestay owner arranges army permission the evening before. Tell them on check-in. At the Thang checkpost: surrender original Aadhar card on entry, collect on exit. Both persons required to be present. Indians only.

⚠️ EDF RECEIPT NEEDED

Hanle + Umling La (5,798m)

EDF receipt is sufficient for Hanle and the Umling La road. No additional permit needed. Show EDF at the Hanle checkpost. Carry both Aadhar cards. The Hanle→Umling La route via Photi La does not require a special pass beyond EDF for Indian citizens. Carry both Aadhar cards.

⚠️ EDF RECEIPT NEEDED

Tsomoriri (Tso Moriri)

Show EDF at Upshi checkpost before turning south toward Tsomoriri. Same EDF receipt covers this. Have both receipts and Aadhar in one folder. Checkpost is at Upshi junction — keep documents accessible before you reach it.

✅ NOT REQUIRED

Jammu & Kashmir Travel

No permits needed for Indian citizens to travel within J&K (Jammu, Srinagar, Sonmarg, Kargil). Just carry standard ID proof (Aadhar). Vehicle RC and insurance at checkposts.

💡 RECOMMENDED

Travel Insurance

Not mandatory but strongly recommended for high-altitude mountain travel. Cover S&S (both). Must include emergency helicopter evacuation coverage for Ladakh region. ₹500–800/person.

Expert Guidance

IMPORTANT TIPS

⛰️ Altitude Sickness (AMS)

Take Diamox from Day 13 as prescribed by doctor
Drink 3–4 litres water/day at altitude (not less)
Absolutely no alcohol above 3,000m
Light meals only — heavy food worsens symptoms
Rest 24 hrs on first arrival in Leh. No exertion.
Carry pulse oximeter — SpO2 below 80% = descend
Severe headache + vomiting + loss of balance = DESCEND NOW
Garlic soup is a local remedy for mild headaches

🌿 Vegetarian Food Guide

Srinagar: Krishna Vaishno Bhojnalaya (Dal Gate), Pincer Vegetarian Foods
Sonmarg: Hotel Sonamarg Palace — pure veg restaurant
Kargil: Hotel Caravan veg eatery. Carry packed food from Sonmarg.
Mulbekh: Small dhaba opposite Buddha statue — veg only
Khalsi: Samyas Restaurant — Jain cuisine, pure veg
Leh: Tibetan Kitchen, Bon Appetit, Gesmo, Wonderland
Manali: Excellent pure veg + South Indian options
Always carry MTR pouches + Maggi for emergencies

🗣️ Language & Safety

Chandigarh, Jammu: English widely spoken at hotels
Srinagar: Tourist areas are very English-friendly
Kargil, Leh: Hotel staff understand basic English
Learn: "Kitna hua?" (How much?) "Shudh shakahari?" (Pure veg?)
Download Google Translate offline: Hindi + Kashmiri
Book hotels on booking.com/MakeMyTrip only
Use Ola/Rapido in cities — metered, no scam
Kashmiri people are genuinely warm to South Indian tourists

🚙 Thar Roxx Mountain Driving

Engage 4H (4WD) on Zojila, Rohtang, rough patches
Engage 4L (low range) on extremely steep/icy sections
Engine brake on descents — don't ride the brake pedal
Keep 150km fuel range at all times in Ladakh
Fill up completely at Leh before Manali direction
At passes: stop briefly, don't idle engine long
Never drive after dark in mountain areas
BRO helpline: 1800-180-3474 for road conditions

🛡️ Safety & Scam Prevention

Never exchange currency with non-bank people
ATMs: use machines inside petrol stations or bank branches
Pre-book hotels — don't book at highway touts
At checkposts: be polite, have documents ready, don't argue
Don't photograph military installations, checkposts, soldiers
Carry cash — many Ladakh areas have no card machines
Keep ₹5,000 emergency cash per person always
Share real-time location with family back home

💻 WFH Tips — Manali (June 3–11)

Best WiFi areas: Old Manali (Manu Temple road), Mall Road hotels, Vashisht village
Jio signal: Good in Manali town, patchy in Vashisht, very weak in Solang Valley
BSNL: More reliable for voice calls in remote pockets — carry both SIMs
Confirm upload speed before booking — minimum 10 Mbps for video calls
Schedule video calls in the morning (9–12 PM) — afternoons get foggy and connectivity dips
Cafes with reliable WiFi: Dylan's Toasted & Roasted, Cafe 1947 (Old Manali)
Power cuts are common in Manali evenings — carry a charged power bank to every call
Temperature in early June: 18–25°C days, 10°C nights — perfect for focused work

💳 Money & Finance

Use the Expense Tracker to log every spend as you go
Carry ₹20,000 cash for remote areas
UPI works in Leh town and Manali but not at passes
Chandigarh has all ATMs — withdraw before heading north
Kargil has ATMs — last reliable withdrawal before Leh
Fuel bill — save all receipts for exact fuel calculation

⛽ Fuel Stops — Ladakh Critical Map

Rule: Never leave Leh with less than a full tank. Carry 10L jerry can always.
Leh city — Multiple pumps. Fill before EVERY excursion.
Kargil — Last reliable pump before Leh on inbound route
Diskit (Nubra) — Small pump, usually available. Confirm before leaving Leh.
Panamik — No pump. Rely on Leh fill + jerry can.
Turtuk / Thang — No pump. Leh → Turtuk = 205km. Full tank + jerry = comfortable.
Chumathang — No pump. Fill in Leh before Tsomoriri run.
Tsomoriri / Korzok — No pump.
Hanle — No pump. Leh → Hanle = 255km. Full tank + jerry = safe.
Umling La — No pump. Fill in Leh, fill in Hanle if possible (jerry can top-up).
Pang — No pump. Changthang road has nothing.
Keylong — Last pump before Manali on return. Always fill here.
Manali — Multiple pumps. Fill before CHD run.