Hyderabad to Leh by road

[Satya Nagapuri]

Hello guys,

 

I am Planning to drive from Hyderabad to Leh by road with in  1 or 2 months.
Please guide me the best route available. Things to take care and carry along ? what is the process to obtain permissions ? what will be the total expenses ?

Planning to take  Eco Sport – Diesel – Fully Loaded , Can Eco Sport handle those roads without any issue? Can you guys help in listing the things to carry. I'm travelling with my two kids, age 10 yrs and 14 yrs.

 

Thanks & Regards 

Satya Nagapuri.

 

[Gowtham]

How many days you are planning?

[Satya Nagapuri]

Planning for 2 weeks.(14-15 days) Since it summer holidays, thought for taking kids and wife for a long trip.

 

 

[karthik]

Great Satya, I'm sure EcoSport can do it without any issues.

Recently we drove from Hyderabad to Himalayas.

 

EcoSport was the part of the group, it performed very well.

 

Even I have a similar plan in my Duster.

But we still did not fix the dates.

 

Will subscribe to this post.

[Satya Nagapuri]

Thanks Karthik !  do let me know if you are planning with family or group.? plz advice it safe to drive in night ? at least till Srinagar ? 

[sagar]

Hi @Satya Nagapuri, Firstly congratulations for taking such an initiative to plan this trip with your family so long. I must say it is a brave step you being a solo driver. I would love to provide you as much as information needed to make your trip a grand success.

Which route are you planning to do to reach Leh after crossing Delhi as there are 2 routes. Via srinagar or via Manali?

[sagar]

There are usually 2 different routes to reach Leh after you cross Kurukshetra :

 

1) Via Manali (Adventurous due to tough terrains & obviously Scenic) 

2) Via Srinagar & Kargil (Undoubtedly scenic driving close by the borders over neatly laid roads between the majestic hills)

3) You can also cover both the routes taking one way via Srinagar and coming back Via Manali.

 

So your drive basically depends up on which one you choose, And I would suggest you the route via Srinagar as you are driving a Maruti Suzuki Baleno along with 2 kids with you which eliminates the complete risk of vehicle breakdown rough terrain.

 

Considering you as the lone driver throughout, I would recommend you to start off early in the morning everyday to eliminate traffic and sleep early to get ample rest possible.

And hence will be my plan based on the optimum drive time you are going to do per day. Also I will be guiding you by the 3rd option which covers both the routes.

 

Day 01 : Hyderabad to Chhindwara (Via Nagpur) - ~600 kms - (14 hours including breaks)

Day 02 : Chhindwara to Agra - ~700 kms (13-14 hours including breaks )

Day 03 :  Agra to Pathankot - ~ 700 kms (13 hours including breaks)

Day 04 : Pathankot to Srinagar - ~ 350 kms (10 hours including breaks) - The Himalayan nature starts to show up bright in your road trip from this day and hence short distances take longer drive time.

Day 05 : You can spend a day exploring Gulmaarg, Pahalgam and Dal Lake (or) Proceed to Leh

             --- Srinagar to Kargil (Via Sonamarg, Zoji-la pass & Drass) - 200 kms which will take a lot of time capturing the beauty of Himalayas and taking a lot of breaks in between.

Day 06 : Kargil to Leh ( Via Lamayuru monastery, Alchi and Magnetic hill) - 230 kms - Leh local tour is you reach before 4 p.m. (Leh monastery)

Day 07 : Leh to Pangong Tso (Via Chang la pass) - Dont forget to take the necessary Inner line permits before your start.

Day 08 : Pangong Tso to Leh 

Day 09 : Leh to Nubra Valley (Via Khardung La top and Diskit Budha statue and Monastery)

Day 10 : Nubra Valley to Leh and rest

Day 11 : Leh to Manali at a stretch is not possible to cover in a day even though it is around 500 kms.. So it is preferable to break the drive at Keylong / Jispa as other places en-route have less civilization.

Day 12 : Keylong / Jispa to Solang valley / Shimla (via Manali)

Day 13 : Shimla to Agra ~ 600 kms (14 hours including breaks)

Day 14 : Agra to Chhindwara

Day 15 : Chhindwara to Hyderabad 

 

All the pit-stops chosen for a night stay in the above itinerary have decent accommodations available for the families. 

[sagar]

Road conditions:

 

1) Hyderabad  ---> Kamareddy ---> Nirmal ---> Adilabad ---> Hinganghat ---> Nagpur (Halt) ~ 500 kms

Hyderabad - Nagpur stretch is a good track for a drive but considering the rainy season scenario, it might be a bit dicey with a few unexpected ditches and potholes on your way. So, just drive carefully. Also, make sure you be maintain decent speeds.

 

2) Nagpur ---> Chchindwara ---> Narsinghpur ---> Sagar ---> Lalitpur ---> Jhansi ---> Gwalior (Halt) ~ 700 kms

Via Seoni is another route from Nagpur which will not touch chichindwara which is avoidable due to bad road condition when compared.

Narsinghpur - Jhansi is a perfect four lane all the way with hardly any traffic.

Jhansi - Gwalior is again pathetic with many diversions. There is significant traffic all the way about which 80 kms stretch might take 2 hours at least.

 

3) Gwalior ---> Morena ---> Agra ---> Noida ---> Delhi --> Ludhiana ~ 615 kms

Gwalior - Agra is again four lane track but the traffic is dense.

Agra - Delhi - Delhi is again a usual story. No way to bypass Delhi. Huge traffic jams at the toll is no option to escape from.

Delhi - Ludhiana is a 4-lane road, super good to drive.

 

4) Ludhiana --> Pathankot --> Srinagar ~ 530 kilometers
Roads are average, with beautiful views enroute.  Need to start early in the morning.

Main part starts from Srinagar: 
Srinagar --> Kargil --> LEH, you can plan this depending on your comfort.

On the return journey try to cover:
LEH --> Keylong --> Manali , roads are bit dangerous on this route.

[Rajsuhas]

Satya ,

I am sure this would going to be a great trip and u will get wonderful experience ..

Keep posting ur updates from the beginning to end.. 

Excited 

[Satya Nagapuri]

Sure, Rajsuhas, i will keep you posted..:-) 

5 hours ago, sagar said:

So your drive basically depends up on which one you choose, And I would suggest you the route via Srinagar as you are driving a Maruti Suzuki Baleno along with 2 kids with you which eliminates the complete risk of vehicle breakdown rough terrain.

 

Sagar - i am travelling on Eco sport - Diesel.

[Gowtham]

16 hours ago, Satya Nagapuri said:

Planning for 2 weeks.(14-15 days) Since it summer holidays,

 

15 days is perfect for such a trip.
 

Check list

• Tires
• Brakes
• Head lamp bulbs
• Air pump
• Puncture kit
• Towing ropes
• Battery
• Vehicle service

 

Make sure your brake pads are in good shape, it is one of the critical component in hills. 
If they are too old, better to replace them or carry a new spare set.
 

Air pump is a must in hills, last year one of my friend suffered multiple punctures. Air pump and puncture kit saved him.

 

Hyderabad to Delhi is very stressful since road condition is not so great. 

You need to plan this stretch very carefully.
Avoid night drive at any cost. 

[Satya Nagapuri]

Thanks team - i am travelling in Eco sport - Diesel.(Brand New ) done with 2nd servicing, Tubeless Tires, Battery is in good condition. 

any suggestion on travel insurance for complete family ? how abt Fasttag ? 

[Naveen1]

17 hours ago, Satya Nagapuri said:

Things to take care and carry along ?

 

Things to carry is already summarized by Ranger.(related to car)

Carry torch, it is a must.
Towing ropes, you can source them from Secundrabad(Ranigunj). Ask for 2 tonn+ sling ropes. Buy two ropes and 4 shackles.

If you are not able to source towing ropes you can collect them from @karthik.
These guys bought them during their winter drive to Himalayas. 
 

Medical:
1. Diamox
2. Avomine 

3. Regular stuff(cold,fever,headache)

 

Clothes: 

Carry winter wear,specially for the kids.

 

Communication

1.Power bank is a must

2.Offline google maps

3.BSNL postpaid sim( good to have, I heard even Jio is doing good)

4. Car charger

5.Torch light

 

Food:

1.Carry as much water as possible, always stock at least two liters per head and drink as much as possible to stay hydrated

2. Carry chocolates and biscuits 

 

[shiva]

17 hours ago, Satya Nagapuri said:

what is the process to obtain permissions ?

 

No permits required, Just carry original documents. 
Vehicle should be registered on your name.

If you are taking Delhi -> Srinagar -> Leh  and while coming back you are taking Leh -> Keylong --> Manali no one will ask for permits.

If you are taking Delhi --> Manali --> Keylong --> Leh. You need to take permits for Rohtang pass(permits will be available at Manali)

Usually people will go via Srinagar and come back via Manali. 

[Satya Nagapuri]

Thanks Shiva ! approximate budget for this trip ? is it safe to travel with cash handy ? just want to ensure safety, Since travelling with family .

[Gowtham]

6 minutes ago, Satya Nagapuri said:

approximate budget for this trip ?

 

Budget completely depends on your accommodations and food.
I think it will be roughly under 1 lakh for 4 members.  

 

6 minutes ago, Satya Nagapuri said:

is it safe to travel with cash handy ?

 

Cash is a must, you wont find proper ATM's on these roads.
Avoid night drives at any cost. 
Nagpur to Delhi strech is not so safe, drive cautiously and don't involve with anyone on the road. 
Avoid eye contact and road rage.  
 

[Satya Nagapuri]

Thanks Ranger ! 

[Satya Nagapuri]

wch is the best time to visit  May or June ? How about the accommodation ? can we book the hotel's in advance ? 

[uday]

5 hours ago, Satya Nagapuri said:

wch is the best time to visit  May or June ?

Plan towards the end of May. Check the road status. Mid of June is much safer. 
So that Manali-Leh section will be opened.

 

6 hours ago, Satya Nagapuri said:

how abt Fasttag ? 

 

Get it!
It is must have in such a long drive.

Even though it is not 100% operational. I remember around 40% of tolls have fast tag. It will definitely save you some time.

[Satya Nagapuri]

 
Get it!
It is must have in such a long drive.
[/url]
Even though it is not 100% operational. I remember around 40% of tolls have fast tag. It will definitely save you some time.

Thanks Uday for your help and support ! Any specific instructions or suggestions need to tk care ?


Sent from my iPhone using India-Drive

[sagar]

Hi @Satya Nagapuri,

 

I would recommend you to carry cash in hand while you start from Delhi as there would be lesser sources of ATMs beyond Delhi and the acceptance towards digital money also gets negligible when you get closer to the Himalayan region.

 

And since you are traveling with your family, I would recommend you to plan your travel in the month of June (possibly 2nd week) which can be your safer bet considering the weather conditions and low occurance of any natural calamities causing long traffic delays. And Ecosport can easily do the trip.

 

Check out the link below for more information on permits in and around Leh..

 

 

[Satya Nagapuri]

1 hour ago, sagar said:

Hi [mention=1315]Satya Nagapuri[/mention],
 
I would recommend you to carry cash in hand while you start from Delhi as there would be lesser sources of ATMs beyond Delhi and the acceptance towards digital money also gets negligible when you get closer to the Himalayan region.
 
And since you are traveling with your family, I would recommend you to plan your travel in the month of June (possibly 2nd week) which can be your safer bet considering the weather conditions and low occurance of any natural calamities causing long traffic delays. And Ecosport can easily do the trip.
 
Check out the link below for more information on permits in and around Leh..
 
[/url]  

 

 

Thanks Sagar for your support and help!


Sent from my iPhone using India-Drive

 

[sagar]

30 minutes ago, Satya Nagapuri said:

Thanks Sagar for your support and help!

 

 

Anytime @Satya Nagapuri. Do keep us updated on your trip and do not forget to share your itinerary and pictures once you get done with it. Wishing you a great trip. Drive safe!

[Abhilash]

I'm planning road trip to from Hyderabad to Leh Ladakh on Thunderbird 350. Please help me with the precaution and list of the things I need to carry.

 

 

[Gowtham]

6 hours ago, Abhilash said:

I'm planning road trip to from Hyderabad to Leh Ladakh on Thunderbird 350. Please help me with the precaution and list of the things I need to carry.

 

Please share more details.
How may days you are planning?
Is it completely by road? or Via train till Delhi?

Which route are you planning to take? There are multiple route to Leh!