I have read a few posts on the forum regarding going to Leh and majority of them suggest going to Leh via Srinagar and not via Manali. Although it has also been mentioned that the route via Manali is more scenic. Why is it that the Manali-Leh highway is not as good as the Srinagar-Leh highway? How dangerous are the road conditions from Manali to Leh? Are there any tourists who do travel on the Manali - Leh route? How long does it take to reach Leh from Manali and how long does it take to reach Leh from Srinagar? To reach Leh from Manali you have to go past Rohtang Pass, do we require a permit for this? Is accommodation easily available from Manali to Leh? Would you recommend self-driving from Manali to Leh or getting a taxi?
Hi and thank you for inquiring in this forum! Here's the answers to your questions: The Manali-Leh highway is considered as the most treacherous route to reach Leh. It's not that it isn't a good route, but more like it can be a very dangerous one. Beginners in driving or trekking should take caution when choosing this route. Preferably, the more experienced trekkers should choose this route. The first few kilometers, about a hundred or so, have civilization so you won't encounter problems then. However, the succeeding kilometers have little to no civilization so you won't have access to emergency needs or even access paved roads much. Generally, it has two lanes but it's not rare to encounter one lane stretches. It has badly damaged bridges as well. Approach such steep and damaged roads with caution so you won't encounter any problem. Yes, but mostly they are the adventurous individuals. It is during May and June that tourists flock to the Manali-Leh route. It takes about two days to reach Leh from Manali while it takes eight hours to reach Leh from Srinagar. Yes, you would need the permit for passing through Rohtang Pass or the Travel Purpose Permit. These are the requirements: proof of hotel booking, pollution certificate, vehicle registration certificate and driving license of the driver with you. There are accommodations in Manali but not quite a lot. Accommodations can be found in Sissu, Gondla and Patseo. It depends on how experienced of a driver you are. If you have tried trekking through such terrains, then it's worth driving for yourself. Like they say, it's quite an experience to be able to drive from Manali to Leh. The views are amazing and worth the trip. However, if you're a newbie driver or haven't traversed through such conditions, then consider hiring a taxi or driver for you. I hope this helps!
