KEYLONG/MANALI : THE 473-km Leh–Manali Highway has reopened. Snow Wonderland Beckons Summer Tourists
As the scorching heat tightens its grip over the plains, the reopening of the iconic 473-km-long NH-3 — the Leh–Manali Highway — has thrown open the floodgates for tourists heading towards the icy paradise of Leh and Lahaul-Spiti.
With summer vacations beginning in May and June, thousands of travellers cancelling foreign holidays due to tensions in the Middle East are now choosing the Himalayas for a snow escape.
The dramatic highway, shut for nearly five months due to heavy snowfall, was reopened after BRO’s Project Himank and Project Deepak held a symbolic “Golden Handshake Ceremony” at Sarchu.
BRO teams cleared nearly 202 km of snowbound stretches across three high-altitude passes in a record 50 days.
But this is no ordinary road trip.
It is a journey through clouds, snow walls, frozen rivers and some of the world’s highest motorable passes.
The adventure begins from Manali. Within minutes, travellers enter the futuristic Atal Tunnel before emerging into the raw beauty of Lahaul Valley.
From Keylong, the road cuts through snow-fed rivers, hanging glaciers and rugged mountains towards Jispa and Darcha.
Then begins the climb towards the mighty Baralacha La at nearly 16,040 feet.
Here, even in June, giant snow walls tower beside the road.
Beyond lies the magical wilderness of Sarchu — a cold desert where golden sunlight dances on icy streams and barren mountains. Tent colonies, biker camps and roadside cafés suddenly emerge in the middle of nowhere.
Further ahead, travellers enter Ladakh and negotiate the legendary Tanglang La soaring to around 17,480 feet, among the highest mountain passes in the world.
The road twists endlessly through moonscape terrain before finally descending into Leh.
Along the highway, tourists encounter shepherd caravans moving with sheep and yaks, steaming roadside dhabas serving tea and Maggi, and tiny mountain cafés filled with travellers from across the world.
For heat-weary tourists escaping blistering temperatures of north Indian cities, the journey offers nature’s air-conditioning — icy winds, sparkling glaciers and cool mountain sunshine.
Yet the beauty comes with caution.
Nights and mornings remain freezing even during peak summer. Travellers are advised to carry thermals, heavy woollens, gloves and windproof jackets.
Doctors recommend spending at least one night in Manali or Keylong for acclimatisation before heading towards Leh to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), hypothermia and breathlessness at extreme altitudes.
Fuel planning is equally critical.
Tourists should tank up near Tandi before Keylong, as fuel stations are scarce on the long 473-km stretch till Leh.
With snow still lining the roads, turquoise rivers roaring beside the highway and Himalayan peaks glittering under the summer sun, the reopening of the Leh–Manali Highway has once again revived India’s greatest mountain road adventure.
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