Editing Leh (section)

===Road===

Trade routes have traditionally converged on Leh from all four directions. The modern-day highway follows the most direct route from the [[Punjab region|Punjab]] via [[Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India|Mandi]], the [[Kulu valley]], the [[Rohtang Pass]], and [[Lahaul]] to the Indus Valley, then downriver to Leh. The route from Srinagar was roughly the same as the road that today crosses the ''[[Zoji La]]'' (pass) to [[Kargil town|Kargil]], then up the Indus Valley to Leh. From [[Baltistan]] there were two difficult routes: the main one ran up the Shyok Valley from the Indus, over a pass and then down the Hanu River to the Indus again below [[Khalsi, Leh|Khalsi]] (Khalatse). The other ran from [[Skardu]] straight up the Indus to Kargil and on to Leh. Both summer and winter routes ran from Leh to [[Yarkant County|Yarkand]] via the [[Karakoram Pass]] and [[Xaidulla]]. A couple of possible routes also ran from Leh to [[Lhasa]].<ref>Rizvi (1996), pp. 109-111.</ref>

Leh is connected to the rest of India by two high-altitude roads, both of which are subject to landslides and impassable in winter due to snows. The [[National Highway 1D (India)|National Highway 1]] from [[Srinagar]] via [[Kargil town|Kargil]] is generally open longer. The [[Leh-Manali Highway]] can be troublesome due to very high passes and plateaus. A third road is under construction.

*[[National Highway 1 (India)|NH-1]] Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Highway:
: The overland approach to Ladakh from the Kashmir valley via the 434-km. National Highway 1 typically remains open for traffic from April/May to October/November. The most dramatic part of this journey is the ascent up the {{convert|3505|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} [[Zoji-la]], a tortuous pass in the Great Himalayan Wall. The [[Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation]] (JKSRTC) operates regular deluxe and ordinary bus services between Srinagar and Leh on this route, with an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis (cars and jeeps) are also available at Srinagar for the journey.

* [[National Highway 3 (India)|NH-3]] [[Leh-Manali Highway]]:
: Since 1989, the {{convert|473|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} Leh-Manali Highway has served as the second land approach to Ladakh. Open from June to late October, this high road traverses the upland desert plateaux of Rupsho, whose altitude ranges from {{cvt|3660|m}} to {{cvt|4570|m}}. There are a number of high passes en route among which the highest one, known as [[Tanglang La]], is sometimes incorrectly claimed to be the world's second-highest motorable pass at an altitude of {{convert|5325|m}}<ref>[[Khardung La]] for a discussion of the world's highest motorable passes.</ref>

* [[Nimmu–Padam–Darcha road]]:
: As of 2025, this third road to Leh is currently under construction.