A memorable road trip to Namika La in the Himalayas
India, asia
24.1 km
3,823 m
hard
Year-round
Namika La, aka Namika Pass or the Pillar of the Sky Pass, sits way up in Ladakh, India, at a whopping 3,823m (12,542ft)!
Tucked into the Zaskar Range of the Himalayas, this beauty connects Leh and Kargil. It's one of two super-high passes linking the regions, the other being the even loftier Fotu La Pass.
The road, National Highway 1 (NH 1) or the Srinagar Leh Highway, is paved all the way, but don't let that fool you. This drive is a real test, packed with hairpin turns and seriously sharp curves. Newbies beware: avoid driving at night or when visibility is poor. Keep an eye out for roadside memorials and always yield to the big rigs.
The road stretches for 24.1 km (14.97 miles) from Mulbekh to Khangral.
Expect snow closures from October to June (weather depending). The winds are fierce year-round. The climate is so brutal, the area's barren, like a lunar landscape. But once you crest the pass, get ready for insane views of lush greenery and snow-capped peaks. Seriously, this is a Ladakh must-see, and it's the last pass before you hit the Kargil region.
Where is it?
A memorable road trip to Namika La in the Himalayas is located in India (asia). Coordinates: 23.5173, 77.3472
Road Details
- Country
- India
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 24.1 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,823 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 23.5173, 77.3472
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