Leh to Hanle - A Detailed Travel Guide

There is a direct route to reach Hanle via Pangong Tso or Tso Moriri roads. The distance between Pangong Tso and Hanle is around 176 kilometers. This route is usually chosen to reach Hanle,

while exiting Ladakh as Tso Moriri lies towards Manali.You can visit Tso Moriri or Hanle without coming back to Leh via this route. Both Tso Moriri and Hanle are located at a higher altitude than Pangong Tso so you can stay near Pangong Tso before your expedition begins. You can definitely spend the night at Hanle or Tso Moriri as there are many homestays there.

However, it depends on the approval status of permits for this route in Chusul. Foreigners are not permitted to go beyond Man-Merak Village as no permits are issued before entering this village.It will take you around 6 to 7 hours to reach Hanle via this route due to partial rocky terrain. You will also get the opportunity to explore Merak, Kastet, Chusul, Loma and Tsaga Village on your way to Hanle via this route.

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This is generally the most preferred route taken to reach the beautiful city of Hanle in Ladakh. You can reach in 4 to 5 hours depending upon the frequency of breaks you take via Chumathang road. The distance between the two pit stops is around 114 kilometers. You can cover the scenic places of Mahe, Nyoma and Loma before reaching Hanle via this route. Some of the popular monasteries such as Shey, Hemis and Thiksey also lie en route.

This route has the best road conditions as compared to other routes making it the most popular one. If you are looking for a relaxed vacation then you can spend a night or two in Nubra valley and then head to Hanle. Please make sure to fuel up at any petrol pump you get mid-way as there is a scarcity of petrol pumps in the region.

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 The distance between Leh to Hanle is around 275 kilometers. You can cover the distance in around 9 to 10 hours depending upon the number of pit stops you make in the journey.

There are several beautiful tourist attractions that lie in the middle of the two spots like Upshi, Kumdok, Kere, Chumathang, Nyoma, Loma and Mahe among others. 

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The ideal time to travel from Hanle to Leh is between the months of May to September as the weather conditions are really harsh during the rest of the year.

The weather is pleasant during this period of time and you can see a lot of tourists in the area.

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Hanle is located at an elevation of 4300 meters above sea level so the temperature is cold throughout the year. It even drops to minus 20 degrees in the winters.

The coldest month to visit Hanle is January when you will observe lowest temperatures, harsh winds and decreased oxygen levels. So it is highly recommended to visit this place during the months of June to September as the weather is really pleasant and there is limited rainfall.

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There is a local pharmacy in Hanle village where you can get basic first aid facilities and oxygen refills at the General Hospital in Leh.

 It is always advisable that you carry your own oxygen cylinder from Leh since Hanle is located at a higher altitude and oxygen levels are very low here. There is another local pharmacy in Rhongo village but do not expect any major medical assistance.

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There is only one network provider in the entire Hanle region, BSNL. At times you can observe some phone connectivity in the area but it is not really reliable.However, Hanle is such a mesmerizing place that you will forget to look at your phone so limited network services won't be a major concern. There is one public satellite phone which you can use, installed in Khaldo village in a homestay.

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The nearest petrol pump in the Hanle region is 240 kilometers away at Karu. It comes on the way from Leh to Chumathang or Mahe Bridge.It is advisable to fuel up at this petrol pump before driving up to Hanle. It is also recommended to carry your own petrol as well as there are limited resources here.

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There are not many ATMS near Hanle and surrounding cities so it is always advisable to carry sufficient cash throughout the journey. The only place where you find an ATM is in Ladakh so you can withdraw cash from there.

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On your first day of the Leh to Hanle trip you must reach Hanle from Leh and explore the  regions of Upshi, Chumathang, Nyoma and Loma en route , ideal for photography lovers. You can cover stunning landscapes of these regions in your journey.The Leh to Hanle distance is about 235 kilometers and is covered over a duration of 9 to 10 hours. Then enjoy an overnight stay in Hanle.

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Once you have reached Hanle, you can kickstart your trip by visiting the Hanle Monastery and Observatory. You can also spend some quality time with your loved ones by taking leisure walks in the pasture lands of Hanle. Post that, you must definitely visit Kyon Tso Twin Lake and catch the mesmerizing views.

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On the fourth day of your trip, you can cover Tso Kar Lake and Tagland Lake in the middle of Manali to Leh highway. Then you can spend the night in beautiful accomodations available in Leh.

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Belonging to the 17th century, Hanle Monastery is a gompa of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school. It is a homage to Tibetan Buddhism residing in the Hanle Valley, Ladakh. It resides on an old branch in the Ladakh-Tibet trade route. The monastery also houses around 10 monks and several monks visit regularly to offer prayers.

Hanle Monastery is one of the largest and best monasteries of Ladakh and was built by Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal. It is also one of the most popular landmarks of Hanle, Leh.

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It is the highest observatory in the world which is located at a staggering height of 4500 meters, and offers a panoramic view of the entire town.

It is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. Indian Astronomical Observatory is also the world's tenth-highest optical observatory in the world with a telescope of 2.01 meters diameter called the Himalayan Chandra Telescope. It also houses a plethora of infrared, optical and gamma-ray telescopes for research and observation.

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One of the highest mountain passes of India, built at an elevation of 18,124 feet above sea level. Photi La is located in the south-eastern region of Ladakh and witnesses several travelers passing by on a regular basis. This 30 kilometers long road starts in the Hanle village and is quite dusty.

You will find some of the most breathtaking views and scenery while commuting from this road. You must definitely gear up before planning to ride here as the oxygen levels are very steep due to high altitude. If you plan to travel these rocky terrains you must avoid driving on the unpaved mountain roads as there is a chance of slipping.

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Umling La Pass in Eastern Ladakh is now the world’s highest motorable pass surpassing the Khardung La Pass in India. it is located at an altitude of 19,300 feet above sea level making it the highest in the world. The road is spread over an area of 52 kilometers with a mix of rocky terrains and smooth regions. It connects the important regions and towns of Eastern Ladakh and acts as an alternative between the Chisumle and Demchok route.

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