This track was identified and mapped via high-resolution satellite imagery.
Leh to Hanle Along the Indus
A long drive up the Indus from Leh into Changthang, the route of the column General Zorawar Singh sent towards western Tibet in May 1841. The road leaves the Manali highway at Upshi and follows the river through the gorge to Kiari and the hot springs at Chumathang, crosses at Mahe bridge and runs through the wide valley past Nyoma to Loma, then turns south-east up the Hanle river to the monastery and observatory at Hanle.
Trail Map
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Trail Profile
General Instructions
About 259 km one way, mostly paved, with long empty stretches above 4,000 m. Fill up in Leh and carry spare fuel; there are few pumps beyond Upshi. Spend a few nights in Leh to acclimatise first. Carry copies of your permit for the checkposts at Mahe and Loma.
Weather check
Sampling Micro-Climate...
34.1637, 77.5848
Slide to preview conditions across the entire route • Point: 34.1637, 77.5848 @ 3476m
Quick Stats
Highlights
- Soak in the hot springs at Chumathang
- Watch for kiang and black-necked cranes in the Nyoma marshes
- Visit Hanle monastery on its ridge above the plain
- Stay for the dark skies of the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve
Field Radio Protocol
VHF-UHF Communication
Propagation Telemetry
Ridge Line
92%Gorge Floor
18%Sector Relay: Sector Alpha Relay• 12-18 KM Range
Regulatory Compliance
VHF/UHF frequencies are for monitoring and emergency coordination only. Transmitting on these bands may require an Amateur Radio License or regional government permits. Check local telecommunications laws before operation.
Technical Analysis
Total Ascent
+1302 m
Total Descent
-519 m
Ruggedness Index
Terrain Roughness Index
Vertical displacement per km. Typical range: 0 (Smooth) to 100+ (Extreme Mountain).
7.0
Tortuosity Index
Route Curviness Index
Ratio of actual path to straight line. Typical range: 1.0 (Direct) to 3.0+ (Switchbacks).
1.28
Gradient Distribution
Surface & Hydrology
Surface Spectrum Analysis
Includes only technical water fords where the vehicle actively enters a stream or riverbed. Permanent bridges are excluded from this count.
Difficulty Analysis
Difficulty is determined by a technical multi-vector analysis of elevation profile, surface quality, and topographic intensity.
Bounding Box (WGS84)
Point Spacing: 80.1 m • Engine: TrailX Precision GPX ANALYTICS v1.0.0
Reviews & Discussion0
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Plan this trip
Before you go: Leh to Hanle Along the Indus
Best time to go
Jun–Sep
June to September is the realistic window. The Manali and Srinagar highways usually open between May and June and close again with the October snows, and even in summer, nights on the high passes drop below freezing.
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