General guidelines for working in Ladakh

  1. Getting to and from Ladakh

  2. By air:

    Indian Airlines and Jet Airways operate flights year-round to Leh (IXL) from New Delhi (DEL). GoAir and Kingfisher operate flights during most months of the year. Connecting flights are also available from Srinagar (SXR) and Jammu (IXJ). Check and compare schedules and services for all airlines using Matrix; Kayak.

    By road:

    Leh is connected by road from Srinagar (NH1D) and Manali (NH22). Roads are closed during winter months. Check the status of road access before travelling. Updates are published online by the LAHDC.

  3. Working in Ladakh

  4. Mountain weather can change rapidly and visitors are advised to check weather forecasts before travel. 5-day general district forecasts are available online, published by the India Meteorological Department.

    The city of Leh and all locations in Ladakh are situated above 3,500m (11,480ft) altitude. Many locations are above 4,000m (13,100ft). Upon arrival in Ladakh, please allow at least 24 hours for acclimatisation to the altitude and dry air before commencing your work.

    English and Hindi is widely spoken in Leh; other languages are Urdu and Ladakhi. The working language at LREDA is English.

    Ladakh is a safe place to visit and work.

  5. Transport

  6. Most of the LREDA project locations are accessible by road, however, with the exception of locations along the national highways, roads are partially surfaced. 4WD vehicles are advisable. Please allow adequate time to reach project locations.

    Two taxi stands in the city of Leh offer fixed-rate services (4WD available) to all outlying towns and villages.

  7. Communications

  8. AirCel, Airtel and BSNL operate mobile network services in the area around Leh. Remote locations are not served by mobile networks. Fixed line telephone services are available in most villages.

    Internet cafes are located in and around the Main Bazaar in the centre of Leh. Some offer broadband services and Skype; all use back-up generators. Rates start at Rs 1.20 per minute.