Well, strangely this year in 2024, as of January 22, 2024, Srinagar Leh Highway is still open for light vehicles with cautionary warning of safe travel. There hasn’t been any significant snowfall yet in the Himalayas. The winter months of November 2023, December 2023, and January 2024 have not seen any major snowfall due to which Zojila Pass is still open for light vehicles on January 2024.
Due to this reason, the Srinagar Leh Highway is open currently and only light vehicles are allowed. JK Traffic police are advising people on the safety measures they should take when traveling over Zojila la Pass. The temperature range is well below 0 degrees but there is no sign of snow. Only ice is there which makes the conditions at Zojila Pass slippery. Hence, safety should be kept in mind in case you opt to travel early in the season.
Are we expecting a late Ladakh season opening due to late snowfall in 2024? Or will it be a record year of year-long connectivity of Ladakh over Srinagar Leh Highway?
When does Srinagar Leh Highway open usually?
This 434 KM long Srinagar Leh Highway is open in January third week this year due to the absence of snow. However, it usually opens up by the first week of April or March end looking at only the last few years. I do feel that this year it may open early owing to no snow in the Himalayas. It has been a norm that we set up the targets to open the highway early only to realize that the weather has the last laugh.
I have been watching it for the last 15 years now, and this year is very strange in terms of snow looking at January third week of 2024. Eventually, it will all get down upon the weather and snow conditions in March / April when snow may happen in many parts of the Himalayas including this belt of Kashmir too.
Should I travel on Srinagar Leh immediately after the road opening?
When making a road trip to Leh Ladakh over Srinagar Leh Highway, you must keep in mind that even when the road from Srinagar to Leh opens, it takes some time to get them stabilized. Due to snow sliding and loose gravel, roadblocks are very common in the initial days, especially around Zojila Pass.
Even there is one-way traffic with time restrictions of traffic flow in the initial days because the road is not wide enough due to snow walls and one-way traffic is only allowed at Zojila Pass.
Hence, it is recommended that you wait for a couple of weeks before planning the trip on Srinagar Leh Highway after its official opening. The last thing you will want on your much-awaited Leh Ladakh road trip is to get stranded on some lonely yet feezing stretches of Srinagar – Leh Highway in early April.
Please keep in mind that even when the Srinagar to Leh road to Ladakh opens early in 2024, it needs at least a couple of weeks to settle or get stabilized from the initial snow sliding that happens due to the quick melting of snow.
So, please do not rush to Ladakh by road as soon as the highway is thrown open rather wait for a couple of weeks to let it stabilize 😉 … This will ensure safe passage for you and avoid any unforeseen mishaps.
Where can I track Leh Srinagar Road Status 2024?
As per the previous years, I will be starting this sticky post for Srinagar Leh Highway Status 2024, which so many adventure lovers await every year. Unlike the last few years, I will keep updating this article with the latest updates. Up until last year, I used to update the progress in the DoW Youtube Channel community posts for better tracking of updates.
Hence, all updates on Srinagar – Leh Highway Status 2024 will be posted or updated in this article as well as on my Youtube Channel threads. Please subscribe to it and stay tuned.
Will this thread have updated Srinagar Leh Road Status in 2024?
Once the Srinagar Leh road opens, I may not be that active in updating the minor road closures or status because these roads are in the high Himalayas, and close and open frequently. It is barely impossible for a single tiny soul like me to update this information daily once the road gets open, so please request you to excuse me on that front and accept my apologies :)…
However, if there is some major blockade of 3 – 4 days, I will try to surely update such information about the Srinagar Leh Highway status 2024.
I hope as per last year, and this year as well this article thread will be useful in planning your journey on Srinagar Leh Highway and further to Leh – Ladakh region.
Please note that if you are traveling from Manali to Leh over Rohtang Pass and coming back from Leh to Srinagar highway, you will need to get the permit for Rohtang Pass which can be applied for online. But, if you plan to use Atal Tunnel which opened in 2020, you do not need a Rohtang Pass permit.
Current Srinagar Leh Highway Status = CLOSED | Update: 26 January 2024
Update: 26 January 2024
Finally, with the fresh snowfall of the season on 26th Januar, the Zojila Pass closed for the winter season. It is the record time BRO has kept the Srinagar Leh Highway open in the winter season.
During the winters of 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23, records from the BRO (Border Roads Organization) show that the road was closed to traffic on December 31, 2020, January 4, 2022, and January 6, 2023, respectively.
However, this year experienced very little precipitation, with minimal snowfall in the higher regions and little rainfall in the lower areas across the northwest Himalayas. By mid-January, there was only about six to seven feet of snow.
- Srinagar to Sonamarg is OPEN
- Drass to Kargil to Leh is OPEN
- Sonamarg to Zojila Pass to Drass is CLOSED
Update: 22 January 2024
As of this date, the road from Srinagar to Leh is open for light vehicles as there has been no snowfall at Zojila Pass in 2024. Tourists may not yet be allowed to travel and once it is considered safe, authorities will allow tourist traffic on this route. The conditions at Zojila Pass are slippery and hence extreme caution must be taken into account before traveling on Srinagar Leh Highway in winter months.
Update: 16 March 2023
As of this date, the road from Srinagar to Leh is open and snow has been cleared. Tourists and civilians are not yet allowed to travel and once it is considered safe, authorities will allow traffic on this route.
Update: 3 May 2022
As of this date, the road from Srinagar to Leh is open for tourists. Traffic is allowed one way only on Zojila Pass where odd dates of the month allow movement of traffic from Srinagar to Leh while even dates the traffic is allowed from Kargil / Leh to Srinagar.
Update: 20 March 2022
On March 19, 2022, the status of Srinagar Leh Highway is open but tourists are not yet allowed and only army vehicles or essential vehicles will be using it in the coming days. Taking advantage of the late closure of Srinagar Leh Highway last year, BRO has created history yet again by opening the Srinagar Leh Highway in a record 73 days. The earlier average of the opening of Srinagar Leh Highway used to be 135 days.
Tourists will be allowed to travel on Srinagar Leh Highway as soon as the road is deemed safe for passage. Initially, it may be possible that one-way traffic is only allowed. Then later in the season, BRO will allow two-way traffic as the road at Zojila Pass gets widened.
Update: 1 March 2022
Snow clearance operation on Srinagar Leh Highway is at the last stage where only 2-3 km of stretch is left at Zojila Pass from the Srinagar side where snow clearance is remaining. If the weather holds up in the coming weeks, we should surely see the opening of Srinagar Leh Highway as soon as possible.
Update: 19 Feb 2022
The snow clearance operation from both sides of Srinagar Leh Highway is in full swing and BRO expects this road to open in 2022 by early March much as it opened the last year in February end.
In fact, the Srinagar Leh Highway was open as late as 4 January 2022 and was declared officially closed on 5 January 2022. This is the record time for which Srinagar Leh Highway remains open in a year, almost 10 months. So, you can imagine how climate change is affecting the snow levels in the Himalayas.
Please note that even though the road got cleared in February end and was declared open, tourist vehicles were only allowed a couple of times before the Ladakh season time of June to September. As late as May end, the Srinagar Leh Highway was operational only one-way for traffic.
Update: 12 Feb 2022
After heavy snowfall in winter, Srinagar – Leh highway continues to remain closed in 2022 as of mid-February. Snow clearance operations may have begun already and BRO will soon project the dates of its opening.
Update: 31 May 2021
The road from Srinagar to Leh is still open for one-way traffic only. However, now the traffic is allowed from Srinagar to Leh as well as Leh to Srinagar side as well.
Update: 2 May 2021
The tourist or passenger traffic or vehicles were not allowed to pass from Sonamarg to Kargil – Leh due to the weekend Corona curfew in the Ladakh region.
The one-way traffic from Srinagar to Leh is allowed for vehicles carrying essential commodities on the weekend. The traffic from Leh to Srinagar is not allowed yet.
Update: 26 April 2021
Finally, after a couple of spells of fresh snowfall in April, Srinagar Leh Highway has opened again but only for one-way traffic from Srinagar to Leh for all types of vehicles. There will be timings imposed on the traffic movement according to which the traffic from Sonamarg will be allowed after 10:30 am and 11:00 am from Meenamarg to Kargil.
Road conditions are still very snowy and icy up there, so please take precautions when traveling.
The traffic from Kargil to Srinagar is not yet allowed and only one-way traffic is allowed from Srinagar to Leh from 7 AM to 1 PM only. Vehicles crossing before or after this time range will not be allowed.
Update: 23 April 2021
After opening for a day or two, Srinagar Leh Highway closed again due to fresh snowfall again at Zojila Pass. Authorities suggest that if the weather remains clear, Srinagar to Leh road will be thrown open again soon.
Update Date: 15 April 2021
Well, inclement weather and snow over Zojila Pass continue to remain closed for the last 1.5 months. However, BRO is toiling hard to clear the snow again from Zojila Pass and expects that they will complete the snow clearance in the next couple of days. It means that if the weather stays favorable, BRO may open Srinagar Leh Highway in the coming week.
Authorities are setting up Covid-19 screening checkpoints at Meenamarg and setting up facilities for conducting RT-PCR tests for all inbound passengers to Leh Ladakh and Kargil.
Read more here: Snow-clearing operations at Srinagar-Leh NH in full swing
Update: 5th April 2021
Due to snow slides, avalanches, and inclement weather, BRO is still not allowing tourists and locals to travel beyond Zojila Pass on Srinagar – Leh Highway. So, even though the road was cleared of snow on 28th February, still, no general public traffic is allowed on the highway after an initial couple of days.
Update Date: 20 March 2021
It has been almost three weeks since the Srinagar Leh Highway has been declared open. However, tourists have not been allowed to travel beyond Sonamarg to cross Zojila Pass. There is the constant spell of snowfall, avalanches, and snow slides that remains the road closed or not suitable to travel for the general public including tourists and locals. More snow is predicted in the coming days in Jammu & Kashmir as per weather forecasts.
Update Date: 5 March 2021
After declaring the road open last week in record time, there is still no sign of tourists or civilians being allowed to cross Zojila Pass on Srinagar Leh Highway to travel to Ladakh from Srinagar. The avalanches and snow slides are causing the road to remain closed.
Update Date: 28 February 2021
The road from Srinagar to Leh has been opened after remaining closed for 2 months of heavy snowfall. It has been the record opening of Srinagar Leh Highway ever and it just remained closed for only 58 days this winter. You can read the full report here at Srinagar-Leh road reopens after 2 months.
Update Date: 24 February 2021
The road from Srinagar to Kargil to Leh has been cleared of snow in record time this year by BRO. In the past 61 years, it has never happened that BRO cleared the snow such early in the season that too in February. It means that now the Srinagar to Leh road shall be thrown open by the end of February.
Update Date: 19th February 2021
The snow clearance operations have been almost completed starting in February this year on Srinagar Leh Highway. It is expected that snow will be cleared from Srinagar to Leh road by the end of February if the weather stays favorable.
If you are traveling to Leh only by flight, you can plan to make a day trip to Kargil covering Lamayuru and Sham Valley on the way to Kargil from Leh.
Timings of Zojila Pass in April 2023
- Sonamarg to Drass: 7 AM to 1 PM
Some Important Articles for Reference & Regular Updates
- 5 Reasons to choose Srinagar – Leh Road over Manali – Leh Road
- 7 Useful Tips for a Self Drive to Leh – Ladakh
- 40 Must-Have Things to Carry on Ladakh Self Drive Trip
- List of things to carry for your Ladakh Trip
- Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization
Have a travel question?? You can follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel to ask your travel questions in a direct message on Instagram or comment on my YouTube videos.
Srinagar Leh Highway Travel Guide Infographic
Download your FREE high-resolution version pdf copy of this Srinagar to Leh route travel infographic. If, you liked it and found it helpful, please feel free to share it with your family and friends to help them too.
Srinagar – Leh Highway Status = CLOSED | Update Date: 18 February 2022
Zojila, 18 Feb 2022: The strategic 434 kilometre Srinagar-Leh Highway, the only road connecting the Ladakh region with rest of Jammu and Kashmir is likely to open early this year mostly because of the less snowfall as compared to previous years.
Beacon Officials told Greater Kashmir that the snow clearance work on the highway was going on in full swing.
The official added that snow clearance work was likely to be completed by the end of this month subject to favourable weather conditions. He said only after assessing the road conditions the decision to allow traffic on the road will be taken.
However, this year due to the less snowfall during winters the road clearance operation is likely to take less time as compared to earlier. Reports said that nearly 8-10 feet of snow has accumulated along Zojila pass while 4-6 feet of snow has accumulated along Sonamarg-Baltal road.
Full Report: Srinagar Leh Highway to open soon.
Have a travel question?? You can follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel to ask your travel questions in a direct message on Instagram or comment on my YouTube videos.
