Umling La Pass is one of the most stunning and challenging passes in the world, located in the pristine landscape of Ladakh, India. While the road itself is smooth as butter, the real thrill lies in reaching the place! It is nestled in between rugged mountains on all sides, offering breathtaking views of the Himalayan range. The pass stands tall at an elevation of 19024 Feet or 5798 Mtrs, making it one of the highest motorable roads in the world. It is a popular destination for both adventure travelers and those seeking spiritual enlightenment.
In 2017, BRO opened the road for local civilians and Umling La Pass was crowned as the highest motorable pass in the world, surpassing Mana Pass in Uttarakhand and the road to Uturuncu in Bolivia. In 2021, the Guinness World Records acknowledged this feat of BRO and gave the Umling La Pass the certificate of being the highest motorable road in the world.
I must highlight that the pass, at 19,024 ft is no joke and adventure enthusiasts should not be callous in attempting to cover this route when drizzling or snowing. This will lead to reduced visibility and the temperatures can drop to dangerous levels. Also, you must keep in mind that low-power vehicles will not reach Umling La and definitely won’t be able to get back in time!
Geography of Umling La
Umling La, also known as Umlingla Pass, is a high mountain pass located in the Ladakh region. The pass is strategically important due to its proximity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China-occupied Tibet. The pass is used by local shepherds and traders to cross between the two districts.
The approximate distance from Leh town to Umling La pass via Photi La route is 330 km, or 345 km via Nurbula Top route. Hanle village, where the pass is located, is 255 km from Leh town, and approximately 75 KMs away from Umling-la top.
Weather at Umling La Pass
The temperatures at Umling La Pass can get very cold, given its high elevation. Summers are usually mild and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 5 to 15 degrees Celsius. Winters are cold and dry, with temperature lows of -15 degrees Celsius. Snowfall can occur during the months of November/December to April/May.
Best Time to visit Umling La Pass
Due to the extreme weather conditions, the best time to visit Umling La Pass is between May and Mid-October. During this time, the roads are clear and the weather is mild. It is advised to avoid traveling during the monsoon season, as the roads can become very dangerous and muddy on the way to Umling La.
While technically, there’s no monsoon in Ladakh, you will face some drizzle and possibly a light snowfall here and there but the temperatures can drop quite a bit. You’ll experience the monsoon portion, especially if you’re traveling from the Manali side. It is highly recommended to have proper riding gear for the bikers.
Permits for visiting Umling La Pass
Visiting Umling La Pass is now possible without the need for an Inner Line Permit for Indian nationals. Domestic tourists are only required to pay the Ladakh environment fee and carry a receipt of the payment – which acts like a ticket / pass. Depending on the travel dates, travelers may be allowed or restricted to enter the area by the army.
To visit Hanle, tourists must visit the District Commissioner’s office in Leh and get their permit stamped as per the old method. Thankfully this has changed and now no stamping is required – making the travels easier. However, it should be noted that officially, the environmental fee is applicable for travels up to Hanle. Post that – domestic tourists can travel up to Umling la. Foreigners and OCI card holders can only visit up to the Hanle village on a day trip and backtrack to Nyoma for the night.
Best Car to take to Umling La Pass
If you are planning to drive up to Umling La Pass, ideally you can reach Umling La in just about any car or bike – especially in the dry months. However, your vehicle should have enough power to pull up a slope. It is also important to ensure that your car is well-maintained, as breakdowns can occur due to the extreme terrain, especially while descending Umling La as you’re constantly breaking.
Amenities
While most of the amenities are covered in our Hanle Guide, I’ll highlight some of the important stops here –
1. The nearest petrol pump is in Karu 34 km from Leh or Tangste Village 36 km from Pangong Lake.
2. From a connectivity perspective, Jio 4G works till Nyoma and local BSNL postpaid sim works near multiple villages along the route.
3. There’s an ATM situated in Nyoma
6 Routes to Umling-la (Plus a bonus 7 route!)
There are several routes that one can take to reach Umling La. This place can be reached through multiple routes, but there’s two main places you can begin from. First up is through Hanle and second is via Loma Bridge. I’ll break down both journeys and alternative routes from each starting point below:
I’ll break down both journeys and alternative routes from each starting point below:
Leh to Hanle
Leh – Karu (34 KMs) – Upshi (13 KMs) – Kiari (62 KMs) – Chumathang (30 KMs) – Mahe (24 KMs) – Nyoma (19 KMs) – Loma (25 KMs) – Rhongo (3 KM) – Hanle (45 KMs) = 255 km
We have covered a detailed blog on a Complete Guide for Hanle as well. Do refer to the blog for more details on all things Hanle. Leh to Hanle is a 255 km drive through the stunning terrain of the Changthang Plateau of the Indian Himalayas situated in Eastern Ladakh. Starting from Leh, the capital of the Union Territory of Ladakh, the journey takes one through the beautiful Karu valley and the small towns of Upshi, Kumdok, Kiari and Chumathang.
As one moves further, one can view the majestic mountains, snow-capped peaks, and the vast expanse of the Indus River. The drive further takes one through the small villages of Mahe, Nyoma, Loma, Rhongo and Hanle. Along the way, one gets to witness the traditional Ladakhi lifestyle, the local culture, and the beautiful landscapes of Ladakh. The road is mostly well-maintained and the journey is relatively comfortable.
Hanle to Umling La
From Hanle to Umling La, there are multiple routes that can be taken to reach the pass in the middle of nowhere. The journey from Hanle to Umling La Pass is quite long and can be covered by hiring a local taxi. Here’s all the route you’d want to explore – choose as per your liking.
Route 1: Hanle – drive west towards Punguk – Ukdungle – Nurbu La – Chisumle Bridge – Umling La (88 km)
The road from Hanle to Ukdungle and Nurbula Top is a complete tar road. Once you reach Nurbula Top, continue ahead to reach Chisumle Bridge from where you can easily reach Umling La Pass Top. This is a complete tar road.
Route 2: Hanle – Bogge/Zursur – Nurbu La Top – Chisumle Bridge – Umling La Top (72 km)
Tips
- This is a recommended route by Unplugged Life. Out of all the roads leading to Umling La, in terms of beauty and adventure, this route is out of this world, and the landscapes will leave you flabbergasted.
- This route is a shortcut of route 1 and the most enjoyable route to take, except for days when it’s raining or drizzling.
- Just 200m ahead or west from Padma Homestay in Hanle, you will see a dirt track going towards a water stream. This route follows the Hanle – Nurbula Top trek route, where there are dirt tracks that can be followed towards Zursur village. It is a completely wild and offbeat dirt track and should take between 1 to 1:40 mins to complete.
- This is the most adventurous and highly remote route to reach Umling La. With multiple turns, ascending and descending, you will exit this route somewhere between Ukdungle – Nurbu La pass tar road.
- The only way to navigate this route is by following the small polls that have ZSR written on them (see the image below).
- Don’t lose the polls; otherwise, you will get lost, and it will be difficult to get back as maps do not work here. Do not take super short cuts on this route, as they can be very steep.
- From the point where you exit somewhere on the Ukdungle – Nurbu La road, then Chisumle Bridge & Umling La, there is a beautiful tar road.
Route 3: Hanle – Bogge – Few km ahead of Nurbu La Top – Chisumle Bridge – Umling La Top (62 km)
Tips
- This is a super shortcut, a shortcut to route 2, and by far the shortest route to reach Umling La Top from Hanle.
- You take the same dirt track route as route 2, and instead of following the ZSR boards leaning towards the right, carry on straight north.
- The road will lead to a steep muddy incline and finally come out a few kilometers ahead of Nurbu La Top.
- Continue on the dirt track for 400m and join the tar road which connects to Chisumle Bridge and then to Umling La Top.
- This route will be difficult and will test your driving skills, especially on days when it’s raining or drizzling.
Route 4: Hanle – Photi La – Photile – Chisumle – Chisumle Bridge – Umling La (75 km)
There is a new tar road from Hanle to Photi La Pass and Umling La. This is the most general route to reach Umling La pass from Hanle in comparison to all other routes. However, the Nurbu La Top route is more adventurous and in case of dry conditions of roads, would be fun. Please note: Low power cars and bikes will not be able to reach Umling La or Photi La.
Reaching Loma Bridge
Next Option is for you to reach from Pangong Lake or Tso Moriri via Loma Bridge From Pangong or Tso Moriri or Leh, one has to reach Loma Bridge. We have covered the route in detail on our itinerary here.
Loma bridge to Umling La
Once you’ve reached Loma Bridge, you’ll have two options:
Route 5: Loma Bridge – Dungti – Fukche – Koyul – Lekeng Yok – Chisumle – Chisumle Bridge – Umling La (116 km)
Tips and Key things to keep in mind:
- A Tar road from Loma Bridge to Dungti is under construction and should be ready soon, hopefully before the beginning of 2024 season.
- The road is broken from Dungti to Koyul.
- There’s a beautiful Tar road from Koyul – Lekeng Yok – Chisumle – Chisumle Bridge – Umling La. However, be careful and don’t overspeed.
- Umling La is the only pass on this route when coming from Leh
- From Koyul the road splits into two – Route one is Koyul – Lekeng Yok – Chisumle – Chisumle Bridge – Umling La & route two is Koyul – Demchok – Umling La.
Route 6: Loma Bridge – Dungti – Fukche – Koyul – Demchok – Umling La (129 km)
Tips and Key things to keep in mind:
- Continue from Loma Bridge to Koyul and take the diversion to Demchok.
- The road is broken from Koyul to Demchok.
- Demchok to Umling La is a beautiful tar road. However, it is a very steep ascend, low power cars and bikes will not be able to climb from Demchok to Umling La Top.
Bonus Route to reach Umling La
Route 7: 23 km before Loma Bridge is Nyoma Village. From Nyoma Village, take the road to Nidar, which leads you to Punguk via Thit Zarbo La. The route includes Nyoma, Nidar, Thit Zarbo La, Chilling Tso and Ryul Tso lakes, Punguk, Ukdungle, Nurbu La, Chisumle Bridge, and Umling La.
Pro Tip:
- The road to Thit Zarbo La 16,755ft. is in really bad shape. In my opinion only a 4×4 car or a high power bike will be able to reach from Nidar to Thit Zarbo La.
- Having a mechanic or someone who can repair your vehicle in case of a breakdown is highly recommended for this route.
- Broken roads, no network, petrol pumps, and local villages or people in between makes this a highly touch drive/ride.
Conclusion
The beauty of the Hanle and Umling La Pass in Ladakh is second to none, making it an ideal place for an adventurous trip. If you’re looking for a unique experience and not traveling with family, I highly recommend you add Hanle and Umling La Pass to your itinerary. This area of Ladakh is still relatively undiscovered, providing a unique atmosphere and ambience. I hope this travel guide will be of help on your upcoming journey to Umling La Pass and other places in Ladakh.