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Are you planning to travel to Leh or Kargil in the near future? If so, you might be wondering about the current status of the Zojila Pass. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on the Zojila Pass road status and condition for the year 2024-25.
Zojila Pass is a high-altitude mountain pass located on the Srinagar-Leh highway in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the only road that connects Srinagar with Leh and is an essential lifeline for the people of Ladakh. The pass sits at an altitude of 3,528 meters (11,575 ft) and is a popular tourist attraction.
As of 28-Mar-2024, the Zojila Pass is currently open for Goods Carrier Vehicles and only one-way traffic on all days except Fridays. The pass remains closed on Fridays for all kinds of vehicles for maintenance work. However, the Passenger Carring Vehicles either Light Taxi Cabs or Buses are not allowed till further orders.
After enduring a closure since February 20 due to intense snowfall along the treacherous Zojila Pass and other elevated sectors, hope flickers as the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) spearheads the clearance operations, commencing last week.
Recently, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, Muhammad Jaffer Akhoon, undertook a visit to Zojila Pass to oversee the snow clearance efforts. Encouragingly, substantial headway has been made in this endeavor.
Commending the relentless dedication exhibited by Project Vijayak and Project Beacon, Akhoon remarked, “The dedicated BRO team, including Project Vijayak, is working tirelessly. It is expected to have the Zojila Pass will be enabling the road to be motorable within a week.”
From Srinagar to Sonamarg is a smooth drive. After Sonamarg, the ascent for Zojila starts and the first 10 kilometers are on a good road. As you start climbing up and get closer to the top, the road starts to deteriorate. Until Zero Point, which is about 2 kilometers from the top, the road will remain to be bad. After Zero Point, it is in excellent condition all the way to Dras and Kargil.
What makes the drive across Zojila a little difficult is not actually the bad road but the heavy traffic. The road is in fact quite wide. It is bad but wide enough. It is the traffic and the long line of trucks that make the drive tougher.
Traffic from Sonamarg is allowed after 7 am and traffic from Drass is allowed after 10 am. So if you were driving from the Sonamarg side, try to start at 7 am. This way, you will cross the pass before the traffic from the other side is released. If you were coming from Dras, reach the check-post by 11 am. By that time, the traffic from Sonamarg would stop.
The best time to visit Zojila Pass is between May to October. However, even in these months, you should avoid visiting between late June to August because of the monsoon season and Amarnath Yatra time.
The opening of Zojila Pass entirely depends on the weather and how fast BRO is able to clear the snow. But historically, it is the month of April when the pass is freed of snow and declared open for civilian traffic. There have been instances when the pass was opened in March as well but chances of that happening are extremely rare. To be on the safer side, do not plan a trip to Zoji La Pass before April 15th. If the weather did not favor it, the opening of the pass can sometimes even get delayed to May 1st week.
The road between Srinagar and Sonamarg remains closed during the peak winter season. In the months from December to March, the road is only open till Gagangir. The stretch between Gagangir to Sonamarg remains completely snowed out. Historically, Sonamarg is declared open for tourists sometimes towards late March to early April. First, the Sonamarg road is freed of snow and then Zojila Pass is declared open. To be on the safer side, do not plan a trip to Sonamarg any earlier than late March.
The Zojila Pass road conditions can be challenging due to the high altitude and heavy traffic. The first 10 kilometers of the ascent are on a good road, but as you get closer to the top, the road starts to deteriorate. Until Zero Point, which is about 2 kilometers from the top, the road will remain to be bad. After Zero Point, it is in excellent condition all the way to Dras and Kargil.
Book Srinagar to Kargil Taxi
During the time when the pass is open, the road remains busy with tourist vehicles, trucks, buses, and ongoing construction work. Zojila sees the highest number of accidents and fatalities among all the high passes that we know of. Therefore, it is essential to be cautious while driving on this stretch of the road.
There are a couple of things that you should keep in mind while planning to visit Zojila. The first is the Friday rule, and the second is Zojila timings. Zojila remains closed on Friday for road construction and maintenance work. But this rule is mostly applied to bigger vehicles like trucks and buses.
If you were traveling on a bike or in a car, you will actually be allowed to go even on a Friday. However, you will have to talk to the cops a bit, request and after a few refusals, you will be allowed to proceed. The benefit of crossing Zojila on Friday is that the traffic is next to none. You will not find any trucks, and the drive becomes much easier, taking you lesser time to complete.
The distance from Sonamarg to Zojila Pass is approximately 14 kilometers (8.7 miles). However, please note that this distance is a rough estimate and may vary depending on the specific route and any detours or road conditions at the time of travel. It’s always recommended to refer to a reliable navigation source or consult with local authorities for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding distances and routes.
Zero-point is actually located a few kilometers from Zojila top, towards Kargil. Coming from Srinagar, the total distance to the zero point will be about 105 kilometers. From Sonamarg, the distance is about 27 kilometers.
Book Taxi for Srinagar to Sonamarg
A private taxi from Sonamarg to Zojila Pass will cost you Rs. 5000 for a route trip. There are no shared cabs available though.
There is no permit required to visit Zojila Pass.
Srinagar to Leh L:adakh Road Status
When does Zojila Pass Open?
Below is a month-by-month breakdown listing months when the pass is open or closed.
The distance between Sonamarg and Zojila Pass is 23 kilometers.
Zero-point is actually located a few kilometers from Zojila top, towards Kargil. Coming from Srinagar, the total distance to the zero point will be about 105 kilometers. From Sonamarg, the distance is about 27 kilometers.
A private taxi from Sonamarg to Zojila Pass will cost you Rs. 4000 – 5000 for a route trip. There are no shared cabs available there.
In conclusion, the Zojila Pass road status and condition for the year 2023-24 are open for two-way traffic on all days except Fridays. The road conditions can be challenging due to the high altitude and heavy traffic. However, with proper planning and caution, you can have a safe and enjoyable journey across this iconic mountain pas.
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