Lahaul & Spiti district can be accessed by road through two principal routes. Spiti Valley can be accessed from Sumdo through Kinnaur district, while Lahaul Valley can be accessed from Manali through Kullu district.
The nearest airport is Bhuntar Airport (Kullu). The nearest railheads are Jogindernagar, Shimla and Chandigarh.
Road Connectivity
Shimla to Kaza — Spiti Valley
Blue Route
-
- Distance: Approximately 412 km
- Journey Time: Approximately 20 hours, excluding an overnight halt
- This route provides an almost all-weather road connection to Kaza, subject to prevailing weather and road conditions.
Shimla to Keylong — Lahaul Valley
Red Route
Via Atal Tunnel
-
- Distance: Approximately 330 km
- Journey Time: Approximately 14 hours
- The route passes through the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang and provides an important road connection to Lahaul.
- Availability of the route is subject to prevailing weather and road conditions.
Via Rohtang Pass
-
- Distance: Approximately 375 km
- Journey Time: Approximately 18 hours
- This route is generally affected by heavy snowfall and may remain closed during the winter months, approximately from October to April.
Keylong to Kaza — Lahaul to Spiti Valley
Green Route
-
- Distance: Approximately 185 km
- Journey Time: Approximately 6 hours, subject to road and weather conditions.
- The route passes through Kunzum Pass, which experiences heavy snowfall during winter.
- The route generally remains closed during the winter season, approximately from October/November to June/July, depending on weather and snow conditions.
Keylong–Kaza Route via Kunzum Pass
Keylong → Rohtang Pass → Batal → Kunzum Pass → Kaza
The route is approximately 200 km, as per the route description, and its accessibility is dependent on the opening of Kunzum Pass and prevailing weather conditions.
Air Connectivity
The nearest airport is:
Bhuntar Airport (Kullu)
From Bhuntar, travellers can continue their journey towards Lahaul & Spiti by road.
Rail Connectivity
The nearest major railheads include:
-
- Jogindernagar
- Shimla
- Chandigarh
Further travel to Lahaul & Spiti from these railheads is by road.
Important Travel Information
Road connectivity in Lahaul & Spiti is highly dependent on weather, snowfall, road conditions and the opening or closure of high-altitude passes.
Travellers are advised to check the latest road status and travel advisories before commencing their journey, particularly during the winter and transition seasons.