Taglang La — Second Highest Motorable Pass on Manali-Leh Highway

Taglang La sits at the crest of the More Plains section of the Manali-Leh Highway, roughly 45 km southeast of Leh. The pass is flanked by scree slopes and occasional snow year-round, with a government signboard marking the summit. Views extend over the Rupshu Plateau and toward the Zanskar range — massive, barren, and completely exposed. There is no shelter, no fuel, and no services. Altitude sickness is a real threat if you’re coming south-to-north too fast from Leh.

The road surface here is paved but frost-heaved and cracked in sections — take it slow. Pass is typically open June through October; early June and late October can see sudden snowfall that closes it without notice. No permit required to cross, but the Leh–Manali Highway permit is checked at military checkposts along the corridor. This is a waypoint, not a camp — move through it and drop altitude to rest.

One of Earth's highest driveable passes.