Ladakh in the spring is a dream destination and travellers hoping to check off the mountain state as well as Jammu and Kashmir on their itinerary are in for some good news.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has reopened the Zoji La mountain pass for vehicular traffic after 35 days. Located at an altitude of 3,528m the Zoji La is in the Kargil district of Ladakh and serves as a lifeline between the union territory and the Kashmir and Suru valleys. It had been closed due to snowfall in the region.

The 439km Srinagar-Leh highway transports military personnel and essential supplies to frontier areas and is usually inaccessible for 160-180 days during winters. In 2023 it was closed for a total of 65 days.

The reopening of Zoji La is a testament to India’s growing expertise in constructing and maintaining mountain roads as it seeks to protect its territorial integrity. It is also a more economical travel option for residents and guest workers compared to the expensive flights that become the sole travel option during winters.

An underground Zoji La Tunnel has been under construction since 2018 to sidestep the closure of the mountain pass. It will be 14km long and will purportedly reduce the time to cross the Zoji La from over three hours to just 15 minutes. Upon completion it is expected that the Zoji La Tunnel will be the longest bidirectional tunnel in Asia.