Tag: bus service to zanskar valley

Synopsis: Keylong-Padum bus service is going to become reality very soon as HRTC has conducted a successful trial on this route. The plan is to run the bus on Rewalsar-Kullu-Manali-Keylong-Darcha-Padum route. Keylong-Padum bus service will help in tourism promotion in the region. Himachal Roads Transport Corporation (HRTC), which operates buses on the country's longest and highest route between Delhi and Leh, will soon start a bus service between Padum in Kargil district's Zanskar valley and Keylong and Manali in Himachal Pradesh. The bus service, depending on demand, will be operated from Rewalsar in Himachal’s Mandi district. HRTC has successfully conducted a trial run of a 29-seater mini bus between Lahaul-Spiti district’s headquarter Keylong and Zanskar’s headquarter Padum. First of its kind, the bus service will start immediately after completing the permit related formalities. Initially the bus may run on Keylong-Padum route but the plan is to run the bus on Rewalsar-Padum route. Anshit Sharma, HRTC regional manager at Keylong, was quoted as saying: “The trial run has been successful. Once we complete all the formalities, the bus service will be launched immediately. Initially we plan to run only one bus, but if passenger load increases, we may increase the buses. The route permit is between Rewalsar and Padum. We are hoping for the success of the bus service.” Zanskar being a Buddhist dominated valley, the residents have cultural and religious relations with Himachal, especially Lahaul-Spiti district and Rewalsar in Mandi district. Earlier, people of Zanskar used to enter Himachal after many days of hard trekking via Shinku-la pass or after three to four days long road journey via Kargil, Leh and Sarchu. Now the journey via 16,580ft high Shinku-la will be completed in just one day. The distance between Padum and Keylong via traditional road through Kargil and Leh is