Renumbered National Highways map of India (Schematic)

National Highway 1 (NH 1) in India runs between the union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and

Ladakh Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947. (subscription required) Quote: "Jammu a ...

. It comprises parts of old NH1A and NH1D. The number 1 indicates, under the new numbering system, that it is the northernmost East-West highway in India. National Highway 1D India

History

A track between

Srinagar Srinagar (English: , ) is the largest city and the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It lies in the Kashmir Valley on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus, and Dal and Anchar lakes. The city is known for its ...

in the

Kashmir Valley The Kashmir Valley, also known as the ''Vale of Kashmir'', is an intermontane valley concentrated in the Kashmir Division of the Indian- union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The valley is bounded on the southwest by the Pir Panjal Range and ...

and

Leh Leh () ( lbj, ) is the joint capital and largest city of Ladakh, a union territory of India. Leh, located in the Leh district, was also the historical capital of the Kingdom of Ladakh, the seat of which was in the Leh Palace, the former ...

had existed since medieval times, and it was a prime trade route for many centuries. It passed through the

Zoji La Zoji La (sometimes Zojila Pass) is a high mountain pass in the Himalayas. It is in the Indian Union territory of Ladakh, Kargil district, Kashmir. Located in the Drass, the pass connects the Kashmir Valley to its west, with the Drass and ...

pass——over the

Great Himalaya The Great Himalayas or Greater Himalayas or Himadri is the highest mountain range of the Himalayan Range.Hussain, MajidGeography of India/ref> The world's highest peak, Mount Everest, as well as other "near−highest" peaks, such as Kangchenjunga, ...

n range, which is snowbound for half the year. After the Independence of India, the Government of

Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir may refer to: * Kashmir, the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent * Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory * Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered ...

started building a motorable road along the route in 1954. The construction was suspended in 1958 after discovery of corruption among the contractors and engineers, and an enquiry was initiated. In 1960, the Government of India created the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to take charge of strategic border roads and it was entrusted with completing the road. Setting up a 'Project Beacon' in Leh, the BRO completed the road by August 1962, and also extended it to Chushul by September 1962, just a few weeks before hostilities were initiated by China. In addition to the Zoji La pass, the highway also had to cross the Ladakh Range between

Kargil Kargil ( lbj, ) is a city and a joint capital of the union territory of Ladakh, India. It is also the headquarters of the Kargil district. It is the second-largest city in Ladakh after Leh. Kargil is located to the east of Srinagar in J ...

and Leh, via the

Fotu La Fotu La ( hi, script=Latn, fōtu lā) or Fatu La is a mountain pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway in the Zanskar Range of the Himalayas in India. At an elevation of , it is the highest point on the highway, surpassing the famed Zoji La. Fotu La ...

pass——which is however less snowbound than Zoji La. A segment of the highway came under attack by Pakistani intruders between Drass and Kargil in 1999, who occupied the mountain tops on the Indian side of the Line of Control and shelled the highway. This led to the

Kargil War The Kargil War, also known as the Kargil conflict, was fought between India and Pakistan from May to July 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LoC). In India, the conflict is also referre ...

, which ended by the Indian Army eventually evicting the intruders.

Route description

NH 1 passes from Uri to Baramulla,

Sonamarg Sonamarg () or Sonmarg (), known as Sonamarag (; ) in Kashmiri, is a hill station located in the Ganderbal District of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is located about 62 Kilometers from Ganderbal Town and northeast of the capital city, Srina ...

Dras Dras (also spelt Drass, ISO transliteration: '), also known locally in Shina as Himababs, Hembabs, or Humas, is a town and hill station, near Kargil city in the Kargil district of the union territory of Ladakh in India. It is on the NH ...

and

. The route passes through high mountain passes and most of the road clings to mountainsides. The NH is the lifeline of the

region. An alternative route, the Leh-Manali Highway, exists but it climbs over even higher mountain passes. NH 1 passes near the India-Pakistan border.

Major intersections

Traffic

The Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) operates regular Deluxe and Ordinary bus services between

and

on this route with an overnight halt at

. Taxis (cars and jeeps) are also available at Srinagar for the journey.

References

Bibliography

External links

NH 1 on OpenStreetMap
National highways in India National Highways in Jammu and Kashmir Transport in Ladakh National Highways in Ladakh Transport in Kashmir Division Transport in Leh Transport in Baramulla {{india-NH-stub