HOW TO GET LADAKH,
UMLING LA PASS & SIACHEN
PERMITS IN 2024?
Ladakh Inner Line Permit Guide (ILP)
What is Inner Line Permit?
All the citizens of India have the freedom to live and work in any state of the country. But, to enter certain states & Union Territories requires special permits. Such a permit is referred to as an ‘Inner Line Permit’. As it grants entry to areas lying between the International Border and the so-called “Inner Line” of the country. The concerned state government has the right to issue Inner Line Permit. This allows the inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period. Foreigners need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) to visit tourist places.
Currently, ILP is mandatory in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur & some parts of Leh-Ladakh. In Ladakh, ILP is applicable for visiting the following places; Nubra Valley, Khardung La, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Dah, Hanu Villages, Man, Merak, Nyoma, Loma Bend, Turtuk, Tyakshi, Chusul, Hanle, Umling-La, Digger La, Tangyar.
These permits are not applicable for residents of J&K state and children below the age of 12 years. They can visit the inner line region in Ladakh by showing/carrying a valid Photo Id proof.
How to Apply for Ladakh ILP (Inner Line Permit) in 2024?
Getting an Inner Line Permit for the Leh-Ladakh trip is not a much-complicated task, anyone can do it. Earlier, it was a tiresome task, to visit the DM office, fill out the paperwork, and obtain officers’ signatures. Especially, during the peak season, there are long queues of tourists standing there for hours. But now, to make it more convenient for tourists, authorities have now launched a web portal. So, the tourists can apply for Ladakh Inner Line Permit Online.
Latest Announcement:
All our Domestic tourists are hereby informed that there will be no further need of verifying the payment contribution slip at DM office.
Tourists can visit the areas directly after online payment and the payment slip in form of pdf or hardcopy (whichever is convenient) will be checked only at respective check posts.
It is mandatory to show your leh arrival boarding pass along with the permit.
Applying for Inner Line Permit Online.
To apply for Inner Line Permit online, you have to visit http://lahdclehpermit.in/ first, and then follow the steps mentioned below. It will ask you for identity proof, so please keep your Aadhar card / Voter ID / Driving License / Passport handy.
Step 1: Enter personal details of travelers including Name, State, Gender, Id Type, Id Number, and Home Address. Apart from this, you need to choose if you are applying directly or through an agent. It’s advisable to apply directly because if you choose the agent option, you will have to hire an agent to get your permit processed.
Then you will have two options click here to issue an individual permit and click here to issue a group permit. Select it according to your trip plans.
Step 2: Now it’s time to select your route or the places you are going to visit during your entire trip. Select the required circuits as per your itinerary for the Ladakh trip. As you cannot reissue the permits, so it’s advisable to select all the circuits at once when applying for the permits. Now you must enter the Date of Arrival & Departure in date format. After entering the dates click on the Apply for Permit button. ( You can get permit Dates after 2 Days from the Date of Arrival)
Step 3: After entering all the details, the confirmation page will appear. Once you verify all details click on the Process button to make the Payment & upon successful payment, your online permit will be Generated in PDF format.
Tip: No need to print a copy of this permit, a PDF is Acceptable at every check post.
How to Apply for Ladakh PAP (Protected Area Permit) in 2024?
When foreign nationals travel to Ladakh, he/she need to obtain Protected area permits (PAP) to travel to inner line areas of Leh Ladakh, including Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Hanle, Umlingla, and Tso Moriri lake.
In order to apply for the Protect Area Permit (PAP), a foreigner must be in a group of two or more foreigners and PAP must be applied at DC Office, Leh with required fees through a registered Travel Agent in Leh or can be applied through the official website of Leh administration. In that case, registered travel agents can help with the groups if you are a single traveler, and you do not necessarily need to travel with that group after you get the permit. So, don’t worry, even if you are a solo traveler.
Leh administration has recently launched an official website to get Ladakh permits online, which has eased out the entire process for getting inner line permits or protected area permits. Both foreigners and domestic tourists can apply for the Ladakh Inner Line permit online. https://www.lahdclehpermit.in/register-as-overseas
Once you get the permit, make at least 8-10 photocopies as you need to submit them at the check posts on your journey to these inner line places in Ladakh. The duration of PAP is seven days and you need to re-apply permit in case you want to have an extended stay up there in Ladakh.
Permits for citizens of Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Burma are issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), New Delhi and the permits for those people who are on Diplomatic or official VISA are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi.
Applying for Inner Line Permit Offline.
Latest Update from DC Office Leh (2024).
- All tourists/visitors arriving in Leh must undergo at least 48 hrs of acclimatization before initiating their journey to high altitude areas
- Road travel does not help at all in acclimatization. It builds up the altitude effect progressively.
- Tablet Diamox-250mg (acetazolamide) must be taken twice a day, after breakfast after dinner at least two days before starting the journey to Leh, and should be continued for two days more, after arriving at Leh.
- There should be no active physical exertion on the first two days of arrival in Leh.
- Tourists should have at least 2-3 ltrs. of water per day and should avoid alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and sedatives
- Tourists should have a light meal on the first day of arrival to avoid indigestion.
- In case of symptoms of HAPE/HACE kindly consult a doctor immediately.
All our Domestic tourists are hereby informed that there will be no further need to verify the payment contribution slip at the DM office. Tourists can visit the areas directly after online payment and the payment slip in the form of pdf or hardcopy (whichever is convenient) will be checked only at respective check posts. (This Facility is only applicable to Indian Citizens)
But still, due to any technical error, the online facility is not available, you can also apply for the permit offline at the TIC or DC office, Leh by following some simple steps.
Step 1: Visit the TIC or DC office with original & xerox copies of your identity proof, PAN Card / Aadhar card / Voter ID / Driving License / Passport / Voter ID. Try to reach there by around 10:00 am, because during this time you will find the least rush and the process will be hassle-free.
Step 2: After you reach there, you have to fill out the permit application form to get approval for your inner line permits. In this form, you need to fill in your details & route details. If you are traveling in a group, You can apply for the permits for your entire group, for that, you just need to fill in the required details of all group members in the permit application form and attach the Xerox copy of the ID proof of each & every member.
The entire permit approval process may take somewhere around 30 minutes to 4 hours. Hence, it’s always advisable to reach early morning at the Leh TIC or DC office. During the peak season, when there is a rush of tourists, the permits are issued in two batches. First, in the morning and second, in the evening. Thus, if you apply it in the first batch, then you have the entire day for Leh local sightseeing.
However, if you don’t want to do it by yourself, you can also hire a travel agent or ask your hotel owner to do so by paying some extra fees.
Do I need to pay for Inner Line Permit?
Yes, you have to pay a certain amount to get this permit. Every traveler who wishes to visit those ILP areas has to pay one-time fees of INR.280.00 as an Wildlife fees + INR.50.00 as a Red cross fund fee (Optional) And Environment fees Rs.60/- Per person, Per Day.
Tourist Information Center (TIC) Office is opposite J&K Bank, Main Market. And Leh & Leh DC Office (LAHDC) is near Polo ground, Leh. The TIC office opens from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. ( Monday to Saturday) And the DC office opens from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. (Monday to Friday) Both offices are closed on Sunday. So, try to reach Leh on weekdays, to avoid delays in getting permits.
Ladakh Inner Line Permit Zones
There are a total of 13 zones, where the inner line permit is applicable. So, you can select them according to your travel route. However, it’s advisable to select most of the zones, as you can’t re-apply for them.
| 1 | Khalsi,Domkhar, Skurbuchan, Hanu, Baima, Dha in Khalsi Sub-Division. | |
| 2 | Khardong, Khalsar, Trith upto Warsi and Yarma Gonbo, Disket, Hunder, Turtuk, Pachathang, Tyakshi in Nubra Sub-Division. | |
| 3 | Upshi, TsomoRiRi/Korzok in Nyoma Sub-Division. | |
| 4 | Upshi, Dipling, Puga, TsomoRiRi/Korzok in Nyoma Sub-Division. | |
| 5 | Kharu, Changla, Durbuk, Tangtse, Lukhung. (Pangong Lake) | |
| 6 | Upshi, Chumathang, Mahe, Loma Bend in Nyoma Division. | |
| 7 | Leh-Kharu-Changla-Durbuk-Tangtse-Lukung. | |
| 8 | Only Leh City | |
| 9 | Leh-sangam(nimmu) | |
| 10 | Leh-hemis | |
| 11 | Rumbak | |
| 12 | Khaltse-Dha-likir-alchi-Rizong | |
| 13 | Route beyond man merag to chushul loma via tsaga la and hanle | |
| NOTE: Trekkers are not allowed to a night stay at Hunder and Skuru. | ||
Do I need Special Permit for Hanle & Umling La in 2023?
Nowadays, No Special permits are required for Hanle & Umligla Pass from March 2022 onwards. You just need to select Zone No.13 while applying for your permits online. But, Permits for Hanle, Umling la & Chusul routes are always subject to the current political or border situation.
Sometimes, Army doesn’t even allow for Hanle, Umling la, and Chusul routes. Even after you have permits for Hanle, Umling La, and Chusul, it’s not always necessary that the Army will let you pass through the Loma Check-post. The Army’s decision is based upon the actual political and border security situations.
How to get Permit for Siachen Base Camp?
The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas, At the northeast of point NJ9842 where the Line of Control ends between India and Pakistan. This is the world’s highest battleground at an altitude of 5,753 meters. (18,875 ft)
Siachen Base Camp or SBC is an army camp near the base of the Siachen Glacier at an altitude of 3,658 meters. This is the last point up to which a motorable road is present. Earlier, it was very difficult to get a permit to visit the Siachen Base camp. But, the announcement of Hon. Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh will change this situation. On 21st Oct. 2019, he announced that “To encourage tourism in Ladakh region, the Siachen area is now open for tourists and Tourism. From Siachen Base Camp to Kumar Post, the entire area has been opened for tourism purposes.”
New Update 2024.
And the GOOD NEWS is The Ladakh Tourism Department has announced that Indian tourists can now travel to the civilian tourist facility near the Siachen base camp without special permission. According to the reports, local tourists can now visit the area without permission or NOC from the authorities. However, the district administration will continue to collect the environmental fee.
How to visit Umling La Pass? (Alt. 19,024 ft.)
Umling La Pass in Ladakh is at an altitude of 19,024 Feet. Now it’s the highest motorable pass in the world. The BRO opened this pass for military use in 2017. But now in 2022, Civilians can also be allowed to visit here. (depends upon political conditions on the Indo-Chine Border)
BRO built this Pass & created new Guinness world Records and opened the world’s highest pass over Umlingla Pass, connecting the Chisumle and Demchok villages.
Umling La Pass is about 105 km from Hanle Village and about 235 km from Leh. There are 5 routes through which you can reach Umling La Pass and each of them gives you a unique experience. Let us have a look at all 5 routes for Umling La Pass.
Route 1: Loma-Dungti-Koyul-Demchok-Umling La (132Km approx)(Dungti-Koyul Off Road)
(Permission depends upon political conditions on the Indo-Chine Border)
Route 2: Loma-Dungti-Koyul-Chisumale-Umling La (125Km approx)(Dungti-Koyul Off Road)
(Permission depends upon political conditions on the Indo-Chine Border)
Route 3: Hanle-Photi La-Chisumale-Umling La (Full Black Top Road)
The Normal permit is enough for traveling on this route. However, you can descend to Demchok from Umling La Pass and back to Hanle.
Route 4: Hanle-Punguk-Ukdungle-Nerbole-Chisumale-Umling La Pass (Punguk to Nerbole Offroad | 93Km approx)
For traveling on Hanle-Ukdungle-Nerbole -Umling La Pass, a normal permit is all you need.
Route 5: Hanle-Boog-Nerbole-Chisumale-Umling La Pass (Boog to Nerbole Offroad | 75Km approx)
For traveling on Hanle-Boog-Nerbole -Umling La Pass, a normal permit is all you need.
The Navigation to the Umling La pass is not available on Google Maps. Hence, you can’t find turn-by-turn Navigation here, so don’t rely on it.
For a better understanding of the route, you can download the route map given below.
To Download the Route Map of Umling La Pass in PDF format Click Here.
The Most Important things to remember before you plan for Umling La Pass:
- Umling La Pass is located at a massive altitude of 19,024ft and is characterized by extremely thin air, which makes even normal breathing very difficult.
- If you are suffering from any respiratory problems or any other kind of breathing or heart issues, you should avoid traveling to this pass.
- In Ladakh, AMS (altitude mountain sickness) is quite common, and you should properly acclimatize yourself before deciding to take a trip to Umling La Pass. To know more About AMS & how to prevent it click here.
Tips for the Inner Line Permit
TIP 1: Always carry a few extra copies of your Photos & ID documents to avoid the last-minute hassle.
Tip 2: Permit Application forms (set of 3) are also available at some Xerox Shops near TIC & DC offices, so you can get them filled in advance.
TIP 3: While selecting the routes, if you are going to visit most of the places in Ladakh then select all routes to avoid last-minute inconvenience.
TIP 4: While applying for your permit online, select your date of entry & exit from Leh, according to your route.
TIP 5: Don’t apply too early. Always applied a week ago before leaving for Leh.
TIP 6: Always carry some extra copies of your vehicle’s documents with you.
TIP 7: Once you receive the permit, it’s advisable to take 10-15 extra Xerox copies of it.
TIP 8: Don’t Take photos & videos wherever you see “No Photography” signs, as it’s concerned with national security.
TIP 9: Do not litter, Avoid throwing plastic bags or bottles anywhere.
I hope this article will help you to get your Inner Line Permits for Ladakh online or offline. Apart from this, if you want any other information please feel free to comment below or contact us.
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