National Highway 1D (India, old numbering)
 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Map of National Highway 1D in red | ||||
NH 1A in Srinagar | ||||
| East end | Leh, Ladakh | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | Kargil - Leh | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
National Highway 1D (NH 1D), also known as Srinagar–Leh Highway, was a
The old
New numbering
In 2010, old NH1A (Uri–Srinagar) and old NH1D (Srinagar–Leh) have been combined to make up the newly numbered National Highway 1.[5]
Geography
For most part, NH 1D transited through extremely treacherous terrain and followed the historic trade route along the Indus River, thus giving modern travelers a glimpse of villages which are historically and culturally important.[6] The road generally remained open for traffic from early June to mid-November. The total length of NH 1 was 422 km (262 mi).[7]
The two highest passes on NH 1D include Zoji La at 3,528 m (11,575 ft) on the High Himalayas and Fotu La at 4,108 m (13,478 ft) on the Ladakh Range. Despite its lower elevation, Zoji La is more snow-bound than Fotu La.
After Dras, the road follows the Dras River valley up to Kargil and then takes Wakha Rong valley till Fotu La. After that, it follows branch valleys of the Indus River valley whcih meet Indus near Khalatse. The government runs a checkpost at Khalatse.[8]
Heavy snowfall on the highest passes can block traffic, cutting Leh from Srinagar for some six months each year. During springtime, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) plows snow and repairs damages caused by landslides.[9] Zoji La pass received reportedly some 18 m (59 ft) of snowfall in 2008.[10]
History
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the road was only a track, impassable even with ponies. Goods, mainly
In the 19th century, under the Dogra rule after Zorawar Singh annexed Ladakh, the route was improved, allowing pony caravans to pass.[8][11] In 1870, under Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jammu and Kashmir, a treaty was signed with British Raj, whereby the Jammu and Kashmir state undertook to maintain the road up to the Central Asian border (possibly the Karakoram Pass), allocating annual funds for the purpose. The road came to be known as the "Treaty Road"[11]
During the 1950s, tensions rose in Ladakh region. China secretly built a military road spanning some 1,200 km (750 mi) from Xinjiang to western Tibet, which was discovered by Indian in 1957 and confirmed by Chinese maps showing the road in 1958. The political situation eroded, culminating in 1962 in the Sino-Indian War.
The road on the Chinese side gave
Restrictions on civilian traffic were lifted in 1974.[8]
This highway was used as mobilisation route by the Indian Army during
Gallery
-
-
-
Magnetic Hill -
-
-
Khaltse Memorial Stupa
See also
- List of National Highways in India (by Highway Number)
- National Highways Development Project
- Origins of the Sino-Indian border dispute
- Sino-Indian War
References
- ^ Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil (April 2006). "Monthly News Letter". Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ^ ExpressIndia.com (23 April 2006). "Srinagar-Leh road gets National Highway status". ExpressIndia.com.
- ISBN 81-7488-480-7. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- )
- ^ "Rationalisation of Numbering Systems of National Highways" (PDF). Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ [1] Ladakh, the Road journey
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Details of National Highways in India-Source-Govt. of India - ^ ISSN 1530-5821. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
- ^ Thaindian.com (20 March 2009). "Srinagar-Leh highway to reopen after remaining closed for six months". Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ^ a b Thaindian.com (28 March 2008). "Srinagar-Leh highway to reopen after remaining closed for six months". Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ^ ISBN 978-81-208-1404-2
