Fuel availability in Ladakh and Zanskar

[Virendra Singh Choudhary]

There are only a limited number of petrol pumps in Ladakh and Zanskar and on the two highways which connect it with rest of India. This can pose as a serious headache and logistical challenge for anyone planning to visit off beat places in Ladakh, in their own vehicle.

Hence this thread is being started to not only document petrol pumps and their reliability, but also to list out places, where fuel is available in black.

We request all members to contribute positively to this thread, to help us document all such official and unofficial petrol pumps in Ladakh.

Many thanks to Narender for coming up with the idea for this thread.



Manali - Leh Highway

Manali: Multiple petrol pumps exist in Manali and this ought to be the place where you tankup, before proceeding to Ladakh.

Tandi: Last official petrol pump en route to Ladakh. Fuel availability is generally good, though quality can be a bit sketchy at times.

Sarchu: Petrol and Diesel is available in black at some of the dhaba tents. Price is high and quality can be bad.


Pang: Petrol and Diesel is available in black at some of the dhaba tents. Price is high and quality can be bad.

Upshi: Lone petrol pump selling only diesel.

Karu: Diesel and petrol is available at the petrol pump here.



Srinagar - Leh Highway

Srinagar: Several petrol pumps, fuel is easily available.

Kangan: Petrol pump, petrol and diesel is available.

Sonamarg: Petrol pump, petrol and diesel is available, though availability (especially of petrol) can be a bit sketchy at times.

Kargil: Multiple petrol pumps, fuel is easily available.

Mulbekh: Petrol pump, petrol and diesel is available.

Khaltse: Petrol pump, petrol and diesel is available.



Nubra Valley

Diskit: There is a petrol pump on the outskirts of Diskit, however it rarely has any fuel. Petrol and diesel is available in black, though availability can be bad.



Pangong Tso

Durbuk: Petrol and diesel is available in black and quite easily.

Tangste: Petrol and diesel is available in black, though availability can be a bit sketchy at times.

Lukung: Petrol and diesel is available in black.



Changthang (including Tso Moriri)

Chushul: Petrol and diesel available in black.

Hanle: Petrol and diesel available in black, though at times, availability of petrol can be a bit iffy.

Nyoma: Petrol and diesel easily available in black.

Sumdo (on the road to Tso Kar): Petrol and diesel available in black.

Chumathang: Petrol and diesel available in black.



Zanskar Valley

Padum: A manual petrol pump is there and petrol as well as diesel is available, though supplies can be a little tight at times. Petrol and diesel is also available in black.




Suru Valley

Kargil - Sankoo: There is a petrol pump between Kargil and Sankoo, petrol and diesel is available.

Rangdum: Petrol and diesel available in black, though availability can be sketchy at times.

thanx yogesh for this info. Will take a print out for future reference.

regards

virendra singh choudhary

 

[Harsh Raghuvanshi]

Yogesh,
You are a Savior. Such a much needed information. Hats off to you.

 

[sajalsheth]

Very Helpful indeed

 

[palsingh]

I will be doing Srinagar - Leh - Manali, so from Leh to Manali, from which place its very important to carry fuel? as i don't want to buy fuel in black in-between.

 

[vishal99]

Thanks for providing such information . Can you please tell me that availability of 100 LL fuel is possible in Leh

 

[santoshcon]

There are only a limited number of petrol pumps in Ladakh and Zanskar and on the two highways which connect it with rest of India. This can pose as a serious headache and logistical challenge for anyone planning to visit off beat places in Ladakh, in their own vehicle.

Hence this thread is being started to not only document petrol pumps and their reliability, but also to list out places, where fuel is available in black.

We request all members to contribute positively to this thread, to help us document all such official and unofficial petrol pumps in Ladakh.

Many thanks to Narender for coming up with the idea for this thread.

Fuel in black now seems to be available in so many places. But still its best if one can carry the quantity required for their vehicles from Leh, Kargil, Srinagar and Tandi itself.

I had so many times heard they mix little kerosene in it (where sold in black). Never know how a particular vehicle might react to it.

P.S. I once also heard from local ppl that the India Oil fuel pump in Leh also mixes kerosene in their stock

Please give petrol/diesel pump list on shimla- kalpa -kaza- kunzum la road.
Manali - Leh Highway

Manali: Multiple petrol pumps exist in Manali and this ought to be the place where you tankup, before proceeding to Ladakh.

Tandi: Last official petrol pump en route to Ladakh. Fuel availability is generally good, though quality can be a bit sketchy at times.

Sarchu: Petrol and Diesel is available in black at some of the dhaba tents. Price is high and quality can be bad.

Pang: Petrol and Diesel is available in black at some of the dhaba tents. Price is high and quality can be bad.

Upshi: Lone petrol pump selling only diesel.

Karu: Diesel and petrol is available at the petrol pump here.



Srinagar - Leh Highway

Srinagar: Several petrol pumps, fuel is easily available.

Kangan: Petrol pump, petrol and diesel is available.

Sonamarg: Petrol pump, petrol and diesel is available, though availability (especially of petrol) can be a bit sketchy at times.

Kargil: Multiple petrol pumps, fuel is easily available.

Mulbekh: Petrol pump, petrol and diesel is available.

Khaltse: Petrol pump, petrol and diesel is available.



Nubra Valley

Diskit: There is a petrol pump on the outskirts of Diskit, however it rarely has any fuel. Petrol and diesel is available in black, though availability can be bad.



Pangong Tso

Durbuk: Petrol and diesel is available in black and quite easily.

Tangste: Petrol and diesel is available in black, though availability can be a bit sketchy at times.

Lukung: Petrol and diesel is available in black.



Changthang (including Tso Moriri)

Chushul: Petrol and diesel available in black.

Hanle: Petrol and diesel available in black, though at times, availability of petrol can be a bit iffy.

Nyoma: Petrol and diesel easily available in black.

Sumdo (on the road to Tso Kar): Petrol and diesel available in black.

Chumathang: Petrol and diesel available in black.



Zanskar Valley

Padum: A manual petrol pump is there and petrol as well as diesel is available, though supplies can be a little tight at times. Petrol and diesel is also available in black.




Suru Valley

Kargil - Sankoo: There is a petrol pump between Kargil and Sankoo, petrol and diesel is available.

Rangdum: Petrol and diesel available in black, though availability can be sketchy at times.

 

[Aryavrit Travels]

It doesn't matter you are getting vehicle fueled up either from pumps 0r an illegal channel; the quality is bad.

 

[cajithk]

Hi, on our visit to Ladakh in mid June, we were enquiring about fuel availability in Pangong Tso - even the off-market kind. However, people were responding that fuel is not at all available there. Is it really so, or are people cagey about admitting the availability of such fuel? We were in our private car; with no local driver.

 

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Hi, on our visit to Ladakh in mid June, we were enquiring about fuel availability in Pangong Tso - even the off-market kind. However, people were responding that fuel is not at all available there. Is it really so, or are people cagey about admitting the availability of such fuel? We were in our private car; with no local driver.

You have to check with the dhaba owners, generally they are the ones who have fuel or the local drivers, they can guide you better. At the end of the day, some people can and are biased towards the locals, not that interested in helping travelers.