 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 NH 1 through the Himalayan mountains | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained byBRO | ||||
| Length | 534 km (332 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| East end |  NH 3,Leh | |||
| Major intersections | ||||
| West end | S-3 Strategic Highway,Hattian Bala | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | India | |||
| States | Jammu & Kashmir,Ladakh | |||
| Primary destinations | Baramulla,Srinagar,Kargil | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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National Highway 1 (NH 1) in India runs between theunion territories ofJammu & Kashmir andLadakh. It comprises parts of oldNH1A andNH1D.[1][2] The number 1 indicates, under the new numbering system,[2] that it is the northernmost East–west highway in India.
A track betweenSrinagar in theKashmir Valley andLeh inLadakh had existed since medieval times, and it was a prime trade route for many centuries. It passed through theZoji La pass—3,528 metres (11,575 ft)—over theGreat Himalayan range, which is snowbound for half the year.
After theIndependence of India, the Government ofJammu and Kashmir started building a motorable road along the route in 1954.[3] The construction was suspended in 1958 after discovery of corruption among the contractors and engineers, and an enquiry was initiated.[3][4] In 1960, the Government of India created theBorder 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 toChushul by September 1962, just a few weeks beforehostilities were initiated by China.[5]
In addition to the Zoji La pass, the highway also had to cross theLadakh Range betweenKargil and Leh, via theFotu La pass—4,108 metres (13,478 ft)—which is however less snowbound than Zoji La.
A segment of the highway came under attack by Pakistani intruders betweenDrass and Kargil in 1999, who occupied the mountain tops on the Indian side of theLine of Control and shelled the highway. This led to theKargil War, which ended by the Indian Army eventually evicting the intruders.
NH 1 passes fromUri toBaramulla,Srinagar,Sonamarg,Zoji La,Dras,Kargil andLeh. The route passes through high mountain passes and most of the road clings to mountainsides. The NH is the lifeline of theLadakh region. An alternative route, theLeh-Manali Highway, exists but it climbs over even higher mountain passes. NH 1 passes near the India-Pakistan border.
| District | Location | km[6] | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leh | Leh | 0.0 | 0.0 | NH 3 | East end |
| Kargil | Kargil | 217.4 | 135.1 |  NH 301 | |
| Budgam | Srinagar | 431.4 | 268.1 |  NH 444 | |
| Srinagar | | 445.1 | 276.6 |  NH 44 | oldNH1A |
| Baramulla | Baramulla | 510.3 | 317.1 |  NH 701A | |
| 510.6 | 317.3 |  NH 701 | |||
| | 574.1 | 356.7 | S-3 Strategic Highway | West end | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
TheJammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) operates regular Deluxe and Ordinary bus services betweenSrinagar andLeh on this route with an overnight halt atKargil. Taxis (cars and jeeps) are also available at Srinagar for the journey.
Secondary routes ofIndian National Highway 1 | ||
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| States | | |
| Secondary routes | ||
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