Avoid
Kargil in November
Ladakh, India
November closes Kargil to the outside world. The Srinagar-Leh highway shuts when Zoji La becomes impassable. The town enters its six-month isolation (flights to Leh continue, but Kargil itself has no airport). Temperatures drop to -5 to 5°C. The first heavy snow falls. The community draws inward — winter supplies stocked, wood for heating gathered, and the rhythm of isolated mountain life resumes.
The November story
November seals Kargil off. Once Zoji La closes (usually by early November), the town is unreachable by road and has no airport. The isolation that follows is six months long. If the highway hadn't closed by early November when you're reading this, the BRO is having an exceptional year — don't count on it. For November planning: use this month to research a June-September Kargil visit. The war memorial experience, the Suru valley, the Zanskar gateway, and the town's unique Shia-Balti culture deserve proper time. Book Srinagar-Leh highway transit early in the season — the road is one-way through Zoji La by schedule and delays are common. Budget 2 full days for Kargil: one for the memorial and town, one for Suru valley or Mulbekh excursion.
Why November scores 1/5
Weather
Zoji La closing, winter starting
Roads & Access
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 3/5. rescue: Army / SDRF. helpline: DC Kargil 01985-232228. ambulance: 108. police station: Kargil Police Station. nearest hospital: Kargil District Hospital
Network
JIO: Yes, BSNL: Yes, AIRTEL: Yes
Kids
Kid-friendly (2/5) — War memorial educational value, History lessons, Balti culture
Elevation
2,676m — Moderate altitude
Who should go
- ✓Travelers with basic fitness
- ✓Nobody — highway closes, town becomes inaccessible
- ✓Next-year planners booking June-September visits
- ✓Researchers studying community resilience in isolated conditions
- ✓Military historians reading up before summer visits
Who should think twice
- ✗Those with mobility issues
- ✗All tourists — highway is closed or closing
- ✗Anyone without understanding that this is a HARD closure
- ✗Travellers hoping for late-season highway access
- ✗Casual visitors of any kind
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1/5 | Zoji La closed, town snowbound |
| February | 1/5 | Deep winter continues |
| March | 1/5 | Still snowbound |
| April | 2/5 | Roads may open late April |
| May | 3/5 | Zoji La opening, town coming alive |
| June | 5/5 | Full season open, pleasant weather |
| July | 5/5 | Peak season, Kargil Vijay Diwas 26 Jul |
| August | 4/5 | Good weather continues |
| September | 5/5 | Excellent conditions, fewer tourists |
| October | 3/5 | Late season, cooling rapidly |
| Novemberviewing | 1/5 | Zoji La closing, winter starting |
| December | 1/5 | Deep winter, isolated |
Practical Details
How to reach
Contact local transport
Elevation
2,676m
Difficulty
moderate
Budget tier
budget
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