Travelers want to visit Ladakh not once in their lifetime but repeatedly. Not mortal, as if the form of heaven can be seen there. But both ways to Ladakh. There is no direct route from Calcutta to Ladakh, be it by land, water or air. From Kolkata Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport to Lehr Kushak Bakula Rimpoche Airport. From there by car to Ladakh.
Or, take the train from Howrah to Delhi or Chandigarh, from there to Manali, and from there to Leh. Not just Howrah or Calcutta, but from any part of India one tries to reach Ladakh, the route is the same. But the further route was more difficult, with a day's journey on rough roads to reach the remote valleys of Leh-Ladakh.
This picture is going to change this time. Two more airports—Thoes in Nubra Valley and Kargil—are under construction. Currently both airports are mainly used for military and charter services. This time it will be opened for civil aviation services. However, being a border and sensitive area, special restrictions regarding security and flight schedules will also remain in place. Once these are introduced, one can travel from one valley to another on connecting flights without having to worry about roads.
In the case of Thois, preparations are quite a bit ahead. Re-carpeting of the runway is currently underway, scheduled for completion by November 2026. Pending the completion of the new terminal, the authorities are planning to renovate the old charter flight terminal and start civil aviation services from there.
The situation in Kargil, however, is somewhat different. A joint team of Indian Air Force, Airports Authority of India and Ministry of Civil Aviation will visit the airport on 1 September 2026. It will be examined whether the infrastructure is there to start regular passenger air services. After that, the renovation work will begin.
Why is this change important for tourists?
Currently, to go to Nubra Valley, one has to spend almost a whole day by car from Leh. The journey involves crossing Khardung La, one of the highest motorable passes in the world. The journey, though scenic, is long, tiring and entirely dependent on the weather. With the introduction of air service to Thois, that long road journey will be reduced to a short flight.
The same applies to Kargil, Drass and surrounding areas. The number of tourists in these areas is much lower than in Leh, one of the reasons being the remoteness of the roads. These areas will become more attractive to tourists if air connectivity becomes easier.