
Dare to drive the dangerous Chattarga La road
India, asia
164 km
3,045 m
extreme
Year-round
Chattarga La in Jammu and Kashmir, India, sits way up high at 3,045m (9,990ft). Forget your sports car - you'll need a motorcycle or high-clearance vehicle for this unpaved adventure. This is the wild Basholi-Bhaderwah road, and trust me, it's not for beginners. Prepare for some serious drop-offs!
The first part of the 164 km (101 mile) journey from Basholi to Bani is paved, but after Bani, things get rough, turning into a rugged trail after Sarthal. Plan for at least 6 hours behind the wheel. This route is closed from December to April due to snow, so plan accordingly. Seriously, this isn't for the faint of heart. One wrong move, and... well, you get the picture.
Starting from Bhaderwah, you'll climb over 25 km with an average gradient of 5%, hitting a maximum of 13.6% in places. And if heights aren't your thing, maybe just stare straight ahead! Despite the challenges (we're talking landslides and countless twists and turns that pretty much demand 4WD), the scenery is unreal.
One crucial tip: there are no fuel stations along the way, so fuel up beforehand! And if you're a hiking fan, keep an eye out for treks to Seven Falls and Kailash Kund.
Where is it?
Dare to drive the dangerous Chattarga La road is located in India (asia). Coordinates: 24.4749, 82.1642
Road Details
- Country
- India
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 164 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,045 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 24.4749, 82.1642
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