Passport or Inner Line Permit ???

Does Indians need passport to visit Leh? Can anyone shed some light into this?

Thanks,
Sarat

You mean Indians living in India? I don't think so. You can just drive up there.

Leh is in India, Indian nationals definitely do NOT need a passport to visit.

I do understand that. But how do they know, when checking at army post or getting inner line permits, whether I am an Indian or a foriegner?

You asked specifically about visiting Leh; nobody needs an inner line permit to visit Leh.

As for army posts, I've no idea how they know whether you are Indian or not, I've never seen one in or around Leh, yet alone been stopped at one.

However the bottom line is that I cannot believe that Indians require a passport just to visit Leh, as I'm sure that the majority of its Indian residents do not have passports either!

Indian nationals need not have a passport for visiting only Leh.

However, if you intend to visit Khardungla, Pangong Tso, Nubra etc, then you need Inner Line Permits. For that a photo id proof would be required. Need not necessarily be Passport.

Is that a new requirement? I went to the Nubra Valley a few years ago and I didn't need an Inner Line Permit. And I am not Indian.

I've traveled with a Nepali guide who couldn't get a permit for Pangong Tso, so at the checkposts the driver told the official/soldier that the guide was Indian. So he got through without papers (permit or passport).

Thank you all. We are visiting Leh in July and one member of our group does not have passport. We were planning to do Manali- Leh drive and read the post about tourists needing to register on entering J&K. Hence the question. Thanks for clarifying.

Sarat

That's strange...!!! Coz permits are checked at North and South Pullu itself....

Do share details of how you travelled..? Maybe if you were in a large group the agent might have passed you by..!!