ATM and Bank Facilities in Leh City

One of the dream destinations of every young traveler and many aged ones is Ladakh. Especially a bike trip to Ladakh, then be it from Srinagar or Manali or from their hometown. People have been lured more and more towards this paradise on earth due to a lot of reasons. Be it the challenging and fascinating high-passes, serene and pristine beautiful places, Majestic attractions, or jaw-dropping diverse vistas; every bit of Ladakh is simply mesmerizing. There are a lot of developments that have been done in Ladakh but there are still a few important things that it is lacking. There have been a lot of Leh Ladakh tour guides talking about the petrol pumps, riding circuits, places to stay, and the popular attractions. But less are those blogs where a person can find information about the ATMs and Bank facilities in Leh Ladakh.

But knowing about the availability of banks in Leh Ladakh is something of utmost importance. Every biker or traveler should be well-informed about it and they should know where exactly they would find the services throughout the trip. So this is a complete guide of ATM and bank facilities in Leh city as well as the route.

Bank Facilities in Leh

As compared to the other cities, Leh Ladakh is still a remote area that has a long way to go to be developed enough to provide various services and facilities to travelers. So, owing to this fact; it is obvious that people would think about the availability of ATMs in Leh Ladakh.

Starting from the very beginning, even the mobile network is something that is a problem here. So if you are thinking that you will be able to enjoy all the bank’s related facilities in Leh then drop that thought right here. To wrap this up in short, the use of plastic money in Leh and other nearby regions is very unlikely. ATMs are very limited and one has to carry cash for big or small transactions.

There are slim chances that your cards would be accepted anywhere in the city. So it is better to keep enough cash in hand. Starting from 2 banks in the Leh city, there are now a few more branches of leading banks of India.

Here is the list of banks in Leh from where a person can deal with transactions or connect with the bank officials to know about the status of your bank. The banks are:

• Central Bank of India
• Axis Bank
• IDBI Bank
• Central Bank of India
• ICICI Bank
• HDFC Bank
• Punjab National Bank
• Syndicate Bank
• State Bank of India
• Jammu and Kashmir Bank

These are the only banks that are available in Leh and almost all the leading banks are there. So, you can get up to the bank’s branch and get your problem adhered to. You don’t have to worry about a crowd here. Also, if you wish, you can get some cash from the bank itself.

ATM facilities in Leh

All the banks that are named above have an ATM right outside their doorsteps and it is always available for people. Getting cash from these ATMs won’t be any problem as they are loaded with cash and people of the bank do take care that they don’t run out of money. Moreover, there are a few ATMs in Leh that are scattered across the city so that people can get the cash at every corner of Leh.

So, if you are traveling to Leh make sure that you have already kept some cash in your bag that can be used later on. After Leh, you won’t be able to find any ATMs in the nearby regions like Khardung La, Nubra Valley, Zanskar, Shyok, or near Pangong Tso.

Note: Make sure that you always ask for card swiping or any other modes of payment if possible. Keep cash as your last resort.

ATM Facilities on the Srinagar-Leh Highway

While traveling on the Srinagar-Leh highway the availability of ATMs is abundant. You will find ATMs till Kargil. But post that, finding an ATM can be a bit of a challenge. So, make sure you take out some cash on the way.

ATM facilities on Manali-Leh Highway

One of the biggest problems that is also a reason why people shy away from taking the Manali to Leh route is the absence of ATMs on this route. The last ATM before Leh on the Manali-Leh highway is in Manali itself. You will find all the major bank’s ATMs here and it will be easy if you withdraw some cash in this hill station itself.

Note: Post Tundi, finding a petrol pump will also be a problem. So be prepared for these things beforehand.

Tips to keep in mind when you travel to Ladakh

• Ladakh is a memorable journey but everyone should be cautious enough. Be prepared for AMS and keep all the important and necessary medicines.
• If taking the Srinagar-Leh highway, it is better to withdraw cash in Kargil because after that you will not find any machine till Leh. Though there are a few now in between but do not rely on them.
• Manali to Leh highway is a bit offbeat, still. Finding help or cash machines or even petrol pumps is also difficult here. Try to get everything arranged from Manali itself. In case of petrol, get your vehicle full at Tundi and fill up some cans as well.