Manali, September 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The sixth edition of the Rally of Himalayas, one of India’s most demanding cross-country rally events, was flagged off from Manali on Saturday, marking the competition’s first-ever entry into the Zanskar region.
The five-day rally features 140 competitors across Moto, Extreme and Time, Speed, Distance (TSD) categories. The route will take participants through Kaza, Jispa, Padum and Pensi La before the event culminates in Padum, Zanskar, on September 30.
The ceremonial flag-off was held at Dev Lok, 15th Mile, near Span Resort in Manali at 5 p.m. Manali MLA Bhuvneshwar Gaur attended the event as the chief guest, while V.P.S. Jasrotia, Deputy General Manager of Jammu & Kashmir Bank, was the guest of honour.
First organised in 2021, the Rally of Himalayas has developed into a demanding platform for riders and drivers to test endurance, navigation, machinery and competitive skills in challenging Himalayan terrain. The 2026 field includes professional competitors, private entrants, women competitors and Army teams.
The Moto category has 80 riders, including one woman, while the Extreme category has 35 participants, including two women drivers and five Army teams. The TSD category has 24 competitors, including four women, with the format placing particular emphasis on precision, timing and navigation.
The biggest feature of this year’s rally is its debut in Zanskar. After negotiating the high-altitude terrain around Kaza, competitors will head towards Jispa and then enter Zanskar, covering Padum and Pensi La before finishing in Padum.
The new route will expose competitors to remote high-altitude terrain, lengthy competitive sections and rapidly changing Himalayan conditions, making preparation, navigation, endurance and vehicle reliability crucial to the challenge.
This edition is also being held in tribute to Hari Singh, popularly known as the ‘Gypsy King’ and a five-time National Rally Champion. His contribution to Indian rallying continues to be recognised by competitors and motorsport enthusiasts.
JK Tyre, which has a longstanding association with Indian motorsport, is supporting the event. Rallying has remained an important part of the company’s motorsport programme, with the Rally of Himalayas reflecting the endurance and adventure associated with cross-country competition.
The Department of Tourism, UT Ladakh, is partnering as a sponsor for the 2026 edition to showcase Zanskar as an emerging adventure tourism destination. The rally is expected to provide a platform to highlight the region’s landscapes, cultural heritage and challenging driving routes to motorsport and adventure enthusiasts.
The tourism department aims to use the event to promote experiential and adventure tourism in Zanskar while encouraging visitor interest, local economic opportunities and sustainable tourism growth.
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