Pranav at 20:52, 6 April 2026

2026-04-06T20:52:56Z

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{{Short description|Marathon held in northern India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox athletics race
| bgcolour = #AC0712
| colour =
| image = Ladakh-Marathon-300x151.png
| imagesize =
| caption = The Ladakh Marathon logo
| date = 11 - 14 September 2025, 12th edition
| location = [[Leh]], [[Ladakh]], [[India]]
| type = [[Road running|Road race]]
| distance = [[Silk Route Ultra 122Km]] [[Khardungla Challenge Ultra 72Km]] [[Marathon]] [[Half Marathon]] [[11.2Km Run]] [[5K run|5km Run For Fun]]
| sponsor = None
| beneficiary =
| est = {{Start date|df=yes|2012}}
| record = Men's: '''2:56:51''' (2019) {{flagicon|IND}} [[Shabir Hussain]] Women's: '''3:18:56''' (2017) {{flagicon|IND}} [[Jigmet Dolma]]
| participants =
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.ladakhmarathon.com/|Official website}}
}}
The '''Ladakh Marathon''' is a [[marathon]] held in [[Leh]], a town in the Indian Union Territory of [[Ladakh]]. It claims to be the highest marathon in the world, held at a height of {{convert|11,500|to|17,618|ft}}.<ref name="yahoo1"/> The event's primary edition was held in 2012 and its latest edition was deferred to September 2022 due to COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-10 |title=Ladakh Marathon cancelled for second time due to Covid-19 pandemic |url=https://newsonair.com/2021/07/10/ladakh-marathon-cancelled-for-second-time-due-to-covid-19-pandemic/ |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=NewsOnAIR - |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2015 the marathon joined the [[Association of International Marathons and Distance Races]].<ref name="yahoo1">{{Cite web | title = Your guide to the 2015 Ladakh Marathon | author = Siddarth Rishi Battula | work = Yahoo News India | date = 11 September 2015 | access-date = 2015-09-14 | url = https://in.news.yahoo.com/guide-2015-ladakh-marathon-172146944.html}}
</ref> It is the fifth marathon from India to receive international recognition.<ref name="dailyexcelsior.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/4th-ladakh-marathon-witnesses-huge-participation/|title=4th Ladakh Marathon witnesses huge participation|work=Jammu Kashmir Latest News – Tourism – Breaking News J&K|date=13 September 2015}}</ref>

==History==
The marathon began as an ambitious initiative to encourage the youth living in "hostile weather conditions" following the devastation of the [[2010 Ladakh floods|2010 flash floods]]. Despite the region being an arid desert, the years leading up to the natural disaster saw more rainfall than the valley was used to.[https://thewire.in/environment/ladakh-floods-timeline-disaster]

With the Khardung-La Challenge and the Silk Route Ultra runners going up to the height of 17,618 feet, the Ladakh Marathon claims to be the highest marathon route in the world.<ref name="yahoo1"/>

==Organisation==
The Ladakh Marathon is organised by India's Rimo Expeditions with the support of the [[Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh|Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council]] (LAHDC).<ref name="jagranjosh1">{{cite web |date=17 September 2014 |title=Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council organised 3rd Ladakh Marathon at Leh |url=http://m.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/ladakh-autonomous-hill-development-council-organised-3rd-ladakh-marathon-at-leh-1410925296-1 |access-date=2015-09-14 |publisher=M.jagranjosh.com}}</ref> The 42 km run of the ninth edition was the qualifying race of series XIII of the [[World Marathon Majors|Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group World Rankings.]]

With no sponsor at its helm, the Ladakh Marathon is supported by multiple partners, including Timing Technologies, Enerzal and Bisleri. In 2022 the Khardung-La Challenge partnered with [[Tata Consumer Products|Tata Consumer Products']] Himalayan with the objective of spreading awareness about the local communities being affected by melting glaciers.[https://www.adgully.com/himalayan-partners-with-ladakh-marathon-for-himalayan-khardungla-challenge-2022-122332.html]

==Events==
The Ladakh Marathon is divided into the four following categories:<ref name="yahoo1"/><ref name="Travel India">{{cite web|url=http://travel.india.com/articles/ladakh-marathon-2015-runners-gear-worlds-highest-marathon/|title=Ladakh Marathon 2015: Runners, gear up for world's highest marathon!|work=Travel India|access-date=21 September 2015|archive-date=19 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019040051/http://travel.india.com/articles/ladakh-marathon-2015-runners-gear-worlds-highest-marathon/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Route map of 05km Run for Fun.png|100x100px|thumb|alt=05KM Run for Fun Route|05KM Run for Fun Route]]
# '''5 km - Run Ladakh For Fun''': <ref name="05KM Fun Run">{{cite web|url=https://ladakhmarathon.com/races/05-km-run-for-fun/|title=Ladakh Marathon: 05KM RUN FOR FUN|work=Ladakh Marathon}}</ref> Starting from the N.D.S. Memorial Stadium the 05km route follows the Marathon course along the Leh-Manali highway till a little before the ITBP camp (2.5km) from where it makes a U-turn and retraces steps to the start point. Race Day: Saturday before second Sunday of September. Age Limit: 12 years or older on Race Day. Race Start Time: 07:30 AM Cut-off Time: NIL Certification: All participants get a finisher Medal.
# '''[[Half Marathon]]''': Starting from the NDS Memorial Stadium, the 21km race follows the 42km route for about 1.5km. You then turn left at the Saboo gate and climb gently for 1.5km towards Saboo village. Leaving the Saboo road you turn right towards Mahabodhi Centre going downhill all the way till you reach the Leh-Manali highway. From here you follow the highway past H.H. the Dalai Lama’s residence for 2km and then take a loop to follow the Manali-Leh highway to the village of Choglamsar. Continue for another 6km to the finishing line close to the NDS Stadium.
# '''Full Marathon''': The 42 km race starts and ends in [[Leh]] town, passing through panoramic scenes via a route across the Indus River.
# ''' The Khardung La Challenge - Ultra Marathon''': The 72 km race was the only ultramarathon of the event until the Silk Route Ultra. The Khardung La Challenge starts in the village of Khardung well before dawn, continues uphill on the way to [[Khardung La]] pass at a height of 17,618 ft. The changing altitudes, weather and geography of the race make it the "Mother of all Marathon races".<ref name="Travel India"/>
# '''The Silk Route Ultra''' is the newest addition to the Ladakh Marathon. At a distance of 122 km, the Silk Route Ultra also begins at Nubra Valley's Kyagar Village, crosses Khardung La top, then finishes at Leh town.

==Participants==
In 2012, the first Ladakh Marathon had 1,500 participants. Since then, the number of participants has exponentially increased, with the consecutive editions hosting 2,200 and 3,000 participants respectively. The recent 2023 marathon included close to 6,000 participants from 27 states of India and from 23 different countries.<ref name="tribuneindia1">{{cite web |title=4,000 runners ready for Ladakh Marathon tomorrow |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/community/4-000-runners-ready-for-ladakh-marathon-tomorrow/131917.html |access-date=2015-09-14 |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |archive-date=17 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117015346/http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/community/4-000-runners-ready-for-ladakh-marathon-tomorrow/131917.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="jagranjosh1"/>

==Acclimatization==
[[File:Altitude Sickness Warning.jpg|thumb|right|Board of Indian Army regarding caution at high altitude]]
The Ladakh Marathon is held at a height of 11,500 to 17,600 ft. [[Acclimatization]] is the foremost issue at this height. [[Altitude sickness]] can occur at this height due to lack of oxygen. The Ladakh Marathon has a long pre-marathon work-out schedule to train the participants, helping them acclimatizing to the high altitude and hilly conditions. As per the official website of the Ladakh Marathon, athletes participating in 72 km "Khardungla Challenge" should arrive at [[Leh]] at least two weeks before marathon day.<ref name=Acclimatization>{{cite web|title=Ladakh Marathon – Acclimatization Issues|url=http://www.ladakhmarathon.com/races/training-and-activity/|website=Ladakh Marathon|access-date=22 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917035636/http://www.ladakhmarathon.com/races/training-and-activity/|archive-date=17 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Race day photos ==
In the last 7 years of Ladakh Marathon, Khardungla Challenge & Silk Route Ultra, the organizers continued the partnership with marathon photography experts SplitSecondPix<ref name="SplitSecondPix">[https://new.splitsecondpix.com SplitSecondPix]</ref> to provide photo technology for the event. A team of 25 photographers venture out into the extreme terrains of Ladakh to capture the action of the ultra marathon. Starting at 3am in Khardong village and temperatures of −10 °C to 17586 ft Khardung La pass and descending into the Leh Valley the photographers capture the timeless moments through its lenses. Participants can visit the event website or SplitSecondPix<ref name="SplitSecondPix"/> website to find these timeless photos on basis of their Bib number.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://new.splitsecondpix.com/events/ladakh-marathon-khardung-la-challenge-2016|title=Ladakh Marathon Photos 2016|website=SplitSecondPix|access-date=1 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://new.splitsecondpix.com/events/ladakh-marathon-khardung-la-challenge-2017-2017-09-10|title=Ladakh Marathon Photos 2017|website=SplitSecondPix|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://new.splitsecondpix.com/events/ladakh-marathon-khardung-la-challenge-2018|title=Ladakh Marathon Photos 2018|website=SplitSecondPix|access-date=1 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://new.splitsecondpix.com/events/ladakh-marathon-khardung-la-challenge-2019|title=Ladakh Marathon Photos 2019|website=SplitSecondPix|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://new.splitsecondpix.com/events/ladakh-marathon-2022|title=Ladakh Marathon Photos 2022|website=SplitSecondPix|access-date=11 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://new.splitsecondpix.com/events/ladakh-marathon-2023|title=Ladakh Marathon Photos 2023|website=SplitSecondPix|access-date=12 September 2023}}</ref>

==Winners==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}

===The Khardung La Challenge (72 km)===
Winners of 72 km "The Khardung La Challenge" also known as "Ultra-Marathon" are as follows.<ref name="jagranjosh1"/><ref name="dailyexcelsior.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ladakhmarathon.com/home/results-2012/|title=Ladakh Marathon – Results 2012|work=ladakhmarathon.com|access-date=22 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917035605/http://www.ladakhmarathon.com/home/results-2012/|archive-date=17 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ladakhmarathon.com/news/results-2/|title=Ladakh Marathon – Results 2013|work=ladakhmarathon.com|access-date=21 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916234828/http://www.ladakhmarathon.com/news/results-2/|archive-date=16 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ladakhmarathon.com/news/results-2014/|title=Ladakh Marathon – Results 2014|work=ladakhmarathon.com|access-date=21 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917035728/http://www.ladakhmarathon.com/news/results-2014/|archive-date=17 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ladakhmarathon.com/home/results-2015/|title=Ladakh Marathon – Results 2015|work=ladakhmarathon.com}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Winner !! Nationality !! Time !! Runner up !! Third place
|-
| 2012 || Padam Limbu || {{flagu|India}} || 08:52:20 || Konchok Namgail || –
|-
| 2013 || Rigzin Norbu || {{flagu|India}} || 06:55:02 || Tsering Gyatso || Stanzin Wangyal
|-
| 2014 || Shabbir Hussain || {{flagu|India}} || 06:35:00 || Rigzin Norbu || Tsering Gyatso
|-
| 2015 || Tsewang Todan || {{flagu|India}} || 06:33:41 || Rigzin Norbu || Tsering Stobgais
|-
| 2016 || Tsewang Tokdan || {{flagu|India}} || 06:53:35 || Shabbir Hussain || Mohamad Eliyas
|-
| 2017 || Shabir Hussain || {{flagu|India}} || 06:23:50 || Rigzin Narboo || Tsering Stobgyas
|-
| 2018 || Shabir Hussain || {{flagu|India}} || 06:50:38 || Rigzin Narboo || Karma Zopa
|-
| 2019 || Shabir Hussain || {{flagu|India}} || 06:53:34 || Stanzin Norboo || Rigzin Narboo
|}
Since 2015, special 72 km Khardung La Challenge for women was started.
{{col-break|gap=1em}}

'''Women Khardung La Challenge 72 km winner'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Winner !! Nationality !! Time !! Runner-up !! Third place
|-
| 2015 || Skalzang Dolma || {{flagu|India}} || 10:58:56 || Khushboo Vaish || Tsetan Lamo
|-
| 2016 || Sonam Chuskit || {{flagu|India}} || 09:41:19 || Divya Vasishta || Pervin Batliwala
|-
| 2017 || Shikha Pahwa || {{flagu|India}} || 11:05:37 || Kavita Chatterjee || Deepa Bhat
|-
| 2018 || Konchok Dolma || {{flagu|India}} || 11:11:40 || Silvia Amodio || Rephica Pde
|-
| 2019 || Christena Walter || {{flagu|Ireland}} || 10:32:44 || Ashwini G Bhat || Rephica Becky Pde
|}
{{col-end}}

===Marathon 42 km (Women)===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Winner !! Nationality !! Time !! Runner-up !! Third place
|-
| 2012 || Jigmet Skitzom || {{flagu|India}} || 4:51:30 || Padma Lhamo || Tsetan Dolkar
|-
| 2013 || Tsetan Dolkar || {{flagu|India}} || 4:54:05 || Sonam Chuskit || Claudia Meier Judith Klemenz
|-
| 2014 || Sonam Chuskit || {{flagu|India}} || 4:10:12 || Namgail Lhamo || Dechen Chuskit
|-
| 2015 || Tsetan Dolkar || {{flagu|India}} || 3:40:37 || Jigmet Dolma || Katharina Leuthner
|-
| 2016 || Tsetan Dolkar || {{flagu|India}} || 3:34:24 || Shikha Pahwa || Namgyal Lhamo
|-
| 2017 || Jigmet Dolma || {{flagu|India}} || bgcolor=#A9F5A9|'''3:18:56''' || Tsetan Dolkar || Sonam Chuskit
|-
| 2018 || Jigmet Dolma || {{flagu|India}} || 3:21:27 || Tsetan Dolkar || Sweta Kadian
|-
| 2019 || Jigmet Dolma || {{flagu|India}} || 3:20:02 || Tsetan Dolkar || Namgyal Lhamo
|-
| 2022 || Jigmet Dolma || {{flagu|India}} || 3:21:19 || Diskit Dolma || Tsetan Dolkar
|-
| 2023 || Jigmet Dolma || {{flagu|India}} || 3:27:53 || Disket Dolma || Deepika Prakash
|-
| 2024 || Disket Dolma || {{flagu|India}} || 3:33:41 || Jigmet Dolma || Namgyal Lhamo
|}
{{col-break|gap=1em}}

===Marathon 42 km (Men)===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Winner !! Nationality !! Time !! Runner up !! Third place
|-
| 2012 || Shreya Jain || {{flagu|India}} || 3:36:18 || Tsewang Thinlas || Rigzin Angchuk
|-
| 2013 || Shabir Hussain || {{flagu|India}} || 3:25:33 || Jigmet Norboo || Tashi Zangpo
|-
| 2014 || Shokat Ali || {{flagu|India}} || 3:16:58 || Jigmet Namgail || Mustafa Ali
|-
| 2015 || Fayaz Ali || {{flagu|India}} || 3:02:31 || Padama Namgail || Tsering Tondup
|-
| 2016 || Jigmet Namgial || {{flagu|India}} || 3:12:06 || Stanzin Nurbu || Jigmet Norboo
|-
| 2017 || Shabir Hussain || {{flagu|India}} || 3:06:07 || Manzoor Hussain || Jigmet Norboo
|-
| 2018 || Manzoor Hussain || {{flagu|India}} || 3:13:06 || Ajaz Hussain || Jigmath Kunzang
|-
| 2019 || Shabir Hussain || {{flagu|India}} || 2:56:51 || Jigmet Norboo || Manzoor Hussain
|-
| 2022 || Nawang Tsering || {{flagu|India}} || bgcolor=#A9F5A9|'''2:41:42''' || Jigmet Namgial || Shabir Hussain
|-
| 2023 || Nawang Tsering || {{flagu|India}} || 2:42:02 || Jigmet Namgail || Manzoor Hussain
|-
| 2024 || Nawang Tsering || {{flagu|India}} || 2:44:06 || Anil Jindal || Manzoor Hussain
|}
{{col-end}}

==See also==

* [[Chogyal]]
* [[Tourism_in_Ladakh#Festivals|Festivals in Ladakh]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Road running competitions in India}}
{{Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh}}

[[Category:Marathons in India]]
[[Category:Sport in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Tourism in Ladakh]]
[[Category:Sport in Ladakh]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2012]]
[[Category:2012 establishments in Jammu and Kashmir]]

Ladakh Marathon - Revision history

Pranav at 20:52, 6 April 2026