National Highway 3, National highway in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, India.
National Highway 3 begins at the India-Pakistan border near Atari and travels northward through Punjab's flat agricultural regions into Himachal Pradesh's mountains and beyond. The road passes through major cities and smaller towns as it traverses changing terrain and elevation zones.
The route was reorganized in 2010 when India's highway authority combined sections of several older roads into a single system. This merger created the unified highway that travelers use today.
This route links people and communities across different regions together. As you travel, you notice how daily life changes, from busy city centers to quieter mountain settlements where traditions remain strong.
The road has service stations and rest areas spread regularly along the route, with emergency services available throughout. As elevation increases toward the mountains, driving becomes more demanding, so plan your journey accordingly.
The road crosses Baralacha La pass at heights above 4,800 meters, one of the highest points on this route. Reaching this pass means the landscape has transformed from green valleys into bare, high-altitude mountain terrain.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
