Mountain passes in India

What is Mountain Pass?

“Pass” refers to a path, or part of a body of water, that allows passage through an otherwise shallow waterway, and the mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Generally, a mountain pass refers to that connectivity route that runs through the mountains and is a gateway that connects different parts of the country and also with the countries situated nearby for different purposes.

There are a total of 68 mountain passes in India, among them 43 mountain passes are in the Himalayan region only. Here we will discuss the list of the most important passes in India with proper mapping.

Important Passes in Jammu and Kashmir

• Mintaka Pass: Mintaka means “thousand goats” in Kyrgyz language. Mintaka pass is located in the Karakoram range near the trijunction of India-China and Afghanistan border.
• Aghil Pass: Aghil pass lies north of the K2 Peak, the altitude of this pass is about 5000 meters above sea level. It remains closed from November to May due to heavy snowfall during winter.
• Lanak La: Lanak La is located in the disputed Aksai-Chin area of Jammu & Kashmir. Its elevation is 5,466 meters.
• Chang La: Chang La is located on Indo-China border and its elevation is 5360 meters. Due to heavy snowfall this pass remains closed during winter.
• Khardungla: Khardung La is located at an altitude of 5602 meters near Leh town in Ladakh range and it is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys. It’s just 150 km away from the Siachen glacier. Strategically it is very important pass for India because it’s used to carry supplies to the Siachen Glacier. Khardung La is incorrectly cited as highest motorable pass but it’s not the highest motorable pass, the highest motorable pass is Umling La.
• Burzil Pass: Burzil pass is situated at an altitude of 4,100 meters above sea level, this pass connects the Kashmir Valley with the Deosai Plains of Ladakh. Being snow covered during the winter season it remains closed for trade and transport.
• Zoji La: Zoji La is located at an altitude of 3850 meters. It connects Srinagar with Kargil and Leh town. This pass remains closed from December to May.
• Pir Panjal Pass: Pir-Panjal pass lies in Pir-Panjal range on Mughal road. After partition of the subcontinent, the pass was closed down. It provided the shortest and easiest metalled road access from Jammu to the Valley of Kashmir.

Banihal Pass: Banihal Pass is located at an altitude of 2832 meters across Pir Panjal Range. It remains snow covered during winter, to provide year round transport facilities between Jammu and Srinagar, a tunnel named Jawahar Tunnel has been created.

Important Passes in Himachal Pradesh

• Shipki La (Pass): Shipki La is a mountain pass and border post with a dozen buildings of significant size on the India-China border. The river Sutlej enters India near this pass.
• Bara-Lacha Pass: Bara-lacha la also known as Bara-lacha Pass, is a high mountain pass in the Zanskar range, connecting Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Leh district in Ladakh, situated along the Leh–Manali Highway.
• Rohtang Pass: It is a high mountain pass on the eastern end of the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km from Manali. It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India.

• Debsa Pass: Debsa Pass, its elevation is 5270 meters and it’s located in the Greater Himalayas range. Debsa pass provides a link between Kullu and Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh.

Important Passes in Uttarakhand

• Lipu Lekh: Lipu Lekh, it’s situated near the trijunction of India, Tibet and Nepal borders. Pilgrims use this pass to reach Kailash-Mansarowar. Landslides during rainy season and avalanches during winter season makes this pass difficult to use.
• Mana Pass: Mana Pass connects Uttarakhand with Tibet. It’s located north of holy place of Badrinath in the Greater Himalayas range. The altitude of Mana Pass is 5610 meters.
• Niti Pass: Niti Pass, located at an altitude of 5068 meters. This pass joins Uttarakhand with Tibet region. This pass remains snow covered from November to mid-May.
• Muling La: Muling La is situated north of Gangotri at an elevation of 5669 meters in the Great Himalayas. It also remains closed during winter.
• Traill’s Pass: It is located in Uttarakhand. It is situated at the end of the Pindari glacier and connects the Pindari valley to Milam valley. This pass is very steep and rugged.

Important Passes in Sikkim

• Nathu La: Nathu La is situated at an altitude of 4310 meters on the India China border. It was the part of ancient Silk Route. Nathu La connects Sikkim with Tibet region. This pass was closed after Indo-China war in 1962 but was reopened in 2006.
• Jelep La: Jelep La lies at the Sikkim and Bhutan border. Its elevation is 4538 meters. It passes through Chumbi Valley. Jelep la provides a very important link between Sikkim and Lhasa.

Important Passes in Arunachal Pradesh

• Bomdi-La: The Bomdi-La pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. It is located in the east of Bhutan.
• Dihang Pass: Elevation of Dihang pass is more than 4000 meters and it provides passage between Arunachal Pradesh.
• Dipher Pass: Dipher pass lies on the trijunction of India, China and Myanmar. Its altitude is 4353 meters. It provides easy access between Arunachal Pradesh and Mandalay in Myanmar. It’s an important trade route between India and Myanmar and remains open throughout the year.
• Yonggyap Pass: Yonggyap pass lies at an altitude of 3962 meters on the Indo-China border and joins Arunachal Pradesh with the Tibet region.
• Kumjawng Pass: Kumjawng Pass also lies on the Indo-Myanmar border at an altitude of 2929 and joins Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar.
• Pangsau Pass: It is located in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. This pass connects Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. Pangsau Pass or Pan Saung Pass, 3,727 feet (1,136 m) in altitude, lies on the crest of the Patkai Hills on the India-Burma (Myanmar) border. The pass offers one of the easiest routes into Burma from the Assam plains. It is named after the closest Burmese village, Pangsau, that lies 2 km beyond the pass to the east.

Mountain Passes in Deccan Plateau (Central & Southern India)

• Bhor Ghat: Bhor Ghat is located between Palasdari and Khandala for railway and between Khopoliand Khandala on the road route to Maharashtra. Plays an important role in the Great Indian Peninsula Railway laid from Mumbai to Pune.
• Pal Ghat: The Palakkad Gap is situated in the western ghats between the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Located between Nilgiris Hills in the north and Anaimalai Hills in the South and connects Coimbatore to Palakkad in Kerala.
• Shencottah Gap: Madurai- Kottayam: It is located in the Western Ghats and joins Madurai City in Tamil Nadu with Kottayam in Kerala. Shencottah Gap, road rails pass through this gap which connects Shencottah to Punalur.
• Thal Ghat: Thal Ghat (also called Thul Ghat or Kasara Ghat) is a ghat section (mountain incline or slope) in the Western Ghats near the town of Kasara in Maharashtra. The Thal Ghat is located on the busy Mumbai–Nashik route, and is one of the four major routes, rail, and road routes, leading into Mumbai. The railway line, which passes through the ghat is the steepest in India with a gradient of 1 in 37