List of Important Mountain Passes

A mountain pass is a passable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. In India, there are a number of mountain passes that help to connect one place to another for various purposes such as trade, visit, connectivity, etc. In this article, we will learn about the list of important mountain passes in India, which are often asked in exams.

List of Important Mountain Passes

Khardung La

• Location: Leh District

• Connect: Leh and Siachen glaciers

• It is the highest motorable pass in India (Elevation: 5,602 m).

• It remains closed during the winter.

• Gateway between: Shyok and Nubra valleys.

Aghil Pass

• Location: Ladakh

• It is North of Mount Godwin-Austen in the Karakoram.

• Connects: Ladakh to Xinjiang province (China)

• Closed: During the winter season (November to May)

Chang-La:

• Location: Ladakh

• Connect: Ladakh with Tibet

• It is one of the highest mountain pass in the Greater Himalayas.

Lanak La:

• Location: Ladakh (Aksai Chin)

• Connect: Ladakh with Lhasa

• A road was built by the Chinese authority to join Xinjiang with Tibet.

Imis La

• Location: Jammu & Kashmir

• Connect: Ladakh & Tibet

• Closed: During the winter season

• Feature: Difficult geographical terrain and steep slopes

Bara- Lacha La

• Location: Himachal Pradesh

• Connect: Lahaul district (Himachal Pradesh) to Leh district (Ladakh)

Mintaka Pass

• Location: Karakoram Range near India-China-Afghanistan trijunction border

• Connect: Pakistan and Xinjiang (China)

Parpik Pass

• Location: East of Mintaka pass on the Indo-China border

• Connect: Jammu & Kashmir (UT) with China

Khunjerab Pass

• Location: China

• Range: Karakoram

• Connect: Trade route between Pakistan and China

Chang-La

• Location: Ladakh

• Connect: Ladakh with Tibet

• Altitude: 5360 m

Banihal Pass

• Location: Jammu and Kashmir

• Connects: Jammu and Srinagar

• Altitude: 2832 m

• Range: Pir-Panjal Range

• Closed: During the winter season

Pir-Panjal pass

• Location: Jammu & Kashmir

• Connect: Jammu to Sri Nagar

• Range: Pir Panjal range

• It provides the shortest metal road in Jammu and Kashmir Valley.

• Closed: As a result of the partition of the subcontinent, this route had to be closed down.

Zoji La

• Location: Ladakh

• Connect: Srinagar–Leh Highway

• Designated road: The road passing through Zoji La pass has been designated as the National Highway (NH-1D).

Debsa Pass

• Location: Himachal Pradesh

• Connect: Kullu and Spiti districts

• Feature: It is an easier and shorter alternative route to the traditional Pin-Parbati Pass route between Kullu and Spiti

Rohtang Pass

• Location: Himachal Pradesh

• Connect: Kullu, Lahul and Spiti Valleys

• Range: Himalayas, Pir Panjal Range

• It is one of the great tourist attractions of Himachal Pradesh.

Shipki La

• Location: Himachal Pradesh

• Connect: Himachal Pradesh and Tibet

• Closed: During the winter season

• Road: National Highway 5

Lipu Lekh

• Location: Uttarakhand

• Connect:  India, China and Nepal

• Range: Himalayas

• This pass is mainly used by pilgrims to Kailash-Mansarowar.

Mana Pass

• Location: Uttarakhand

• Connect: Uttarakhand with Tibet

• Nearest holy place: Badhrinath

• Nearest Biosphere Reserve: Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

• Closed: During the winter season between November and April.

Mangsha Dhura

• Location: Uttarakhand

• Connect: Uttarakhand with Tibet

• This pass is mainly used by pilgrims to Kailash-Mansarowar.

Niti Pass

• Location: Uttarakhand

• Connect: Uttarakhand with Tibet

• Closed: During the winter season between November and April.

Muling La

• Location: Uttarakhand

• Connect: Uttarakhand and Tibet

• It is situated in the north of Gangotri

Nathu La

• Location: Sikkim

• Connect: Sikkim with Tibet

• Closed: In 1962, it remained closed after Chinese aggression on India, but was re-opened in 2006 to increase the trade between the two countries.

Jelep La

• Location: Sikkim

• Connect: Sikkim-Bhutan border

• Nearest valley: It passes through Chumbi Valley.

• Important link: This pass acts as a link between Sikkim and Lhasa.

Bom Di La

• Location: Arunachal Pradesh

• Connect: Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa (Bhutan)

• Altitude: 4331 m

Dihang Pass

• Location: Arunachal Pradesh

• Connect: Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar

Yonggyap Pass

• Location: Arunachal Pradesh

• Connect: Arunachal Pradesh with Tibet

Dipher Pass

• Location: Arunachal Pradesh

• Trijunction betwee: India, China, and Myanmar

• Connect: Arunachal Pradesh and Mandalay (Myanmar)

Kumjawng Pass

• Location: Arunachal Pradesh

• Connect: Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar

Hpungan Pass

• Location: Arunachal Pradesh

• Connect: Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar

Chankan Pass

• Location: Arunachal Pradesh

• Connect: Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar