Mountain pass is a connectivity route through the mountain range. It is highly important transport gateway to connect different parts of country, and also with neighboring countries.
Following is the list and information about 31 important mountain pass in India.
Mana Pass
This mountain pass, connecting Uttarakhand with Tibet, is situated at an elevation of 5545 m above sea level in Greater Himalayas at some places it reaches 5611 m. During the winter season it remains snow-covered for about six months.
Thang La
This mountain pass, the second highest motarable montain pass in India after Khardung La, is situated at an elevation of 5359 m above sea level. This mountain pass is in Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir).
Chang-La (Ladakh with Tibet)
This is a high mountain pass. It is situated at an elevation of over 5360 m above sea level. This pass has been named after Chang La Baba and has a temple dedicated to him. The road, leading to the small town of Tangtse, after Chang La is extremely steep. It remains closed, because of being snow-covered, during the winter season.
Must Read: World’s 10 Greatest – Ocean or Seas, Deserts, and Mountains
Debsa Pass
This high mountain pass, between the Kullu and Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh in Greater Himalayas, is located at an elevation of 5360 m above sea level. This pass is popularly known for providing an easier and shorter alternative to the traditional Pin-Parbati Pass route between Kullu and Spiti.
Khardung La
This mountain pass, connecting Leh with Siachin glacier, is the highest motarable pass in the country. It is situated at an elevation of more than 5359 m above sea level. During the winter season the road, however, remains closed.
Qara Tagh Pass
This mountain pass, an offshoot of the Great Silk Road, is situated at an elevation of more than 6000 m above the sea level in the Karakoram Mountains. During the winter season it remains covered with snow.
Aghil Pass (Karakoram-Lodak)
This mountain pass, connecting Ladakh with Xinjiang (Sinkiang) province of China, is located to the north of K2 in the Karakoram at an elevation of about 4805 m above the sea level. During the winter season it remains closed from November to the first week of May.
Lanak La:
Connecting Ladakh with Lhasa this mountain pass is located at an elevation of 5466 metres in Aksai-China (Ladakh). The Chinese have constructed a road to have connectivity between Xinjiawg (Sinkian) Province of China and Tibet.
Pangsang Pass (Arunachal Pradesh):
Connecting Arunachal Pradesh with Mandalaya (Myanmar), this mountain pass is located at an altitude of more than four than metres above Sea level.
Mangsha Dhura Pass:
Connecting Uttrakhand with Tibet, this mountain pass is located at an altitude of 5490 metres in the district of Pithoragarh. Landslides create great problems for pilgrims and tourists who cross this pass to reach Mansarovar.
Also Read: The Ocean and The Sea: Forms and Benefits
Traill’s Pass
Located at the end of Pindari Glacier, linking Pindari Valley to Milam Valley in the Pithorgarh and Bageshwar districts of Uttrakhand, this mountainpass is situated at an elevation of 5212 m above sea level. This pass is very difficult to cross because of its steepness and ruggedness
Shipki La
Connecting Himachal Pradesh with Tibet, this mountain pass, through which river Satluj enters India from Tibet, is situated at an altitude of more than 5669 M above Sea level through the Satluj George. The pass, representing Indian National Highway, is India’s third border post for trade with China next to Nathula in Sikkim and Lipulekh in Uttrakhand. During the winter season it remains covered with snow.
Zoji-La
Connecting Srinagar with Kargil and Leh, this mountain pass is situated at an altitude of 3528m above the sea level. From December to mid-May it remains closed because of heavy snowfall. Beacon Force of Border Road Organisation (BRO) that is responsible for cleaning and maintenance of the road during the winter season; try to keep the road open for most part of the year. In 2013, the centre had declared the Srinagar-Zoli-La Road a National Highway (NH-ID).
Rohtang Pass
Connecting the Kullu, the Lahul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, this mountain pass is situated at an altitude of 3979m above sea level. Here Border Road Organisation has constructed excellent accessable road. Heavy movement of military vehicles, buses, taxis; trucks and goods trains cause traffic jams that are common occurrences.
Pensi La
Connecting the Valley of Kashmir with Kargil (Ladakh) this mountain pass is situated at an elevation of more than 4400 m above sea level in the Greater Himalayas. From November to Mid-May it remains covered with snow.
Niti Pass
Connecting Uttrakhand with Tibet this mountain pass is located at an altitude of 5068 m above sea level. During the winter season, between November and mid-May, it remains covered with snow.
Nathu La (Sikkim)
Located on the Indo- China border, this mountain pass, forming part of an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road, is at an altitude of 4310m above sea level. Nathu–La, one of the three trading border posts between India and China, was responded in 2006 after the 1962 war.
Also Read: Types of Indian soils and their distribution
Likhapani (Arunachal Pradesh)
Connecting Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar this mountain pass is located at an altitude of more than four thousand metres above sea level. It remains open throughout the year trade and transport.
Mulinga La (Uttrakhand)
Connecting Uttrakhand with Tibet, this seasonal mountain pass is situated north of Gangotri. During the winter season it remains covered with snow.
Shencottah Gap
Connecting Madurai city of Tamil Nadu with Kottayam city of Kerala this mountain pass is situated in Western Ghats. Shencottah is a small town also near this pass in Tamil Nadu.
Lipu Lekh (Uttrakhand)
Connecting Uttrakhand with Tibet this mountain pass, one of India’s important border post for trade with China, is situated in the Pithorgarh district. The pilgrims travel through this pass to reach Mansarovar. However, Landslides in the rainy season and avalanches in winter cause great problems for movements and transportation. Elevation is 5334 m.
Pir-Panjal Pass
Connecting Jammu with Srinagar this traditional pass lies on the Mughal Road. The mountain pass was closed down after partition of the sub-continent. It facilitates the easiest and shortest metalled road access from Jammu to the Valley of Kashmir.
Imis La
The pass, providing an easy access between Lodakh and Tibet (China), is located at an altitude of over 4,500m above sea level. It remains closed during the winter season and has a difficult terrain and steep slopes.
Burzail Pass (Srinagar with Kishan-Ganga Valley)
Connecting Kashmir Valley with Deosai Plains of Ladakh this mountain pass is located at an altitude of 4100 m above sea level. During winter season it remains closed for trade and transport because of being covered with snow.
You May Also Read: The Himalayas: An insight into their evolution and importance
Dihang Pass
Connecting Arunachal Pradesh with Mandalay this mountain pass is situated at an altitude of about 4000m in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
Bomdila Pass (Arunachal Pradesh)
Connecting Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa (the capital of Tibet), this mountain pass is situated to the east of Bhutan in the Greater Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh at an elevation of about 2217 m above sea level. Owing to the snowfall and adverse weather in the winter season it remains closed.
Diphu Pass
This traditional mountain pass between India and Myanmar, situated in the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh, provides an easy and shortest access to Mandalaya (Myanmar). It remains open throughout the year for transportation and trade. Elevation of this pass is at 4587 m.
Banihal Pass (Jawahar Tunnel)
Connecting Jammu with Srinagar this mountain pass is situated at an altitude of 2832 m above sea level in the Pir-Panjal. Named after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Jawahar Tunnel, constructed for round-the-year surface transport, was inaugurated in December 1956 because the pass remains closed during the winter season because of the snow-cover.
Kunjerab Pass (Karakoram)
Connecting Ladakh and the Xinjiang Province of China, this traditional mountain pass is situated at an altitude of 4693 m above sea level in the Karakoram Mountains. During the winter season from November to mid-May it remains covered with snow.
Bara Lacha
Situated on the National Highway and connecting Manali and Leh, this mountain pass is located at an altitude of a 4890 m above sea level in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Because it is a high Mountain pass, it remains covered with snow from November to mid-May.
Jelep La
Connecting Sikkim with Lhasa this mountain pass that passes through the Chumbi Valley, is located at an altitude of 4270 m above sea level.
You May Also Read: Climate Change, Technology and Energy Sustainability