Important Passes in India

Indian Geography - Major Passes in India.

A mountain pass comprises of a route through a mountain range and its exact location is denoted by the highest location in terms of altitude within that route. This highest location within the route through the mountain range is also the lowest route in terms of altitude that can be travelled in relation to the mountains around the route.

Some of the most important passes in the country are Zoji La (Pass), Banihal Pass, Shipki La (Pass), Bara-Lacha Pass, Rohtang Pass, Mana Pass, Niti Pass, Nathu La (Pass), Jalap La (Pass)

Most Important Passes

Zoji La (Pass)- It is in the Zaskar range of Jammu & Kashmir. The road route from Srinagar to Leh goes through this pass. It has been created by the Indus River.

Banihal Pass- Banihal Pass is a mountain pass across the Pir Panjal Range at a maximum elevation of 2,832 m. The road from Jammu to Srinagar transversed Banihal Pass until 1956 when Jawahar Tunnel was constructed under the pass. The road now passes through the tunnel and the Banihal Pass is no longer used for road transport. Another 11 km long tunnel provides railway link between Banihal and Kazigund. It was thrown open to railway transport in July, 2013.

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.

Nathu La (Pass)- Nathu La is a mountain pass in the Himalayas in East Sikkim district. It connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Nathu means "listening ears" and La means "pass" in Tibetan.

Jalep La (Pass)- Jelep La or Jelep Pass, elevation 4,267 m or 13,999 ft, is a high mountain pass between East Sikkim District, Sikkim, India and Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is on a route that connects Lhasa to India.

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. Border Road Organisation (BRO) is responsible for constructing and maintaining roads in this area. Rohtang pass is a great tourist attraction and traffic jams are very common because this route is widely used by military, public and private vehicles.

Bara Lacha Pass- National highway connecting Mandi in Himachal Pradesh with Leh in Jammu and Kashmir passes through this pass. Being situated at high altitude, it remains snow covered in winter and is not used as a transport route.

Mountain Passes In India

Name

State

Asirgarh

Madhya Pradesh

Banihal Pass

Jammu and Kashmir (Jammu, Kashmir)

Bara-lacha-la

Himachal Pradesh

Bomdila

Arunachal Pradesh

Changla Pass

Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)

Chanshal Pass

Himachal Pradesh

Dehra Compass

Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh

Debsa Pass

Himachal Pradesh

Diphu Pass

Arunachal Pradesh

Dongkhala

Sikkim

Dhumdhar Kandi Pass

Uttarakhand

Goecha La

Sikkim

Haldighati Pass

Rajasthan

Indrahar Pass

Himachal Pradesh

Jelep La

Sikkim

Khardung La

Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)

Lanak Pass

Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)

Kunzum Pass

Himachal Pradesh

Karakoram Pass

Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)

Lipulekh Pass

Uttarakhand

Mayali Pass

Uttarakhand

Nathu La

Sikkim

Palakkad Gap

Kerala

Rohtang Pass

Himachal Pradesh

Shipki La

Himachal Pradesh

Sela Pass

Arunachal Pradesh

Gyong La

Jammu and Kashmir (Siachen Glacier)

Click here for Important Ghats of India

Important Passes in India