Major Mountain Passes of India

Navigable route through a mountain or a ridge :

   

  1. Jammu and Kashmir

  • Burzil Pass
    • Oldest known route connecting Gilgit and Srinagar
    • Now a conflict territory and partitioned
  • Pir Panjal Pass:
    • Traditional pass from Jammu to Srinagar 
    • Closed after partition 
    • It provided shortest route from Kashmir valley to Jammu
  • Banihal Pass:
    • Across Pir panjal range, after Jawahar Tunnel 
    • No longer used in road transport 

2. Ladhak 

In the Interior:

  • Khardung La 
    • Ladakh Range – Gateway to Shyok and Nubra valley 
    • Used to carry supply to Siachein glacier 
    • World’s second highest motorable road  

                             

    • Umling La Pass is the highest motorable pass (Ladakh)
  • Zoji La
    • Zanskar Range
    • Connects srinagar with Kargil and Leh
    • Part of NH1
  • Pensi La 
    • Known as Gateway to Zanskar 

On the border:   

  • Mintaka Pass : 
    • In Karakoram Range
    • Tri-Junction between India,China and Afghanistan   

Indo-China Border 

  • Parpik Pass 
  • Khunjerab Pass – Karakoram Range 
  • Aghil Pass- Karakoram Range, near K2
  • Qara Ta la

Indo-Tibet (China) Border 

  • Lanak La : Located in Disputed Aksai Chin area 
  • Chang La
  • Imis La 

 

3. Himachal Pradesh

            

  • Rohtang Pass: Pir Panjal – Link between Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti Valley
  • Bara Lacha La: 
    • Zanskar Range 
    • Connects Himachal Pradesh with Ladakh. Situated along Leh-Mandi highway
  • Debsa Pass: Link between Kullu and Spiti
  • Shipki La
    • Located on Indo-China border
    • Passes through Jhelum Gorge 
    • Link between Himachal Pradesh and Tibet 

4. Uttarakhand

Indo-Tibet (China) Border 

  • Muling La : Situated North of Gangotri
  • Mangsha Dhura
    • Used by pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar
  • Mana Pass : situated to north of Badrinath 
  • Niti Pass
  • Lipu Lekh:
    • Near trijunction of India, Nepal and Tibet
    • Used by pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar

In the Interior:

  • Traill’s Pass 
    • Located between Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot peaks

5. Sikkim

  • Jelep La
    • Gives way to Bhutan
    • Connects Lhasa to India
    • Tista river has created this pass
  • Nathu La
    • Forms part of an offshoot of ancient Silk route
    • Important trade route between India-China
    • Was closed after Indo-China war in 1962, but reopened in 2006 

 

6. Arunachal Pradesh

Indo-Tibet (China) Border 

  • Bom Di la : Connects India with Lhasa
  • Yongyapp pass : Join Arunachal Pradesh with tibet region 
  • Dipher Pass 
    • Trijunction between India, China and Myanmar
    • Lies on Macmohan Line

India – Myanmar Border 

  • Dihang Pass
  • Khumjawang Pass 
  • Chaukan Pass
  • Lekhapani Pass
  • Hpungan Pass 

 

7. Rajasthan

  • Goram Ghat 
    • Located in Aravali Range 
    • Connects Mewar and Marwar 
    • Connects Udaipur with Sirohi and Jalore
  • Haldighati Pass
    • Located in Aravali Range – connects Rajsamand and Pali 
    • Historical Significance- Battle of Haldighati : Kingdom of Mewar (led by Maharana Pratap) and Mughal emperor Akbar’s general Amar Singh I (1576)

8. Madhya Pradesh 

  • Asirgarh Pass
    • Satpura Range
    • Usually Known as Dakkani Darwaza
    • Connects North India to Deccan Plateau 

 

9. Western Ghats

  • Thal Ghat 
    • Northern Sahyadri
    • Links Mumbai to Nasik

  • Bhor Ghat 
    • In Northern Sahyadri
    • Links Mumbai to Nasik
  • Palghat (Palakkad Gap)
    • Between Nilgiris and Anamalai Hills
    • Connects Kerala to Tamil Nadu
  • Senkota Pass 
    • Between Nagercoil and Cardamom Hills
    • Connects Thiruvananthapuram to Madurai 
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