List of Important Passes in India UPSC
A mountain pass locally is the highest point on the route through a mountain range or over the ridge. It played an important role in trade, war, and migration. It also is known as notches, gaps, saddles, cols, hauses, bwlch (Welsh), bealach or brennig (Gaelic).
Important passes are- Zoji La (Pass),Banihal Pass, Shipki La (Pass), Bara-Lacha Pass, Rohtang Pass, Mana Pass, Niti Pass, Nathu La (Pass),Jalap La (Pass), etc.
Important Passes in India UPSC
| Name of the Pass | Description |
|---|---|
| Nathu La Pass | It is located in the state of Sikkim. This famous pass is located in the India- China border and was reopened in 2006. It forms a part of an offshoot of the ancient silk route. It is one of the trading border posts between India and China. |
| Shipki La Pass | It is located through Sutlej Gorge. It connects Himachal Pradesh with Tibet. It is India’s third border post for trade with China after Lipu Lekh and Nathula Pass. |
| Jelep La Pass | This pass passes through the Chumbi valley. It connects Sikkim with Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. |
| Qara Tagh Pass | It is located in the Karakoram Mountains. It was a subsidiary of the ancient silk route. |
| Mountain Passes in Leh & Ladakh | |
| Umling La | It is the highest motorable pass in the country. It connects Leh to the Pangong Lake and was inaugurated in August 2021. |
| Khardung La | It is the second-highest motorable pass in the country. It connects Leh and Siachen glaciers. This pass remains closed during the winter. |
| Thang La / Taglang La | It is located in Ladakh. It is the second-highest motorable mountain pass in India. |
| Aghil Pass | It is situated to the North of Mount Godwin-Austen in the Karakoram. It connects Ladakh with the Xinjiang province of China. It remains closed during the winter season from November to May. |
| Chang-La | It is a high mountain pass in the Greater Himalayas. It connects Ladakh with Tibet. |
| Lanak La | This is located in the Aksai Chin in the Ladakh region. It connects Ladakh and Lhasa. The Chinese authority has built a road to join Xinjiang with Tibet. |
| Imis La | The pass has a difficult geographical terrain and steep slopes. This pass remains closed during the winter season. It connects Ladakh and Tibet. |
| Bara-La/ Bara- Lacha La | It is situated on the National Highway in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It connects Manali and Leh. |
Mountain Passes in India
| Name | State | Height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Asirgarh | Madhya Pradesh | |
| Auden’s Col | Uttarakhand | 17,552 |
| Banihal Pass | Jammu and Kashmir (Jammu, Kashmir) | 9,291 |
| Bara-lacha-la | Himachal Pradesh | 16,400 |
| Bomdila | Arunachal Pradesh | |
| Changla Pass | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | 17,585 |
| Chanshal Pass | Himachal Pradesh | 14,830 |
| Dehra Compass | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | |
| Debsa Pass | Himachal Pradesh | 17,520 |
| Diphu Pass | Arunachal Pradesh | 4,587 |
| Dongkhala | Sikkim | 12,000 |
| Dhumdhar Kandi Pass | Uttarakhand | |
| Fotu La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | 13,451 |
| Goecha La | Sikkim | 16,207 |
| Haldighati Pass | Rajasthan | |
| Indrahar Pass | Himachal Pradesh | 14,473 |
| Jelep La | Sikkim | 14,300 |
| Khardung La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | 17,582 |
| Kongka Pass | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | 16,965 |
| Lanak Pass | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | 17,933 |
| Kunzum Pass | Himachal Pradesh (Lahaul and Spiti) | 14,931 |
| Karakoram Pass | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | |
| Lipulekh Pass | Uttarakhand | 17,500 |
| Lungalacha La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | 16,600 |
| Lamkhaga Pass | Himachal Pradesh | 17,336 |
| Marsimik La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | 18,314 |
| Mayali Pass | Uttarakhand | 16,371 |
| Nama Pass | Uttarakhand | 18,399 |
| Namika La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | 12,139 |
| Nathu La | Sikkim | 14,140 |
| Palakkad Gap | Kerala | 750 |
| Thamarassery Pass | Wayanad Kerala | 1,700 |
| Shenkottai pass | Kollam Kerala | 690 |
| Pensi La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | |
| Rezang La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | |
| Rohtang Pass | Himachal Pradesh | 13,051 |
| Sasser la | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | 17,753 |
| Sela Pass | Arunachal Pradesh | 14,000 |
| Shipki La | Himachal Pradesh | |
| Sia La | Jammu and Kashmir (Siachen Glacier) | 18,337 |
| Shingo La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | |
| Spangur Gap | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | |
| Gyong La | Jammu and Kashmir (Siachen Glacier) | 18,655 |
| Bilafond La | Jammu and Kashmir (Siachen Glacier) | 17,881 |
| Sin La | Uttarakhand | |
| Tanglang La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | 17,583 |
| Traill’s Pass | Uttarakhand | 17,100 |
| Zojila Pass | Jammu and Kashmir (Kashmir, Ladakh) | 12,400 |