Mountain Pass

- A mountain pass refers to a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. It's a narrow gap or opening between
mountains that allows for travel from one side of the range to the other. Passes are often used as transportation routes,
providing paths for roads, trails, or railways.

Mountain Passes in India

S.No. Mountain Passes Significance
Leh and Ladakh
1 Umling La - It is the country’s highest motorable pass.
- It connects Leh to Pangong Lake.

2 Khardung La - It is the country’s second-highest motorable pass. It connects the glaciers

of Leh and Siachen.
- Khardung La is a gateway to the Nubra Valley.
- Khardung La is strategically important for the Indian Army, providing access
to the Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield.

3 Aghil Pass - It is located in the Karakoram Mountains to the north of Mount Godwin-
Austen.
- It connects Ladakh to China’s Xinjiang province.

4 Chang-La - It is a high mountain pass in the Himalayan range.

- It connects the Ladakh region of India to Tibet.

JOIN ME ON TELEGRAM: UPSC PRELIMS WITH NEELESH @UPSCPrelimsWithNeelesh

JOIN ME ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL: CIVIL SERVICES WITH NEELESH www.youtube.com/@civilserviceswithneelesh
FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://csetopper.com/ https://www.neeleshair442.com/

1
 5 The Zoji La Pass - Vital for connecting Srinagar and Leh, Zoji La is a high mountain pass in the
Great Himalayan Range.
- Zoji La is often referred to as the “Gateway to Ladakh,” providing a crucial
link between the two regions.

Uttarakhand
1 Lipulekh - It links Uttarakhand to Tibet. This pass is a vital border crossing point for
trade with China.
- This mountain pass is generally used by pilgrims to the pilgrimage site of
Kailash-Mansarovar.

2 Traill’s Pass - It connects the Pindari and Milam valleys and is located at the end of the
Pindari glacier.

3 Mana Pass - It connects Tibet and Uttarakhand and is located in the Greater Himalayas.
During the winter, it is covered in snow for six months.
- It is the source of the Saraswati River.

4 Muling La - It is located in the Great Himalayas, 5669 meters above sea level, to the
north of Gangotri.
- During the winter, this seasonal pass connecting Uttarakhand and Tibet
remains snow-covered.

5 Niti Pass - Niti Pass carves its path through the Indo-Tibetan border, connecting Niti
Valley with southern Tibet.
- Niti village is the last village on the Indian side of the Indo-Tibetan border.

JOIN ME ON TELEGRAM: UPSC PRELIMS WITH NEELESH @UPSCPrelimsWithNeelesh

JOIN ME ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL: CIVIL SERVICES WITH NEELESH www.youtube.com/@civilserviceswithneelesh
FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://csetopper.com/ https://www.neeleshair442.com/

2
 - This pass connects Uttarakhand and Tibet. During the winter, this is also
snow-covered.

6 Kalindi Pass - This is also known as Kalindi Khal.

- It is located in the Himalayan range of the Indian state of Uttarakhand.
- This pass connects the Gangotri Glacier and the Gastoli Pass.

7 Nama Pass - Located in the eastern Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

- This pass links the Kuthi Valley and the Darma Valley of Uttarakhand.

8 Mangsha Dhura Pass - It is situated in Uttarakhand.

- The pass holds significance for pilgrims as it lies on the traditional route to
the holy shrine of Kedarnath, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites in
Uttarakhand.

Himachal Pradesh
1 Rohtang Pass - Connecting Kullu Valley with Lahaul and Spiti Valley, this pass offers
stunning views of the Himalayas.
- Rohtang Pass is also known as the “Gateway to Lahaul and Spiti,” two
remote and stunning valleys in Himachal Pradesh.

2 Bara-La/ Bara- Lacha La - This pass is located in the Himalayan Range of H.P.
- It connects Manali to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.
- In winter, due to the high altitude of this pass, it cannot be used for
transport.

JOIN ME ON TELEGRAM: UPSC PRELIMS WITH NEELESH @UPSCPrelimsWithNeelesh

JOIN ME ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL: CIVIL SERVICES WITH NEELESH www.youtube.com/@civilserviceswithneelesh
FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://csetopper.com/ https://www.neeleshair442.com/

3
 3 Debsa Pass - It connects the Spiti and Parvati valleys.
- It is a high mountain pass in Himachal Pradesh that connects the districts of
Kullu and Spiti. It is a Pin-Parvati Pass bypass route.

4 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.

Jammu & Kashmir

1 Banihal Pass - Situated in the Pir Panjal range, Banihal Pass is a crucial link on the Jammu-
Srinagar Highway.
- The Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel, constructed in 2021, now bypasses the
most challenging part of the pass, reducing travel time significantly.
- It links Qazigund with Banihal.

2 Pir-Panjal Pass - It provides the shortest and the easiest metal road between Jammu and
Kashmir Valley.
- The partition resulted in the closure of this pass. From Jammu, it offers the
quickest access via road to Kashmir Valley.

3 Pensi La - The Pensi La links Kargil and the Kashmir valley.

- The Greater Himalayas are where it is located.

4 Karakoram Pass - It is located in the Karakoram Mountain Range and connects India and
China.

JOIN ME ON TELEGRAM: UPSC PRELIMS WITH NEELESH @UPSCPrelimsWithNeelesh

JOIN ME ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL: CIVIL SERVICES WITH NEELESH www.youtube.com/@civilserviceswithneelesh
FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://csetopper.com/ https://www.neeleshair442.com/

4
 - It performed an important historical role by allowing travellers to cross
these mountain ranges.
- In ancient times, this route was part of the famous Silk Route.

5 Mintaka Pass - This is a mountain pass in the Karakorum Mountains.

- It connects Kashmir and Xinjiang in China.

6 Lanak La - This pass provides passage between Ladak and Lhasa.

7 Imis La - The pass’s geographical terrain is difficult, with steep slopes.

- It links Ladakh and Tibet.

8 Parpik Pass - It is situated in Pir Panjal Range of Himalaya.

- Parpik Pass has been an important trade route connecting the Kashmir
Valley with the Poonch and Rajouri regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

Arunachal Pradesh
1 Dihang pass - It is situated in the Arunachal Pradesh region of the Northeast.
- This pass links Myanmar with Arunachal Pradesh (Mandalay).
- It allows travel at a height of more than 4,000 metres.

2 Pangsau Pass - It is situated in the Arunachal Pradesh state.

- This pass links Myanmar with Arunachal Pradesh.

3 Sela Pass - It is a high-altitude mountain pass located in the Himalayan Range of

Arunachal Pradesh.

JOIN ME ON TELEGRAM: UPSC PRELIMS WITH NEELESH @UPSCPrelimsWithNeelesh

JOIN ME ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL: CIVIL SERVICES WITH NEELESH www.youtube.com/@civilserviceswithneelesh
FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://csetopper.com/ https://www.neeleshair442.com/

5
 - The road NH-13 passes through this mountain pass, connecting Tawang
with the rest of India.

4 Diphu Pass - It is situated in the Arunachal Pradesh state.

- A mountain pass known as Diphu Pass circles the region of the India, China,
and Myanmar tripoint border dispute.
- Another key route into eastern Arunachal Pradesh is via Diphu Pass. The
McMahon Line passes beside it.

5 Bomdi-La - It is situated in Arunachal Pradesh.

- Arunachal Pradesh and Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, are connected by the
Bomdi-La pass.

6 Bum La - Bum La Pass is situated at an elevation of around 15,200 feet above sea
level, near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China.
- It serves as one of the important mountain passes in the region, providing
access between the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh in India and the
Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Sikkim
1 Nathu La Pass - It is situated in the Sikkim state.
- This well-known pass, which is on the boundary between India and China,
was reopened in 2006.
- It is a portion of a branch of the old silk route.

2 Jelep La Pass - It is situated in the Sikkim state.

JOIN ME ON TELEGRAM: UPSC PRELIMS WITH NEELESH @UPSCPrelimsWithNeelesh

JOIN ME ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL: CIVIL SERVICES WITH NEELESH www.youtube.com/@civilserviceswithneelesh
FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://csetopper.com/ https://www.neeleshair442.com/

6
 - The Chumbi valley is traversed by this pass. It links Sikkim and Lhasa, the
Tibetan capital.

Mountain Passes in Southern India

1 Bhor Ghat - It is situated in Maharashtra.
- Bhor Ghat is located between Palasdari and Khandala for the railway and
between Khopoliand Khandala on the road route to Maharashtra.

2 Thal Ghat - Thal Ghat is a ghat segment (mountain inclination or slope) in the Western
Ghats close to the town of Kasara in Maharashtra.
- It is also known as Thul Ghat or Kasara Ghat.

3 Pal Ghat - Between the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, in the Western Ghats, sits
the Palakkad Gap.
- The mountain pass links Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu with Palakkad in Kerala.
- It is situated between the Nilgiri Hills in the north and the Anaimalai Hills in
the south.

4 Shencottah Gap - It is located in the Western Ghats and joins Madurai City in Tamil Nadu with
Kottayam in Kerala.

JOIN ME ON TELEGRAM: UPSC PRELIMS WITH NEELESH @UPSCPrelimsWithNeelesh

JOIN ME ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL: CIVIL SERVICES WITH NEELESH www.youtube.com/@civilserviceswithneelesh
FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://csetopper.com/ https://www.neeleshair442.com/