Mountain Passes in India – Geography Notes PDF in English & Hindi for all Competitive Exams
Mountain Passes in India: Mountain passes are natural routes or gaps that provide passage through mountain ranges. These passes are often used as travel routes because they offer relatively lower elevations or gentler gradients compared to the surrounding mountains. They serve as important transportation corridors, allowing people, animals, and vehicles to cross mountainous terrain.
Mountain Passes in India
India is home to a diverse and extensive range of mountain passes due to its varied topography and mountainous terrain. These mountain passes play a crucial role in connecting different regions of the country and are significant for trade, transportation, and tourism. Here are some notable mountain passes in India:
List of Important Mountain Passes in India
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. |
List of Mountain Passes in Leh & Ladakh
Name of the Pass | Description |
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. |
List of Mountain Passes in Uttarakhand
Name of the Pass | Description |
Traill’s Pass | It is located in Uttarakhand. It is situated at the end of the Pindari glacier and connects the Pindari valley to Milam valley. This pass is very steep and rugged. |
Lipu Lekh: Uttarakhand-Tibet | It is located in Uttarakhand. It connects Uttarakhand with Tibet. This pass is an important border post for trade with China. The pilgrims for Manasarovar travel through this pass. |
Mana Pass: Uttarakhand-Tibet | It is located in the Greater Himalayas and connects Tibet with Uttarakhand. It remains under snow for six months during winter. |
Mangsha Dhura Pass: Uttarakhand-Tibet | The pass which connects Uttarakhand-Tibet is known for landslides. The pilgrims for Manasarovar cross this route. It’s located in the Kuthi Valley. |
Muling La: Uttarakhand-Tibet | It is situated in the north of Gangotri, at an elevation of 5669 m in the Great Himalayas. This seasonal pass that connects Uttarakhand with Tibet remains snow-covered during the winter season. |
Niti Pass | This pass joins Uttarakhand with Tibet. This also remains snow-covered during the winter season. |
Debsa Pass: Spiti Valley and Parvati Valley | It joins Spiti Valley and Parvati Valley. It is a high mountain pass in between the Kullu and Spiti of Himachal Pradesh. It is a bypass route of Pin-Parvati Pass. |
Rohtang Pass: Kullu-Lahul-Spiti | This is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It has excellent road transportation. This pass connects Kullu, Spiti and Lahul. |
List of Mountain Passes in Northeastern States
Name of the Pass | Description |
Bomdi-La: Arunachal Pradesh – Lhasa | The Bomdi-La pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. It is located in the east of Bhutan. |
Dihang pass: Arunachal Pradesh- Mandalay | It is located in the Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh. This pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar (Mandalay). At an elevation of more than 4000 m, it provides passage. |
Diphu pass: Arunachal Pradesh- Mandalay |
|
Pangsau Pass |
|
List of Mountain Passes in Kashmir
Name of the Pass | Description |
Banihal Pass (Jawahar Tunnel):Banihal with Qazigund | Banihal pass is a popular pass in Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in the Pir- Panjal Range. It connects Banihal with Qazigund. |
Zoji La: Srinagar- Kargil & Leh | It connects Srinagar with Kargil and Leh. Beacon Force of Border Road Organization is responsible for clearing and maintaining the road, especially during the winter. |
Burzail pass: Srinagar- Kishan Ganga Valley | This pass joins the Astore Valley of Kashmir with the Deosai Plains of Ladakh. |
Pensi La | The Pensi La connects the Kashmir valley with Kargil. It is situated in the Greater Himalayas. |
Pir-Panjal Pass | It is a traditional pass from Jammu to Srinagar. This pass was closed after the partition. It provides the shortest roadway access to Kashmir valley from Jammu. |
List of Mountain Passes in Southern India
Name of the Pass | Description |
Shencottah Gap: Madurai-Kottayam |
|
Bhor Ghat |
|
Thal Ghat | Thal Ghat (also called Thul Ghat or Kasara Ghat) is a ghat section (mountain incline or slope) in the Western Ghats near the town of Kasara in Maharashtra. The Thal Ghat is located on the busy Mumbai–Nashik route, and is one of the four major routes, rail, and road routes, leading into Mumbai. The railway line, which passes through the ghat is the steepest in India with a gradient of 1 in 37 |
Pal Ghat | The Palakkad Gap is located in the Western Ghats between the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. India at an elevation of about 140 m. The mountain pass is located between Nilgiri Hills in the north and Anaimalai Hills towards the south and connects Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu with Palakkad in Kerala. The mountain pass was an important instrument for human migration across India’s southern tip throughout settled history. |
Download Mountain Passes in India Notes PDF in Hindi
Download Mountain Passes in India Notes PDF in English
By Team Learning Mantras