Pass can be termed as narrow gap between two mountain peaks that provides a passageway across the mountain range. It is a gateway to connect different parts of the country and also with neighbouring countries for different purposes. A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Passes have played a key role in trade, war with neighbouring countries.
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 of the passes remain closed in winter (Nov – Apr) due to heavy snow fall.
List of Passes in India:
| SL NO | NAME OF PASS | CONNECTS/LOCATION | INFORMATION |
| 1 | Mintaka Pass | Kashmir and China | Located in Karakoram range near tri junction of India-China and Afghanistan border |
| 2 | Parpik Pass | Kashmir and China | East of Mintaka pass on the Indo-China border |
| 3 | Khunjerab Pass | Kashmir and China | Located east of parpik pass(Indo-China border) |
| 4 | Aghil Pass | Ladakh region of India with the Xinjiang (Sinkiang) Province of China | It is situated to the North of Mount Godwin-Austen(K2) in the Karakoram. It remains closed during the winter season from November to May. |
| 5 | Banihal Pass | Jammu and Srinagar
|
Banihal pass is a popular pass in Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in the Pir- Panjal Range. The road from Jammu to Srinagar transversed Banihal Pass until 1956 when Jawahar Tunnel was constructed under the pass. |
| 6 | Umling La | Ladakh | World highest motorable road. |
| 7 | Chang-La | Ladakh with Tibet
(Indo-China Border) |
It is a high mountain pass in the Greater Himalayas.
|
| 8 | Khardung La | Leh & Nubra valley in Ladakh,J&K | It connects Leh and Siachen glaciers. This pass remains closed during the winter.
|
| 9 | Lanak La | Ladakh & Tibet
India and China (Akasai-Chin area of Jammu and Kashmir) |
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.
|
| 10 | Qara Tag La/Qara Tagh Pass | Indo-China border across the Karakoram Range | It is located in the Karakoram Mountains. It was a subsidiary of the ancient silk route. |
| 11 | Imis La | Ladakh region of India and Tibet in China
|
The pass has a difficult geographical terrain and steep slopes. |
| 12 | Pensi La | The Pensi La connects the Kashmir valley with Kargil. | It is situated in the Greater Himalayas.It is known as Gateway of Zanskar. |
| 13 | Zoji La |
Ladakh and Kashmir valley.
|
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.
|
| 14 | Thang La / Taglang La | Jammu Kashmir( Ladakh). | It is located in Zaskar range of Ladakh.It is traversed by the Leh-Manali Highway |
| 15 | Burzail pass | Kashmir-Ladakh | This pass joins the Astore Valley of Kashmir with the Deosai Plains of Ladakh. |
| 16 | Fotu La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | This pass located on the Srinagar-Leh highway in the Zaskar range of the Himalayas. |
| 17 | Kongka Pass | Ladakh & Aksai Chin | This pass is located in the disputed India-China border in Ladakh. The Chinese held northeastern part is known as Aksai Chin. |
| 18 | Karakoram Pass | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | Ladakh & Xinjiang |
| 19 | Marsimik La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | This pass is located in the Chang chenmo range of Ladakh |
| 20 | Namika La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | This pass is located along Srrinagar-Leh Highway. |
| 21 | Rezang La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | This pass is located on disputed border between India and China |
| 22 | Sasser la | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | This pass located in eastern ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir.Nubra & Siachen Glacier |
| 23 | Sia La | Jammu and Kashmir (Siachen Glacier) | This pass is situated on saltoro ridge. |
| 24 | Spanggur Gap | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | This pass is located between disputed border of india and china |
| 25 | Gyong La | Jammu and Kashmir (Siachen Glacier) | |
| 26 | Bilafond La/Saltoro | Jammu and Kashmir (Siachen Glacier) | This pass is on the ancient silk route linking India and China |
| 27 | Pir-Panjal pass | Kullu valley with the Lahaul and spiti valleys of Himachal Pradesh | provides the shortest and the easiest metal road between Jammu and Kashmir Valley. But this route had to be closed down as a result of partition of the subcontinent |
| 28 | Bara Lacha La | connecting Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Leh district in Ladakh,
|
Bara-lacha la also known as
Bara-lacha Pass, is a high mountain pass in the Zanskar range, situated along the Leh–Manali Highway.
|
| 29 | Debsa Pass | Spiti Valley and Parvati Valley. of Himachal Pradesh | It is a high mountain pass in between the Kullu and Spiti of Himachal Pradesh. It offers a much easier and shorter alternative route to traditional Pin-Parbati Pass route between Kullu and Spiti
|
| 30 | Rohtang Pass | It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India.
|
It is a high mountain pass on the eastern end of the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km from Manali
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. |
| 31 | Shipki La | Himachal Pradesh and Tibet (China)
|
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.
|
| 32 | Chanshal Pass | Himachal Pradesh | Links Dodra Kwar and Rohru in shimla |
| 33 | Indrahar Pass | Border between Kangra and Chamba of Himachal Pradesh | This pass is located in the Dhauladhar range of Himalayas. |
| 34 | Kunzum Pass | Himachal Pradesh (Lahaul and Spiti) | Lahaul & Spiti |
| 35 | Lungalacha La | Himachal Pradesh &Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) | This pass is located along the Leh-Manali Highway |
| 36 | Lamkhaga Pass | Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand | This pass is the toughest pass connects Kinnaur of Himachal Pradesh with Harshil in uttarakhand (Garhwal Himalayas) |
| 37 | Shingo La/Shinku La | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) and Himachal Pradesh | |
| 38 | Traill’s Pass | It connects the Pindari valley to Milam valley. | 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. |
| 39 | Lipu Lekh | Tri junction of Uttarakhand (India), Tibet (China) and Nepal borders | This pass is used by pilgrims to Kailash-Mansarowar. |
| 40 | Mana/Dungri Pass | Tibet with Uttarakhand. | It is located in the Greater Himalayas Situated a little north of the holy place of Badhrinath
The pass is one of the highest vehicle-accessible passes in the world. Mana Pass is the last point between India and China Border.
|
| 41 | Mangsha Dhura | Uttarakhand-Tibet | Mangsha Dhura is located in the Kuthi Valley and it is known for landslides
It is used by pilgrims going to Kailash-Mansarovar |
| 42 | Niti Pass | Uttarakhand with Tibet | The pass is located in Uttarakhand. |
| 43 | Muling La | Uttarakhand and Tibet
|
Situated in the north of Gangotri in the Great Himalayas |
| 44 | Auden’s Col | Uttarakhand | This pass connects Rudugaira valley and Bhilangna valley and lso connects peaks of Gangotri III and Jogin I (Garhwal Himalayas) |
| 45 | Dhumdhar Kandi Pass | Uttarakhand | |
| 46 | Mayali Pass | Uttarakhand | |
| 47 | Nama Pass | Uttarakhand | This pass links Kuthi and Darma valley as crosses nama and kuthi villages. |
| 48 | Sin La | Uttarakhand | The pass connects Bidang in Darma valley to Jolingkong lake in Kuthi Yankti valley |
| 49 | Nathu La | Sikkim with Tibet (India-China Border) | 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 an important trade route between India and China
|
| 50 | Jelep La | Sikkim and Lhasa
|
This pass lies at Sikkim-Bhutan border And passes through the Chumbi valley. It connects Sikkim with Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. |
| 51 | Dongkhala | Sikkim with Tibet | |
| 52 | Goecha La | Sikkim | |
| 53 | Bom Di La | Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa,
|
This pass lies at Arunachal Pradesh with Bhutan border
Situated near the western boundary of Arunachal Pradesh in the Greater Himalayas, this pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa |
| 54 | Dihang Pass | Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. | It is located in the Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh. This pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar (Mandalay). |
| 55 | Yonggyap Pass | Arunachal Pradesh with Tibet (Indo-China Border) | |
| 56 | Dipher Pass | Tri junction of India, China and Myanmar
|
Dipher Pass is a mountain pass around the area of the disputed tri point borders of India, China, and Myanmar. Dipher Pass is also a strategic approach to eastern Arunachal Pradesh. It lies on the McMahon Line.
easy access between Arunachal Pradesh and Mandalay in Myanmar. It is an important land trade route between India and Myanmar and remains open throughout the year. |
| 57 | Kumjawng Pass | Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar | |
| 58 | Hpungan Pass | Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar | |
| 60 | Chankan Pass | Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar | |
| 61 | Pangsau Pass | Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar.
|
It is located in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. This pass connects Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar.
Pangsau Pass or Pan Saung Pass lies on the crest of the Patkai Hills on the India-Burma (Myanmar) border. The pass offers one of the easiest routes into Burma from the Assam plains. |
| 62 | Sela Pass | Arunachal Pradesh | This pass located on the border between Tawang and West kameng of Arunachalpradesh |
| 63 | Thamarassery Pass | Wayanad Kerala | Malabar & Mysore |
| 64 | Shencottah Gap: | Madurai (Tamilnadu)-Kottayam(Kerala) | It is located in the Western Ghats. It joins the Madurai city in Tamil Nadu with the Kottayam district in Kerala.
The second-largest gap in the Western Ghats . |
| 65 | Bhor Ghat | Maharashtra
|
Bhor Ghat or Bor Ghat or Bhore Ghaut is a mountain passage located between Palasdari and Khandala for railway and between Khopoliand Khandala on the road route in Maharashtra, India situated on the crest of the Western Ghats.
|
| 66 | Thal Ghat | Maharashtra
|
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. |
| 67 | Pal Ghat | Tamil Nadu and Kerala | The Palakkad Gap is located in the Western Ghats between the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.. 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. Connects Chennai to Cochin via Rail |
| 68 | Asirgarh | Madhyapradesh | This pass is located in satpura range of Madhya Pradesh and it connects Narmada and Tapti valleys. It is known as key to the deccan. |
For Download: List of Mountain Passes
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