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Major Mountain Passes in India & Himalayas

N.K. Chauhan in Geography of India
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Mar 09, 2022 , Updated: Jun 02, 2022 · 4 min read

A mountain pass comprises of a route through a mountain range, the formation of mountain passes might occur during the formation of the mountain or due to the action of glaciers, running water and precipitation in the form of rain or snow.

Ladakh
Name Connectivity Notes
Aghil Pass Ladakh - Xinjiang (China) Karakoram Range
Karakoram Pass Ladakh - Xinjiang (China) Karakoram Highway
Mintaka Pass India, China, Afghanistan tri-junction of the "India, China and Afghanistan"
Khardung La Pass Leh - Nubra Valley gateway to Siachen Glacier, world's 2nd highest motorable road
Chang-La Pass India - Tibet Greater Himalayas Range
Khunjerab Pass Xinjiang (China) - Gilgit–Baltistan (Pakistan) -
Lanak La Pass Ladak - Lhasa
Aksai Chin region of Ladakh
Pensi La Pass Kashmir valley - Kargil Gateway to Zanskar

Jammu & Kashmir
Name Connectivity Notes
Banihal Pass Kashmir Valley - Plains to the south Pir Panjal Range
Zojila Pass Srinagar - Leh Kashmir Valley - Dras and Suru valleys - Indus valley

Himachal Pradesh (W-E)
Name Connectivity Notes
Bara Lacha La Pass Manali (HP) - Leh (Ladakh) -
Rohtang Pass Kullu Valley - Lahaul and Spiti Valleys eastern end of the "Pir Panjal" Range
Debsa Pass Kullu Valley - Spiti Valley, Spiti Valley - Parvati Valley -
Shipki La Pass Himachal Pradesh - China -

Uttrakhand (W-E)
Name Connectivity Notes
Muling La Pass Uttarakhand - Tibet north of "Gangotri"
Mangsha Dhura Pass Uttarakhand - Tibet located in the Kuthi Valley, Uttarakhand, used for Kailash-Mansarowar
Mana Pass Uttarakhand - Tibet Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, 52 km north of "Badrinath"
Niti Pass Uttarakhand - Tibet -
Lipu Lekh Pass Uttarakhand (India) - Tibet (China) - Nepal route to the pilgrimage site Kailash-Mansarowar

Sikkim
Name Connectivity Notes
Goecha La Pass - gateways to "Kanchenjunga"
Dongkha La Pass India - China -
Nathu La Pass India - China nearby "Tsomgo (Changu)" Lake
Jelep La Pass Lhasa - India Menmecho Lake

Arunachal Pradesh
Name Connectivity Notes
Bom Di La Pass Lhasa - Arunachal Pradesh -
Yonggyap Pass Tibet - Arunachal Pradesh -
Diphu Pass India, China, and Myanmar lies on the McMahon Line
Dihang Pass Arunachal Pradesh - Myanmar (Mandalay) -
Kumjawng Pass Arunachal Pradesh - Myanmar (Mandalay) -
Hpungan Pass Arunachal Pradesh - Myanmar (Mandalay) -
Chankan Pass Arunachal Pradesh - Myanmar (Mandalay) -

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