The APSC Blog

Name of Pass	State/Place	Details
Bomdila	Arunachal Pradesh	Bomdila is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.608m (8,556 ft) above the sea level, located in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India. The road over the pass is mostly paved. It’s called Road 229 between Tenga and Dirang on the way to Tawang. It’s an uneven climb with steep ramps.
Sela Pass	Arunachal Pradesh	The Sela Pass is a high-altitude mountain pass located on the border between the Tawang and West Kameng Districts of Arunachal Pradesh state in India. It has an elevation of 4170 m and connects the town of Tawang to Dirang and Guwahati.
Bara-lacha la	Himachal Pradesh	Bara-lacha la also known as Bara-lacha Pass, or Bārā Lācha La, is a high mountain pass in Zanskar range, connecting Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, situated along the Leh–Manali Highway.
Chanshal Pass	Himachal Pradesh	The Chanshal Pass, or Chanshal Valley, links Dodra Kwar and Rohru in the Shimla district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The pass sits atop Chanshal Peak, which at 4,520 metres is the highest peak in the Shimla district.
Debsa Pass	Himachal Pradesh	Debsa Pass is a 5,360-metre-high mountain pass in the Himalaya mountains between the Kullu and Spiti Districts of Himachal Pradesh, India. Joydeep Sircar led the teams that explored the watershed ridge and discovered the pass after approaching through the Parbati River valley in Kullu.
Indrahar Pass	Himachal Pradesh	Indrahar Pass is a mountain pass in the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas. Located at 32°17.852′N 76°22.872′E and an altitude of 4,342 metres above mean sea level, near the tourist town of Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, Indrahar pass forms the border between Kangra and Chamba districts.
Lamkhaga Pass	Himachal Pradesh	The Lamkhaga Pass is one of the toughest pass which connects Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh with Harshil in Uttarakhand. The Lamkhaga Pass trek starts from Chitkul the last Village of sangla valley in Himachal, though it can be done from Harshil side also.
Rohtang Pass	Himachal Pradesh	Rohtang Pass, is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km from Manali. It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India.
Shipki La	Himachal Pradesh	Shipki La is a mountain pass and border post with a dozen buildings of significant size on the India-China border. The river Sutlej, which is called Langqên Zangbo in Tibet, enters India near this pass. The road is an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road.
Kunzum Pass	Himachal Pradesh	Kunzum Pass from Manali. It connects the Kullu Valley and Lahaul Valley with the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is on the route to Kaza the sub divisional headquarters of Spiti. There is also a 15 km trek to the Moon Lake of the Chandratal from the Kunzum Pass.
Banihal Pass	Jammu and Kashmir	Banihal Pass is a mountain pass across the Pir Panjal Range at 2,832 m maximum elevation. This mountain range connects the Kashmir Valley in the Indian state Jammu and Kashmir to the outer Himalaya and plains to the south. In the Kashmiri language, “Banihāl” means blizzard.
Zojila Pass	Jammu and Kashmir	Zoji La is a high mountain pass in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, located on National Highway-1 between Srinagar and Leh in the western section of the Himalayan mountain range. It separates Kashmir Valley to its west from Dras Valley to its northeast.
Changla Pass	Jammu and Kashmir	The Chang La is a high mountain pass in Ladakh, India. It is claimed to be the second highest motorable road in the world. Chang La is approached from Leh via Kharu and Sekti village by an asphalt road. The climb is very steep and requires a careful drive.
Dehra Compass	Jammu and Kashmir	Dehra Compass, also known as Kompas La, is a mountain pass in Aksai Chin, under Chinese control, and claimed by India. ‘Dehra’ is derived from the Punjabi and Seraiki language word ‘dera’, meaning camp, while ‘Compass’ comes from the name of a survey officer, Kompas-Walla.
Fotu La	Jammu and Kashmir	Fotu La or Fatu La is a mountain pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway in the Himalayas zaskar Range in India. At an elevation of 4,108 metres, it is the highest point on the highway, surpassing the famed Zoji La. Fotu La is one of two high mountain passes between Leh and Kargil, the other being Namika La.
Khardung La	Jammu and Kashmir	Khardung La is a mountain pass in the Ladakh region of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The local pronunciation is “Khardong La” or “Khardzong La” but, as with most names in Ladakh, the romanised spelling varies. The pass on the Ladakh Range is north of Leh and is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys.
Kongka Pass	Jammu and Kashmir	The Kongka Pass or Kongka La, elevation 5,171 m, is a high mountain pass of the Chang-Chemno Range on the Line of Actual Control. China considers the Kongka Pass as its boundary with India, whereas India regards Lanak Pass further east as the boundary.
Lanak Pass	Jammu and Kashmir	The Lanak La or Lanak Pass is a mountain pass in Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is on the southeastern boundary of the Aksai Chin region that is controlled by China. India regards Lanak La as its boundary with China, while China considers the Kongka Pass further west as the boundary.
Karakoram Pass	Jammu and Kashmir	The Karakoram Pass is a 5,540 m or 18,176 ft mountain pass between India and China in the Karakoram Range. It is the highest pass on the ancient caravan route between Leh in Ladakh and Yarkand in the Tarim Basin. ‘Karakoram’ literally means ‘Black Gravel’ in Turkic.
Lungalacha La	Jammu and Kashmir	Lachulung La, or Lāchālūng La or Lungalacha La, is a mountain pass along the Leh–Manali Highway. It is located some 54 km from Sarchu and 24 km from Pang on the Leh–Manali Highway. This is one of the easier 16,000 ft passes and it can be traversed cross-country by moving along the nala on both sides.
Marsimik La	Jammu and Kashmir	Marsimik La or Marsimek La, elevation 5,582 metres is a high mountain pass in the Chang-Chemno Range in northern India 96 km east of Leh, though much more by road.
Namika La	Jammu and Kashmir	Namika La or Namika Pass, Pillar of the Sky Pass, is a high mountain pass in the Himalayas Zaskar Range in India along the Srinagar-Leh highway at 34°22′N 76°35′E. Namika La is one of two high passes between Kargil and Leh, the other is the even higher Fotu La Pass.
Pensi La	Jammu and Kashmir	Pensi-la is a mountain pass in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, which is known as the Gateway to Zanskar. Pensi La is 4,400 m above sea level and connects the Suru Valley region to the Zanskar Valley region.
Rezang La	Jammu and Kashmir	Rezang La is a mountain pass on the south-eastern approach to Chushul Valley in Ladakh, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. It is 3,000 yards long and 2,000 yards wide, with an average height of 16,000 feet. La means a mountain pass in Tibetan language.
Sasser La	Jammu and Kashmir	Saser Pass, Saser La, or Sasser Pass is a high mountain pass in Ladakh and India on the ancient summer caravan route from Leh in Ladakh to Yarkand in the Tarim Basin. It leads from the head of the Nubra Valley into the upper Shyok valley, on the way to the even higher, but easier, Karakoram Pass.
Shingo La	Jammu and Kashmir	Shingo-la is a mountain pass in India, on the border between Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. There is a shallow lake or pool 20m below the pass. The pass is on a long-distance footpath linking Zanskar and Lahaul, used often by locals and trekkers alike.
Spangur Gap	Jammu and Kashmir	The Spanggur Gap is a mountain pass on the Line of Actual Control between China and India. It is a gap in the mountains to the south of the Pangong Lake. To the east of the gap is the Spanggur Lake. During the war of 1962 there were Indian posts in Spanggur Gap, but India later withdrew from here in order to bolster defences of the nearby Indian village of Chushul
Tanglang La	Jammu and Kashmir	Tanglang La, elevation 5,328 metres, is a high mountain pass in Ladakh region of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. As of August 2014, the Leh-Manali highway leading south from Upshi to Tanglang La is paved, with the exception of a very short unpaved section just north of the pass. The pass itself is paved.
Sia La	Jammu and Kashmir	Sia La is a mountain pass situated on Saltoro Ridge, some 60 km north-northwest of map point NJ9842 which defined the end of the 1972 Line of Control between India and Pakistan as part of the Simla Agreement.
Gyong La	Jammu and Kashmir	Gyong La is a mountain pass situated on Saltoro Ridge southwest of the vast Siachen Glacier, some 20 km directly north of map point NJ9842 which defined the end of the 1972 Line of Control between India and Pakistan.
Bilafond La	Jammu and Kashmir	Bilafond La (meaning “Pass of the Butterflies” in Balti language, also known as the Saltoro Pass, is a mountain pass situated on Saltoro Ridge, sitting immediately west of the vast Siachen Glacier, some 40 km (25 mi) directly north of map point NJ 980420 which defined the end of the 1972 Line of Control between Pakistan and India as part of the Simla Agreement. Bilafond La (Pass of the Butterflies) is on the ancient Silk Route linking undivided India and China.
Palakkad Gap	Kerela	Palakkad Gap or Palghat Gap is a low mountain pass in the Western Ghats between Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Palakkad in Kerala. It has an average elevation of 140 metres with a width of 24–30 kilometres. The pass is located between the Nilgiri Hills to the north and Anaimalai Hills to the south.
Shenkottai Pass	Kerela	–
Asirgarh	Madhya Pradesh	Asirgarh Pass is located in the Satpura Range in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India at an elevation of about 260 m. The Asirgarh Pass connects the Narmada and Tapti Valleys and is also known as the ‘Key to the Deccan’ for being among the most important routes from northern India to the Deccan. Asirgarh Fort overlooks the mountain pass and during the Mughal era, Hindustan would be the land from Delhi to Asirgarh and the land beyond would be the Deccan.
Haldighati Pass	Rajasthan	Haldighati is a mountain pass in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan in western India which connects Rajsamand and Pali districts. The pass is located at a distance of 40 kilometres from Udaipur. The name ‘Haldighati’ is believed to have originated from the turmeric-coloured yellow soil of the area.
Dongkha La	Sikkim	The Dongkha la or Donkia Pass is a high mountain pass in the Himalaya connecting Sikkim in India with Tibet. Located in North Sikkim, the pass offers a view of the Tibetan Plateau. The nearby Tso Lhamo Lake 6.5 km is long and 2.5 km wide. and is the source of the Teesta River.
Goecha La	Sikkim	Goecha La is a high mountain pass in Sikkim, India in the Himalaya range. The southeast face of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain, can be viewed from the pass, which is also a base camp for those aspiring to scale the mountain.
Jelep La	Sikkim	Jelep La or Jelep Pass, elevation 4,267 m or 13,999 ft, is a high mountain pass between East Sikkim District, Sikkim, India and Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is on a route that connects Lhasa to India.
Nathu La	Sikkim	Nathu La is a mountain pass in the Himalayas in East Sikkim district. It connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. The pass, at 4,310 m above mean sea level, forms a part of an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road. Nathu means “listening ears” and La means “pass” in Tibetan.
Auden’s Col	Uttarakhand	Auden’s Col is a high altitude mountain pass connecting Rudugaira valley and Bhilangna valley. It is situated at 5,490 metres (18,010 ft) elevation and connects the ridge coming from Gangotri III (6580 m) peak on the north-west and the ridge coming from Jogin I (6465 m) on the east, and also binds a glacier coming from Jogin I on the north side of Rudugaira valley, and deadly Khatling glacier on the south side of Bhilangna valley.
Dhumdhar Kandi Pass	Uttarakhand	The pass connects Bhagirathi and Tons Valleys. In ancient times it is believed that local villagers, traders and even invaders have used this pass as a shortcut to get into the remote Tons Valley. It is one of the unique treks where the glaciers on either side of the pass feed two different big rivers, the Bhagirathi and the Yamuna.
Lipulekh Pass	Uttarakhand	Lipulekh is a Himalayan pass on the border between Uttarakhand, India and Tibet, China. The southern side of the pass is controlled by India but claimed by Nepal. It is near their tripoint with Chinese trading town of Taklakot in Tibet.
Mayali Pass	Uttarakhand	Mayali Pass is an offbeat trek which crosses from the Bhagirathi valley to Mandakini valley.
Nama Pass	Uttarakhand	Nama Pass is a Himalayan mountain pass located in eastern Kumaun region of the Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand, India. It links Kuthi and Darma Valley as crosses Nama and Kuthi villages. This was once a busy trade route to Tibet, but is now rarely used.
Sin La	Uttarakhand	Sin La is a high Himalayan mountain pass located in the eastern Kumaun in Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand state in India. This pass connects Bidang in Darma Valley to Jolingkong Lake in the Kuthi Yankti valley.
Traill’s Pass	Uttarakhand	Pindari Kanda Traill’s Pass is a mountain pass through the Himalayas located between Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot peaks in the Uttarakhand state in the districts of Pithoragarh and Bageshwar in India.
Thamarassery Pass	Kerela	The 14 km long Thamarassery Churam (Mountain Pass) is the synapse that connects the mystical realms of Wayanad to Kozhikode. It is a passage straight out of legends, resplendent with steep turns and bends, along with some of the most picturesque visuals in all of God’s Own Country.