Major Passes of the Himalayas

• Most of the passes remain closed in winter (Nov – Apr) due to heavy snow fall.

Passes of the Western Himalayas
Jammu and Kashmir
NAME	SIGNIFICANCE (CONNECTS)	COMMENTS
Mintaka Pass	Kashmir and China	Trijunction of India-China and Afghanistan border
Parpik Pass	Kashmir and China	East of Mintaka pass on the Indo-China border
Khunjerab Pass	Kashmir and China	Indo-China border
Aghil Pass	Ladakh region of India with the Xinjiang (Sinkiang) Province of China	5000 m above sea level. north of K2 Peak (the highest peak in India and the second highest peak in the world)
Banihal Pass	Jammu and Srinigar	2832 m  across the Pir-Panjal Range remains snow covered during winter season
	The road from Jammu to Srinagar transversed Banihal Pass until 1956 when Jawahar Tunnelwas constructed under the pass. The road now passes through the tunnel and the Banihal Pass is no longer used for road transport. Another 11 km long tunnel provides railway link between Banihal and Kazigund. It was thrown open to railway transport in July, 2013
Chang-La	Ladakh with Tibet	altitude of 5360 m This has a temple dedicated to Chang-La Baba after whom the temple has been named
Khardung La	near Leh in the Ladakh range	5602 m The world’s highest motorable road passes through this pass remains closed in winter due to heavy snowfall
Lanak La	India and China (Akasai-Chin area of Jammu and Kashmir)	this pass provides passage between Ladak and Lhasa. A road to connect Xinjiang Province with Tibet has been constructed by the Chinese
Pir-Panjal pass	across the Pir Panjal range	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
Qara Tag La	Indo-China borer across the Karakoram Range	located at an elevation of over six thousand metres
Imis La	Ladakh region of India and Tibet in China
Pensi La	vital link between the Kashmir Valley and Kargil	remains closed to traffic from November to mid-May due to heavy snowfall
Zoji La	important road link between Srinagar on one side and Kargil and Leh on the other side	The road passing through this pass has been designated at theNational Highway (NH-1D) Border Road Organisation (BRO) is responsible for maintaining the road and cleaning it off snow during winter. In spite of all these efforts, the road through this pass remains closed from December to mid-May
Himachal Pradesh
Bara Lacha La	Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir	Elevation: 4,890 m National highway connecting Mandi in Himachal Pradesh with Leh in Jammu and Kashmir passes through this pass. Being situated at high altitude, it remains snow covered in winter and is not used as a transport route.
Debsa Pass	link between Kullu and Spiti districts	elevation of 5270 m above sea level It offers a much easier and shorter alternative route to traditional Pin-Parbati Pass route between Kullu and Spiti
Rohtang Pass	road link between Kullu, Lahul and Spiti Valleys	Elevation: 3979 m Border Road Organisation (BRO) is responsible for constructing and maintaining roads in this area. 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.
Shipki La	Himachal Pradesh and Tibet	Elevation: 6000 m Remains closed in winter season (Nov – Apr)
Uttarakhand
Lipu Lekh	trijunction of Uttarakhand (India), Tibet (China) and Nepal borders	This pass is used by pilgrims to Kailash-Mansarowar.
Mana Pass	Uttarakhand with Tibet	elevation of 5610 Situated a little north of the holy place of Badhrinath Remains closed in winter season (Nov – Apr)
Mangsha Dhura	Uttarakhand with Tibet	It is used by pilgrims going to Kailash-Mansarowar
Niti Pass	Uttarakhand with Tibet	Remains closed in winter season (Nov – Apr)
Muling La	Uttarakhand and Tibet	situated in the north of Gangotri at an elevation of 5669 m in the Great Himalayas
Passes of the Eastern Himalayas
Sikkim
Nathu La	Sikkim with Tibet	altitude of 4310 m it forms part of an offshoot of the ancient Silk Route an important trade route between India and China It was closed after the Chinese aggression on India in 1962 but was reopened in 2006 as the governments of the two countries decided to enhance their trade through land routes
Jelep La	Sikkim-Bhutan border	altitude of 4538 m passes through Chumbi Valley important link between Sikkim and Lhasa
Arunachal Pradesh
Bom Di La	Arunachal Pradesh with Bhutan	altitude of 4331 m Situated at an altitude of 4331 m near the western boundary of Bhutan in the Greater Himalayas, this pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa
Dihang Pass	Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar.	elevation of more than 4000 m it provides passage
Yonggyap Pass	Arunachal Pradesh with Tibet
Dipher Pass	trijunction of India, China and Myanmar	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.
Kumjawng Pass	Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar
Hpungan Pass	Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar
Chankan Pass	Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar