Mountain passes of India
Gaps in the mountains that carry roads between valleys and across borders; exams ask which pass links which two places.
What the paper can ask
- Khardung La (surveyed at about 5,359 m, though signs claim 5,602 m) links Leh with the Nubra valley; the Karakoram Pass links the Depsang plains with Xinjiang.
- Jelep La, Lipulekh, Mana and Baralacha La (on the Leh-Manali highway) are other Himalayan passes.
- Banihal Pass links Jammu with the Kashmir valley; Bum La, north of Tawang, is the pass to Tibet.
- The Western Ghats have three main gaps: the Goa Gap, the Palghat Gap and the Sengottai Gap.
Why exams ask
Which pass connects which two regions, which state it lies in, and which pass a river enters India through are the usual questions.
The full story
A pass is a low point in a mountain range through which a road or trail crosses. India's Himalayan passes connect neighbouring valleys or lead to Tibet and China. The Western Ghats also have gaps that link the coast to the plateau. Many passes close in winter, which is why tunnels such as the Atal Tunnel have been built. Questions pair a pass with its state and the two regions it joins.
Test yourself
1.Through which pass in Himachal Pradesh does the Sutlej enter India from Tibet?
Correct. The Sutlej flows past Shipki La and enters India in Himachal Pradesh at Khab.
Not quite. The Sutlej flows past Shipki La and enters India in Himachal Pradesh at Khab. It goes into your error book.
2.Zoji La, on National Highway 1, links Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley with which region?
Correct. Zoji La is a Himalayan pass linking the Kashmir Valley with Dras, Suru and the Indus valley of Ladakh.
Not quite. Zoji La is a Himalayan pass linking the Kashmir Valley with Dras, Suru and the Indus valley of Ladakh. It goes into your error book.
3.Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh links the Kullu Valley with which region?
Correct. Rohtang Pass, on the Pir Panjal range, joins the Kullu Valley to Lahaul and Spiti. The Atal Tunnel opened beneath it in 2020.
Not quite. Rohtang Pass, on the Pir Panjal range, joins the Kullu Valley to Lahaul and Spiti. The Atal Tunnel opened beneath it in 2020. It goes into your error book.