• Mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge
• Passes have played a key role in trade, war, and human/animal migration
• They connect different parts of a country and neighboring countries
• At lower elevations, it may be called a hill pass
• Mountain passes are often found just above the source of a river
• They constitute a drainage divide
• A pass may be short with steep slopes or a long valley
• The highest point may only be identifiable by surveying.

Important Mountain Passes in India

• Zoji La Pass is in the Zaskar range of Jammu & Kashmir and connects Srinagar to Leh
• Banihal Pass is a mountain pass across the Pir Panjal Range and connects Kashmir Valley to the outer Himalayas
• Shipki La Pass is a mountain pass and border post on the India-China border, near the river Sutlej
• Bara-lacha Pass is a high mountain pass in the Zanskar range, connecting Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Leh district in Ladakh
• Rohtang Pass is a high mountain pass on the eastern end of the Pir Panjal Range, connecting Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys.
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• Mana Pass is a high vehicle-accessible pass, constructed by the Indian military, and is the last point between India and China’s border
• Niti Pass is a pass located in Uttarakhand, India, at an elevation of 5800 meters and connects India with Tibet
• Nathu La Pass is a mountain pass in the Himalayas in the East Sikkim district, connecting Sikkim (India) with Tibet Autonomous Region (China)
• Jelep La or Jelep Pass is a high mountain pass between East Sikkim District, India, and Tibet Autonomous Region, China, on a route that connects Lhasa to India.

Mountain Passes in India (state wise) – Location & Significance

Mountain Passes in Leh & Ladakh

Khardung La	It is the highest motorable pass in the country. It connects Leh and Siachen glaciers. This pass remains closed during the winter.
Thang La / Taglang La	It is located in Ladakh. It is the second-highest motorable mountain pass in India.
Aghil Pass	It is situated to the North of Mount Godwin-Austen in the Karakoram. It connects Ladakh with the Xinjiang province of China. It remains closed during the winter season from November to May.
Chang-La	It is a high mountain pass in the Greater Himalayas. It connects Ladakh with Tibet.
Lanak La	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.
Imis La	The pass has a difficult geographical terrain and steep slopes. This pass remains closed during the winter season. It connects Ladakh and Tibet.
Bara-La/ Bara- Lacha La	It is situated on the National Highway in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It connects Manali and Leh.

Mountain Passes in Uttarakhand

Traill’s Pass	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.
Lipu Lekh: Uttarakhand-Tibet	It is located in Uttarakhand. It connects Uttarakhand with Tibet. This pass is an important border post for trade with China. The pilgrims for Manasarovar travel through this pass.
Mana Pass: Uttarakhand-Tibet	It is located in the Greater Himalayas and connects Tibet with Uttarakhand. It remains under snow for six months during winter.
Mangsha Dhura Pass: Uttarakhand-Tibet	The pass which connects Uttarakhand-Tibet is known for landslides. The pilgrims for Manasarovar cross this route. It’s located in the Kuthi Valley.
Muling La: Uttarakhand-Tibet	It is situated in the north of Gangotri, at an elevation of 5669 m in the Great Himalayas. This seasonal pass that connects Uttarakhand with Tibet remains snow-covered during the winter season.
Niti Pass	This pass joins Uttarakhand with Tibet. This also remains snow-covered during the winter season.
Debsa Pass: Spiti Valley and Parvati Valley	It joins Spiti Valley and Parvati Valley. It is a high mountain pass in between the Kullu and Spiti of Himachal Pradesh. It is a bypass route of Pin-Parvati Pass.
Rohtang Pass: Kullu-Lahul-Spiti	This is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It has excellent road transportation. This pass connects Kullu, Spiti and Lahul.

Mountain Passes in the Northeastern States

Nathu La	The Nathu La Pass is located in the Himalayan Range in the state of Sikkim, India at an elevation of 4,310 m. The road passing through Nathu La was once an important auxiliary route making up the ancient Silk Route. It is one of the trading border posts between India and China.
Jelep La	This pass passes through the Chumbi valley. It connects Sikkim with Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
Bomdi-La: Arunachal Pradesh-Lhasa	The Bomdi-La pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. It is located in the east of Bhutan.
Yonggyap Pass	Yonggyap pass lies at an altitude of 3962 meters on the Indo-China border and joins Arunachal Pradesh with the Tibet region.
Dihang pass: Arunachal Pradesh- Mandalay	It is located in the Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh. This pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar (Mandalay). At an elevation of more than 4000 m, it provides passage.
Dihang pass: Arunachal Pradesh- Mandalay	It is located in the Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh. This pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar (Mandalay). At an elevation of more than 4000 m, it provides passage.
Diphu pass: Arunachal Pradesh- Mandalay	Diphu (Dipher) Pass is a mountain pass around the area of the disputed tripoint borders of India, China, and Myanmar. Diphu Pass is also a strategic approach to eastern Arunachal Pradesh. It lies on the McMahon Line. In October 1960 China and Burma demarcated their border to Diphu Pass, which is 5 miles south of the watershed of the mountain ranges. However, this caused a diplomatic row with India, which expected the tri-point to be at the watershed. The dispute has become part of the ongoing border disagreement between China and India regarding Arunachal Pradesh
Kumjawng Pass	Kumjawng Pass also lies on the Indo-Myanmar border at an altitude of 2929 and joins Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar.
Pangsau Pass	It is located in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. This pass connects Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. Pangsau Pass or Pan Saung Pass, 3,727 feet (1,136 m) in altitude, 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. It is named after the closest Burmese village, Pangsau, that lies 2 km beyond the pass to the east.
Chaukan Pass	This pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar.

Mountain Passes in Kashmir

Banihal Pass (Jawahar Tunnel): Banihal with Qazigund	Banihal pass is a popular pass in Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in the Pir- Panjal Range. It connects Banihal with Qazigund.
Zoji La: Srinagar- Kargil & Leh	It connects Srinagar with Kargil and Leh. Beacon Force of Border Road Organization is responsible for clearing and maintaining the road, especially during the winter.
Burzail pass: Srinagar- Kishan Ganga Valley	This pass joins the Astore Valley of Kashmir with the Deosai Plains of Ladakh.
Pensi La	The Pensi La connects the Kashmir valley with Kargil. It is situated in the Greater Himalayas.
Pir-Panjal Pass	It is a traditional pass from Jammu to Srinagar. This pass was closed after the partition. It provides the shortest roadway access to Kashmir valley from Jammu.

Mountain Passes in Deccan Plateau (Central & Southern India)

Shencottah Gap: Madurai-Kottayam	It is located in the Western GhatsIt joins Madurai city in Tamil Nadu with Kottayam district in KeralaThe second-largest gap in the Western Ghats is situated five kilometers from townIt is known as the Shencottah GapRoad-rail lines pass through this gapIt connects Shencottah with Punalur.
Bhor Ghat	Bhor Ghat or Bor Ghat or Bhore Ghaut is a mountain passage in Maharashtra, IndiaIt is located between Palasdari and Khandala for railway and between Khopoliand Khandala on the road routeIt is situated on the crest of the Western Ghats at an elevation of 441 meters above sea levelThe ghat was developed by Satavahana to connect ports on the Konkan coast and the Deccan plateauToday, it plays a major part in the Great Indian Peninsula Railway laid from Mumbai to PuneIt has historical significance.
Thal Ghat	Thal Ghat is a ghat section in the Western GhatsIt is near the town of Kasara in MaharashtraIt is located on the Mumbai-Nashik routeThal Ghat is one of the four major routes leading into MumbaiThe railway line passing through the ghat is the steepest in IndiaIt has a gradient of 1 in 37.
Pal Ghat	The Palakkad Gap is located in the Western Ghats between Tamil Nadu and Kerala in India.It has an elevation of about 140 m.The pass connects Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu with Palakkad in Kerala.The gap is located between the Nilgiri Hills in the north and the Anaimalai Hills in the south.The pass has played a significant role in human migration across India’s southern tip throughout history.
Asirgarh Pass (Madhya Pradesh)	Asirgarh Pass is located in the Satpura Range in Madhya Pradesh, IndiaIt has an elevation of about 260 mThe pass connects the Narmada and Tapti ValleysIt is also known as the ‘Key to the Deccan’Asirgarh Fort overlooks the mountain passIt was an important route from northern India to the DeccanDuring the Mughal era, the land from Delhi to Asirgarh was considered as Hindustan and the land beyond was the Deccan.
Goram Ghat	Goram Ghat is located in the Aravali Range in RajasthanIt connects Mewar and Marwar regions in RajasthanA railway line passes through Goram GhatThe railway line has 2 tunnels and 172 bridgesThe terrain is densely forested with Dhok forestIt is rich in biodiversity, including medicinal plants and various fauna such as sloth bears, leopards, and wild boars.
Haldighati Pass	Haldighati Pass is located in the Aravali Range in Rajasthan, India.The pass is named after the turmeric-colored soil found in the area.It is located about 40 km from Udaipur.The historic ‘Battle of Haldighati’ was fought here in 1576 between Maharana Pratap of Mewar and the Mughals under Emperor Akbar.The Maharana Pratap National Memorial was set up by the Government of India in 1997 on the site, which includes a bronze statue of Maharana Pratap’s horse Chetak.
Jabalpur Gap	Jabalpur (formerly Jubbulpore) is a tier 2 city in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Khandwa Gap	Khandwa is a city and a nagar nigam in the Nimar region of Madhya Pradesh.
Burhanpur Gap	Burhanpur is a district in Madhya Pradesh.The district is bounded by the river Tapti and Satpura range.There is a gap located to the north of the Tapti river and the Satpura range.This gap is known as the Burhanpur gap.
Amba Ghat Pass	It has picturesque mountain-scapes and a pleasant climate. This region is famous for paragliding sport.State: MaharashtraLocation: Sahyadri Mountains of Western Ghats
Chorla Ghat Pass	This region is famous for the rare species of wolf snake (Lycodon striatus).State: Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.Location: Sahyadri mountain range of Western Ghats (On the intersection of the borders of Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra)
Malshej Ghat Pass	This region is famous for wide variety of birds such as quails, rails, crakes, flamingos, and cuckoos.State: Maharashtra, IndiaLocation: Sahyadri Range of Western Ghats (Lofty rugged hills of the Western Ghats)
Naneghat Pass	It is also called as Nanaghat or Nana Ghat. It was a part of an ancient trading route. The name nane means “coin” and ghat means “pass”. The name is given because this path was used as a tollbooth to collect tolls from traders crossing the hills.State: Maharashtra, IndiaLocation: Sahyadri Range of Western GhatsBetween/Separating: It connects Pune district to Junnar City.
Tamhini Ghat	This region is famous for sprawling green Ghats, misty roads, and cascading waterfalls.State: Maharashtra, IndiaLocation: Sahyadri Range of Western GhatsBetween/Separating: It connects the talukas of Mulshi and Tamhini in the Pune district.
Amboli Ghat Pass	This region is for wildlife, dense hilly forests, Hiranyakeshi temple, and a number of waterfalls.State: Maharashtra, IndiaLocation: Sahyadri Range of Western GhatsBetween/Separating: It connects Sawantwadi of Maharashtra to Belgaum of Karnataka.
Kumbharli Ghat Pass	It connects the coastal Ratnagiri district in the Konkan region of Maharashtra with the Satara District in the Desh region.State: Maharashtra, IndiaLocation: Western GhatsBetween/Separating: It connects the coastal Ratnagiri district in the Konkan region of Maharashtra with the Satara District in the Desh region.

Khyber Pass

• The Khyber Pass is a mountain pass in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
• It is located on the border with Afghanistan (Nangarhar Province).
• The pass connects the town of Landi Kotal to the Valley of Peshawar at Jamrud by traversing part of the Spin Ghar mountains.
• It has long had substantial cultural, economic, and geopolitical significance for Eurasian trade.
• It has been an important trade route between Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent throughout history.
• It has been a vital strategic military choke point for various states that came to control it.
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• 

Bolan Pass

• The Bolān Pass is a mountain pass in the Balochistan province of western Pakistan.
• It is located 120 km away from the Afghanistan border.
• The pass stretches for 89 km from Rindli in the south to Darwāza near Kolpur in the north.
• It consists of narrow gorges and stretches in the Bolan river valley.
• The pass is situated southeast of Quetta.
• The archaeological site of Mehrgarh is located near the Bolan Pass.
• The Toba Kakar Mountains, a southern offshoot of the Himalayas, are located in the Balochistan region of Pakistan.

List of Major Mountain Passes in India

Name	State	Height	Between/ Separating
Asirgarh	Madhya Pradesh
Auden’s Col	Uttarakhand	17,552
Banihal Pass	Jammu and Kashmir (Jammu, Kashmir)	9,291	Jammu & Kashmir
Bara-lacha-la	Himachal Pradesh	16,400
Bomdila	Arunachal Pradesh
Changla Pass	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)	17,585	Leh & Changthang
Chanshal Pass	Himachal Pradesh	14,830
Dehra Compass	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)
Debsa Pass	Himachal Pradesh	17,520
Diphu Pass	Arunachal Pradesh	4,587
Dongkhala	Sikkim	12,000
Dhumdhar Kandi Pass	Uttarakhand
Fotu La	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)	13,451
Goecha La	Sikkim	16,207
Haldighati Pass	Rajasthan
Indrahar Pass	Himachal Pradesh	14,473
Jelep La	Sikkim	14,300
Khardung La	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)	17,582	Leh & Nubra
Kongka Pass	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)	16,965	Ladakh & Aksai Chin
Lanak Pass	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)	17,933	Ladakh & Tibet
Kunzum Pass	Himachal Pradesh (Lahaul and Spiti)	14,931	Lahaul & Spiti
Karakoram Pass	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)		Ladakh & Xinjiang
Lipulekh Pass	Uttarakhand	17,500
Lungalacha La	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)	16,600
Lamkhaga Pass	Himachal Pradesh	17,336
Marsimik La	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)	18,314
Mayali Pass	Uttarakhand	16,371
Nama Pass	Uttarakhand	18,399
Namika La	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)	12,139
Nathu La	Sikkim	14,140	Sikkim & Tibet
Palakkad Gap	Kerala	750	Kerala & Tamil Nadu
Thamarassery Pass	Wayanad Kerala	1,700	Malabar & Mysore
Shenkottai pass	Kollam Kerala	690	Travancore & Tamil Nadu
Pensi La	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)
Rezang La	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)
Rohtang Pass	Himachal Pradesh	13,051	Manali & Lahaul
Sasser la	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)	17,753	Nubra & Siachen Glacier
Sela Pass	Arunachal Pradesh	14,000
Shipki La	Himachal Pradesh
Sia La	Jammu and Kashmir (Siachen Glacier)	18,337
Shingo La	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)
Spangur Gap	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)
Gyong La	Jammu and Kashmir (Siachen Glacier)	18,655
Bilafond La	Jammu and Kashmir (Siachen Glacier)	17,881
Sin La	Uttarakhand
Tanglang La	Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh)	17,583
Traill’s Pass	Uttarakhand	17,100
Zojila Pass	Jammu and Kashmir  (Kashmir, Ladakh)	12,400	Kashmir & Ladakh