Important Mountain Passes
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 macross the Pir-Panjal Rangeremains snow covered during winter season The road from Jammu to Srinagar transversed Banihal Pass until 1956 when Jawahar Tunnel was 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 | This has a temple dedicated to Chang-La Baba after whom the temple has been named |
| Khardung La | near Leh in the Ladakh range | The world’s highest motorable road passes through this pass. |
| Lanak La | India and China (Akasai-Chin area of Jammu and Kashmir) | This pass provides passage between Ladakh and Lhasa. A road to connect Xinjiang Province with Tibet has been constructed by the Chinese |
| Pir-Panjal pass | across the Pir Panjal range | It 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 6000m. |
| 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 |
| Burzail pass | Srinagar- Kishan Ganga Valley | This pass joins the Astore Valley of Kashmir with the Deosai Plains of Ladakh. |
| 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 as the National 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 mNational 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 levelIt 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 mBorder 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 mRemains 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 Pass | 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 |
| Traill’s Pass | Pindari valley to Milam valley. | It is situated at the end of the Pindari glacier. This pass is very steep and rugged. |
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 Arunachal Pradesh 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 in between Arunachal Pradesh. |
| Yonggyap Pass | Arunachal Pradesh with Tibet | Yonggyap pass lies at an altitude of 3962 meters on Indo-China border and joins Arunachal Pradesh with Tibet region. |
| Diphu 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. Diphu Pass is also a strategic approach to eastern Arunachal Pradesh. It lies on the McMahon Line. |
| Kumjawng Pass | Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar | Kumjawng Pass also lies on Indo-Myanmar border at an altitude of 2929 and joins Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar. |
| Pangsan Pass | Arunachal Pradesh with 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. |
| Chankan Pass | Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar | Chankan Pass also lies on the Indo-Myanmar border at an elevation of 2432 meters and joins Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar. |
Kerala
| Shencottah Gap | Madurai- Kottayam | It is located in the Western Ghats. It joins the Madurai city in Tamil Nadu with Kottayam district in Kerala.The second largest gap in Western Ghats which is situated five kilometres from town is known by its name that is Shencottah Gap road rail lines pass through this gap which connect Shencottah with Punalur. |
| Pal Ghat | The Palakkad Gap is located in the Western Ghats between the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. India at an elevation of about 140 m. The mountain pass is located between Nilgiri Hills in the north and Anaimalai Hills towards the south and connects Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu with Palakkad in Kerala. The mountain pass was an important instrument for human migration across India’s southern tip throughout settled history. |
Maharashtra
| Bhor Ghat | Bhor Ghat or Bor Ghat or Bhore Ghaut is a mountain passage located between Palasdari and Khandala for railway and between Khopoliand Khandala on the road route in Maharashtra, India situated on the crest of the western Ghats. It is located at an elevation of four hundred and forty- one meters’ elevation above sea level. The ghat has a bit of historical evidence. The ghat was the ancient route developed by Satavahana to connect the ports of Choul, Revdanda Panvel etc. on the Konkan coast and the surrounding areas on the Deccan plateau. Today the ghat plays a massive part of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway laid from Mumbai to Pune. |
| Thal Ghat | Thal Ghat (also called Thul Ghat or Kasara Ghat) is a ghat section (mountain incline or slope) in the Western Ghats near the town of Kasara in Maharashtra. The Thal Ghat is located on the busy Mumbai–Nashik route, and is one of the four major routes, rail and road routes, leading into Mumbai. The railway line, which passes through the ghat is the steepest in India with a gradient of 1 in 37 |
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