List of Important Passes in India 2025 - Summary
If you want to learn about the important mountain passes in India in 2025, you can download a special PDF guide. This guide is perfect for students and anyone who wants to know how different parts of India are connected through these mountain roads. Just click the link at the end of the page to get it!
Imagine a mountain pass like a shortcut over a tall mountain. It’s the highest point on the road that helps people go from one side of the mountain to the other more easily. These mountain passes have been used for many years to move goods, help soldiers during wars, and let people travel to new places. Mountain passes are also called other names like notches, gaps, saddles, cols, and more.
Main Mountain Passes and Their Details
Some of the most well-known mountain passes in India include Zoji La, Banihal Pass, Shipki La, Bara-Lacha Pass, Rohtang Pass, Mana Pass, Niti Pass, Nathu La, and Jalap La. Each of these has its own story and importance.
Passes in Sikkim: Connecting India and Tibet
| Name of the Pass | Description |
|---|---|
| Nathu La Pass | This pass is in Sikkim, right on the India-China border. It was reopened in 2006 and is part of the old silk route. It’s a place where India and China trade goods. |
| Jelep La Pass | This pass goes through the Chumbi valley and links Sikkim with Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. |
Passes in Himachal Pradesh: Gateways to the Himalayas
| Shipki La Pass | Located near the Sutlej River gorge, this pass connects Himachal Pradesh with Tibet. It is one of the main trading points between India and China. |
| Bara-La / Bara-Lacha La | This pass is on the National Highway in Himachal Pradesh and connects the towns of Manali and Leh. |
| Rohtang Pass | Found in Himachal Pradesh, this pass is popular but can be tricky to cross, especially in winter. It connects Manali to the Lahaul and Spiti valleys. |
Mountain Passes in Leh & Ladakh: High Altitude Routes
| Mountain Passes in Leh & Ladakh | |
|---|---|
| Umling La | This is the highest motorable pass in India. It connects Leh to the beautiful Pangong Lake and was opened in 2021. |
| Khardung La | Once thought to be the highest, it is still a very high motorable pass connecting Leh and the important Siachen glaciers. It is closed during the cold winter months. |
| Thang La / Taglang La | This high mountain pass is in Ladakh and is also among the highest motorable passes in the country. |
| Aghil Pass | Located north of Mount Godwin-Austen in the Karakoram range, this pass connects Ladakh with the Xinjiang area of China. It closes from November to May due to snow. |
| Chang-La | This very high mountain pass in the Greater Himalayas links Ladakh with Tibet. |
| Lanak La | Located in the Aksai Chin part of Ladakh, this pass connects Ladakh and Lhasa. China has built a road here to link Xinjiang and Tibet. |
| Imis La | This pass has challenging and steep paths. It is closed during winter and connects Ladakh and Tibet. |
More Important Mountain Passes Across India
Here is a table with more important mountain passes in India, showing their location, height, and what they connect or separate:
| Name | State | Height (ft) | 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 |
You can find a full list of important mountain passes in India and download the PDF by using the link below for easy reference in 2025.
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