Important Mountain Passes

Here is the list of most important mountain passes! These narrow paths through the mountains have historically served as crucial links for trade, travel, and military campaigns. Each pass tells a story of human endeavor, natural beauty, and sometimes, strategic importance. A pass is a gap, or break, in high, rugged terrain such as a mountain ridge. A Mountain Pass forms when a glacier or stream erodes, or wears away, the land between areas of higher terrain. Passes often provide the easiest routes for people to travel across steep mountain ranges. For this reason, they have played an important role throughout human history in migration, trade, and settlement. Most passes are flat at their summits and have the shape of a saddle. They can consist of very short, steep summits, or expansive valleys that stretch for kilometres. Often, passes sit just above the source of a river fed by precipitation and snowmelt.

Mountain passes of India

Jammu – Kashmir & Ladakh region:

Name	Range	Important Notes
Aghil Pass	Karakoram range
Karakoram Pass	Karakoram range
Burzil Pass	Great Himalayan range	Connects Srinagar to Gilgit and connects India to Central Asia.
Banihal Pass	Pir Panjal range	Connects Jammu and Kashmir valley. Jawahar tunnel and NH44 passes through this.
Zoji La	Zanskar range	NH1 passes through this which connects Srinagar and Leh
Khardung La	Ladakh range	Connects Shyok and Nubra valley
Chang La	Ladakh range

Himachal Pradesh:

Name	Range	Important notes
Baralacha La	Zanskar range	Connects Lahaul-Spiti to Ladakh
Shipki La	Great Himalayas	Satluj river enters in India through this.
Rohtang Pass	Pir Panjal	Connects Manali and LehAtal tunnel is built near Rohtang pass. It connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti. It is the longest highway tunnel in the world according to PIB.

Uttarakhand:

Name	Range	Important notes
Mana La	Great Himalayas	Way to reach Mansarovar and Kailash passes through this. This is situated on the border of India and Tibet.
Niti La	Great Himalayas	Located close to Mana La
Lipulekh	Great Himalayas	Located at the tri junction of India, Tibet and Nepal

Sikkim:

Name	Range	Important notes
Nathu La	Great Himalayas	Provides a way from Gangtok to Chumbi valley. A lot of trade between India and China happens through this pass. It also provides a way for Kailash-Mansarovar.
Jelep La	Great Himalayas

Other Passes in Northeast India:

Name	Place	Important notes
Bomdi La	Arunachal Pradesh	Connects to Tibet
Diphu Pass	Arunachal Pradesh	Located at the tri-junction of India, China and Myanmar.
Lekhapani Pass	Assam
Tuju Pass	Manipur	Connects India to ASEAN