Motorable Passes in Ladakh

TravelStories
Jul 23, 2017 · 2 min read

Ladakh is located in Kashmir in Northern India. This cool and dry region is home to a number of beautiful glaciers, fascinating mountains, religious monasteries, and mountains passes at a huge elevation. These passes have seen many automobile and mountain bike expeditions that contribute a lot towards Ladakh tourism. Here are some passes you should keep in mind while selecting your Ladakh tour packages.

Khardung La Pass

Khardung la Pass is pronounced as “Khardong La” and “Khardzong La” by the locals. The pass is the gateway to the Nubra and Shyok Valleys and is north of Leh. The pass was built in 1976 and opened to motorists in 1988. It is maintained by the Border Roads Organization as it is used to transport supplies to the Siachen Glacier. While the local summit signs claim that this pass is the highest motorable pass in the world, multiple modern measurements dispute this, recording the height as 5,359 meters.

Zojila Pass

The Zojila Pass is known as the Himalayan Gateway to Ladakh. It connects Leh and Srinagar by road. The pass is located at a height of 3,505 meters with the picturesque Drass Valley at its base. Heavy snowfall at Zojila Pass during the winters renders the road connecting Leh to Srinagar closed. This road opens in late May or early June and closes by mid-October. If you are coming to Ladakh from Srinagar, then your Ladakh tour packages will surely include this pass.

Taklang-La Pass

While there are a number of passes between Manali and Leh, the Taklang-La Pass is the highest among them. It has an altitude of 5,235 meters. If you are coming to Ladakh from Manali, then your Ladakh packages will surely include this pass.

Pensi-La Pass

The Pensi-La Pass is located at a height of around 4,401 meters. It is known as the gateway to the Zanskar Valley as it connects this region to the Suru Valley. The view from the pass is breathtaking. You can see the Drang-Drung, which is the largest glacier in Ladakh situated outside the Siachen formation. This is a good spot to visit while on your Ladakh trip. The pass is 25 kms from the Rangdum Monastery.

Apart from the above, there are a number of other places to visit in Ladakh. Before you set out on your trip, you may also ask for an itinerary of the different things to do in Ladakh.

TravelStories
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