Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets”- these words of Oscar Wilde are true to every adventure seeker’s soul out there. If you don’t want to regret missing the stark beauty of soaring mountains, then you have to take a road trip to high mountain passes in India. India has been ruled by countless dynasties and Indo-European trade has flourished over time. Well, these traders and conquerors are not present anymore, but the mountain passes still see large footfalls on the high altitude in the form of tourists and geographers.
Amid massive footfalls of tourists thronging hill stations, you can escape to these terribly beautiful mountain passes that will take you high up in the sky.
List of Some High Altitude Mountain Passes in India
1. Manirang Pass- ‘Dangerous yet Magnificent’ (21,631 feet)
Manirang pass is speculated to be one of the least explored mountain passes in India. The mighty pass at the foot of the peak Manirang was the earliest trade route to Spiti; it connects Spiti valley with the Ropa valley in Kinnaur. This is a high and extremely challenging pass of the Great Himalayan Range. Due to its long tiring roads and some dangerous turning points, there is hardly any traffic on this route.
2. Dungri La- ‘Dare to Drive’ (18,399 feet)
Dungri La is the highest motorable mountain road in India. At the height of 5601 meters, it connects India to Tibet through the Zanskar mountain range through Uttarakhand and is situated at the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. Kedarnath is just a few kilometers away from Dungri La or also known as Mana pass.
3. Marsimik La- ‘A Prelude to the Real Deal’ (18,314 feet)
Marismik La also called Lankar La at the northwest tip of Pangong Lake is one of the highest vehicle-accessible passes in the Indian union territory of Ladakh. At an altitude of 5,582 meters above sea level, this pass lies in the Chang Chenmo Range. Ladakh’s roads to the Chang Chenmo valley cross the pass.
4. Parang La- ‘Way to Heaven’ (18,307 feet)
Walk through the most famous trek route of Spiti followed by the ancient past. The trade route of a bygone era connects Chicham village of Spiti valley to Ladakh after crossing the 18307 mighty passes. The pass is open to people only in selected seasons depending on the climatic changes in the valley. In winter, this pass is covered with thick snow and the temperature falls below 10 degrees Celsius.
5. Sin La- ‘Where Valour Reigns Terror’ (18,028 feet)
Sin La is amongst the high Himalayan mountain passes situated in the eastern Kumaon in Uttarakhand. It connects Bidang in Darma valley to Jolingkong Lake in the Kuthi Yankti valley. The Pithoragarh Sin La trek route is one of the best trek routes in the Kumaon Mountains. The steep trail takes you through the lush green valleys, from where Adi Kailash peak is clearly visible.
6. Borasu Pass- ‘The Last Valley of Uttarakhand’ (17,880 feet)
Borasu pass is one of the rarely explored valleys in the Himalayan region that’s worth a mention. Near the Indo- China border the mountain pass connects Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. At the 5,450 meters high elevation this pass was an ancient trade route between Har ki Doon valley and Kinnaur valley. The pass is open to tourists only for a couple of months.
7. Saseer Pass- ‘Hell of a Journey’ (17,753 feet)
Saseer pass or Saseer La is one of the high mountain passes in the Karakoram Range. The route ranges from Leh in Ladakh to Yarkand in the Tarim Basin. It leads to the even-higher Karakoram pass in India’s China borders. Accessibility is limited to the summer season only due to its extreme weather condition.
8. Chang La- ‘The 3 Idiots Lake’(17,590 feet)
Chang La is another high-altitude mountain pass in the Ladakh region. The location of awe stark Pangong Tso Lake levitates the beauty of snow-clad Chang La pass. It is also the second-highest motorable route in India which connects Indus valley to Pangong Lake.
9. Khardung La- ‘The King of Mountain Passes’(17,582 feet)
The mighty Khardung La is situated near Leh in the Ladakh region of India occupied Jammu- Kashmir. It is reckoned as one of the most famous high-altitude motorable roads in India. To witness the real beauty of sky-high mountains, Khardung La should be on your bucket list.
Conquering the high altitude passes is not only for adventure but also how one can overcome fears. It is because of the breathtaking thrill, people opt for bike rides instead of taking flights. So, this season go through these mountain passes in India to experience what thrill is waiting for you!
