A pass is a low point in a mountain range through which a road or trail crosses. India's Himalayan passes connect neighbouring valleys or lead to Tibet and China. The Western Ghats also have gaps that link the coast to the plateau. Many passes close in winter, which is why tunnels such as the Atal Tunnel have been built. Questions pair a pass with its state and the two regions it joins.
Key facts
- Khardung La (surveyed at about 5,359 m, though signs claim 5,602 m) links Leh with the Nubra valley; the Karakoram Pass links the Depsang plains with Xinjiang.
- Jelep La, Lipulekh, Mana and Baralacha La (on the Leh-Manali highway) are other Himalayan passes.
- Banihal Pass links Jammu with the Kashmir valley; Bum La, north of Tawang, is the pass to Tibet.
- The Western Ghats have three main gaps: the Goa Gap, the Palghat Gap and the Sengottai Gap.
Why exams ask about it
Which pass connects which two regions, which state it lies in, and which pass a river enters India through are the usual questions.