MAJOR MOUNTAIN PASSES OF INDIA — LOCATION, CONNECTIVITY AND STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE

PRERNA FOR IAS

         Mehnat Aapki, Guidance Humari

         Roz ki Prelims Practice — Experts ke Saath

MAJOR MOUNTAIN PASSES OF INDIA — LOCATION, CONNECTIVITY AND STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE

1. Meaning and Importance of Mountain Passes

• A mountain pass is a natural or engineered route through a mountain range that provides comparatively easier movement across high terrain.
• In India, major passes are concentrated in the Himalayas, Karakoram and north-eastern hill systems.
• They are important for trade, pilgrimage, military logistics, tourism, border management and regional connectivity.
• NCERT notes that the Himalayas are regionally divided by major river valleys and contain numerous high-altitude routes linking different valleys and frontier regions. (NCERT)

2. Zoji La — Jammu & Kashmir–Ladakh Gateway

• Zoji La lies on the Greater Himalayan Range and connects the Kashmir Valley with Ladakh.
• It is situated at about 11,650 feet and acts as a strategic gateway between Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
• BRO maintains this difficult snow-bound route and undertakes intensive snow-clearance operations to extend its period of accessibility. (Press Information Bureau)
• Its importance is both civilian and military because it supports supplies to the Ladakh region.

3. Khardung La — Ladakh

• Khardung La is a high-altitude pass near Leh and historically provided access towards the Nubra and Shyok valleys.
• Government sources record its elevation at about 17,582 feet.
• It remains strategically important, although newer road alignments are being developed to reduce dependence on difficult high passes. (Press Information Bureau)

4. Nathu La — Sikkim

• Nathu La lies in Sikkim in the Dongkya Range at approximately 4,310 metres.
• It connects Sikkim with Tibet and historically formed part of an important trans-Himalayan trade route.
• It is now one of the principal India–China border points in Sikkim and also has strategic and tourism significance. (Incredible India)

5. Jelep La — Sikkim