Mountain Passes in India: Map, Major Passes, State-Wise List

Jammu & Kashmir (UT)

• Banihal Pass (2,832 m): Located on the Pir Panjal Range, it historically linked Jammu to the Kashmir Valley. The Jawahar Tunnel beneath Banihal now provides all-weather road connectivity.

• Pir Panjal Pass (Peer Ki Gali, ~3,490 m): Also on the Pir Panjal Range, it connects the Kashmir Valley to the Jammu region (Rajouri and Poonch). 

• Zoji La (3,528 m): Connects Srinagar/Kashmir Valley with Leh (Ladakh) via NH1, currently Zoji La tunnel under construction.

• Fotu La (4,108 m): Highest point on Srinagar-Leh highway; connects Kashmir to Ladakh sectors.

• Namika La (3,700 m): On Srinagar-Leh national highway; connects Kashmir Valley to Ladakh plateau.

Ladakh (UT)

• Khardung La (5,359 m): In the Ladakh Range north of Leh, it is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys. One of the world’s highest motorable roads, Khardung La is critical for military logistics (e.g. supplies to the Siachen sector).

• Chang La (5,360 m): On the Ladakh Range between Leh and the Shyok River valley, it lies on the way to Pangong Tso. 

• Taglang La (5,328 m): On the Leh-Manali Highway, it is one of the highest motorable passes in India and connects Leh with western Himalaya.

• Pensi La (4,400 m): The “gateway to Zanskar” in the Great Himalayas. It connects the Suru Valley (Kargil) with Zanskar Valley and is the source of the Suru River, an Indus tributary.

• Karakoram Pass (5,540m): On the Ladakh-Kashmir border in the Karakoram Range, links Ladakh and Xinjiang, it was part of the ancient Silk Route between the Indian subcontinent. 

• Marsimik La (5582 m): High-altitude motorable pass linking Pangong Lake to Chang Chenmo Valley, serving as a critical military supply route near the LAC.

• Rezang La (5,500 m): In Chushul sector, south of Pangong Lake; site of famous 1962 Indo-China war battle.

• Bilafond La (5,450 m): In Saltoro Ridge west of Siachen Glacier; critical India-Pakistan border conflict zone.

• Sia La (5,490 m): Near Siachen Glacier on India-Pakistan border; highest battleground in Operation Meghdoot.

• Gyong La (5,680 m): South of Bilafond La in Saltoro Mountains; India-Pakistan strategic position.

• Sasser Pass (5,411 m): Connects Nubra Valley to Shyok Valley; ancient Silk Route link to Yarkand.

• Imis La (5,350 m): Near Siachen Glacier region; strategic pass in Siachen conflict zone.

• Kongka Pass (5,171 m): On LAC in Chang Chenmo Valley; disputed India-China border crossing; site of 1959 Kongka Pass incident.

• Lanak Pass (5,409 m): On LAC in Depsang Plains; critical India-China border point near Aksai Chin; heavily patrolled.

• Spangur Gap (4,305 m): Strategic pass near Spanggur Tso lake; serves as India-China border crossing in Ladakh.

• Parpik Pass (4,978 m): In Gilgit-Baltistan region; historic pass linking Ladakh with Xinjiang; on ancient trade routes.

• Sin La (5,495 m): Strategic high-altitude pass on India-China border; military significance in Ladakh.

• Khunjerab Pass (4,693 m): On Karakoram Highway connecting Pakistan-China; world's highest paved international border.

• Mintaka Pass (4,709 m): North of Khunjerab on Karakoram Range; historic pass on ancient Silk Route.

• Aghil Pass (4,885 m): Connects Ladakh to Xinjiang; part of old trade routes across Karakoram.

Himachal Pradesh

• Rohtang Pass (3,978 m): On the eastern Pir Panjal Range, it links Kullu Valley to Lahaul-Spiti Valley via NH3 (the Leh-Manali Highway). The all-weather Atal Tunnel has been built under Rohtang, now allowing year-round travel on the Manali-Leh route.

• Bara Lacha La (4,850 m): In the Zanskar Range, it connects Himachal’s Lahaul district to Ladakh’s Leh district along NH3.

• Shipki La (3,930 m): On the India-Tibet border between Kinnaur district and Tibet’s Ngari.

• Kunzum Pass (4,551 m): Connects Lahaul Valley to Spiti Valley; gate to Spiti via NH505.

• Jalori Pass (3,120 m): Connects Kullu Valley to Shimla district; scenic Kullu-Shimla route.

• Indrahar Pass (3,550 m): In Dhauladhar Range; historic trek route between Kangra and Chamba districts.

• Chanshal Pass (3,680 m): Connects Rohru to Dodra-Kwar; important pass in Shimla region.

• Sach Pass (4,400 m): High-altitude pass in Dhauladhar Range; connects Kangra to Chamba.

• Debsa Pass (4,600 m): Discovered in 1995; scenic trekking pass linking Kullu to Spiti Valley.

• Bohar Pass (4,530 m): In Dhauladhar Range; connects Kangra district across mountains.

Uttarakhand

• Lipu Lekh (5,110 m): On the Nepal-India-China tripoint in Pithoragarh district, it links Uttarakhand to Tibet.

• Mana Pass (5,545 m): Near Badrinath, it was India's highest motorable pass until Umling La opened in 2021. 

• Niti Pass (5,073 m): On the India-China border and historically served as an important trade route between both countries.

• Kalindi Pass (5,950 m): High-altitude trekking pass; connects Garhwal Himalayas to Spiti Valley.

• Traill's Pass (4,600 m): Connects Pindari Glacier to Milam Glacier; popular high-altitude trek.

• Auden's Col (5,490 m): In Garhwal Himalayas; connects upper Kuari Pass trek route.

• Lamkhaga Pass (5,050 m): Connects Uttarakhand to Himachal Pradesh; trekking route through Himalayas.

• Mangsha Dhura (4,940 m): On Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route; connects to Lipu Lekh passes.

Sikkim

• Nathu La (4,310 m): In the Dongkya Range, it connects Gangtok to Tibet. 

• Jelep La (4,267 m) : South of Nathu La, connects Sikkim to Lhasa via the Chumbi Valley.

• Goecha La (4,940m): Gateway to Kanchenjunga Base Camp; popular high-altitude trekking destination.

Arunachal Pradesh

• Bum La (4,520 m): At Tawang district’s border with Tibet.

• Sela Pass (4,170 m): On the Tawang-Guwahati NH13, noted for Sela Lake near its summit.

• Bomdi La (4,331 m): On west of Tawang district at NH13.

• Pangsau Pass (1,136 m): In Changlang district present on the India-Myanmar border.

• Diphu (Dihang) Pass (4,587 m): Near the India-China-Myanmar tri-junction.

• Hpungan Pass (3,450 m): Connects Arunachal Pradesh to Myanmar; strategic India-Myanmar border link.

• Kumjawng Pass (4,200 m): On Indo-China border in eastern Arunachal; strategic forward position.

• Mayodia Pass (4,000 m): In Arunachal Pradesh near snow zone; India-China strategic border position.

• Lekhapani Pass (3,100 m): Entry point to Stilwell Road; historic WWII supply route through Arunachal.

• Dongkhala (4,100 m): In North Arunachal; strategic Indo-China border crossing point.

Rajasthan

• Haldighati Darra (1,184 m) : A mountain pass in the Aravalli Range. Known for the 1576 Battle of Haldighati.

Maharashtra (Western Ghats)

• Thal Ghat (585 m): Also called Kasara Ghat, on Mumbai-Nashik highway; one of four major road and rail routes connecting Mumbai to Nashik.

• Bhor Ghat (622 m): Between Palasdari and Khandala in Pune district; connects Deccan plateau to coastal Konkan region.

• Kumbharli Ghat (625 m): Connects coastal Ratnagiri district (Konkan) to Satara district (Desh)

• Chorla Ghat (800 m): Tripoint of Goa-Karnataka-Maharashtra; connects coastal Western Ghats regions across three states.

• Amboli Ghat (700 m): Between Belgaum and Karnataka; scenic pass through Western Ghats

Tamil Nadu & Kerala (Western Ghats)

• Palakkad Gap (140 m): Connects Coimbatore (TN) with Palakkad (Kerala).

• Thamarassery Pass (900 m): Connects Kozhikode with Wayanad plateau.

• Sengottai Pass (1,300 m): Connects TN-Kerala; connects Madurai region to Palakkad district.

Eastern Ghats

• Panchpatmali Ghat (Odisha): Mountain pass in Koraput district; connects eastern coastal plains to Deccan plateau.

• Ganjikunta (Andhra Pradesh): Pass in Eastern Ghats; connects Rayalseema region to coastal areas.

• Arma Konda Pass (1,680 m): Connects Eastern Ghats plateau regions; strategic pass in Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border.