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Categorization of Mountain Passes in India
The passes are grouped by their geographical and administrative regions, moving from north to south.
I. Ladakh (Union Territory)
| Pass Name | Key Features & Significance |
|---|---|
| Karakoram Pass | Located on the boundary between Ladakh (India) and Xinjiang (China). |
| Fotu La | The highest pass on the Srinagar–Leh highway. |
| Khardung La | – Connects Leh with Nubra and Shyok valleys. – Gateway to the Siachen Glacier. |
| Chang La | Connects Leh to Pangong Lake. |
| Namik La | Situated between Kargil and Leh on National Highway (NH-1D). |
| Other Passes | Thang La, Aghil Pass. |
II. Jammu & Kashmir
| Pass Name | Key Features & Significance |
|---|---|
| Zoji La | – Located on the Srinagar–Leh highway. – Connects the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh (Leh). |
| Pensi La | Connects the Kashmir valley with Kargil. |
| Pir Panjal Pass | A historic pass, part of the Pir Panjal mountain range. |
| Banihal Pass | Connects the Kashmir Valley with Jammu. |
| Burjila Pass | Located in the Karakoram mountains between Skardu and Deosai. |
III. Himachal Pradesh
| Pass Name | Key Features & Significance |
|---|---|
| Baralacha La | – Located on the Leh–Manali highway. – Links Lahaul district with Ladakh. |
| Rohtang Pass | Connects Kullu Valley with Lahaul & Spiti valleys. |
| Shipki La | – Connects Kinnaur district (Himachal Pradesh) with Tibet. – An important Indo-China trade route. |
| Yangzi Diwan Pass | A very high-altitude pass (5890 m) in the Lahaul & Spiti district. |
IV. Uttarakhand
| Pass Name | Key Features & Significance |
|---|---|
| Niti Pass | Connects Joshimath (Chamoli district) with Tibet. |
| Lipu Lekh Pass | – Located in Pithoragarh district. – Serves as a route to Tibet and for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage. |
| Mana Pass | – Located near Badrinath. – Historically used as a trade route to Tibet. |
| Muling La | A border pass between Uttarakhand and Tibet. |
| Kingri-Wingri | A traditional, lesser-known pass in Uttarakhand. |
| Neeti-Mana | Mountain Pass (Note: This is inferred from the query at the end). |
V. Sikkim
| Pass Name | Key Features & Significance |
|---|---|
| Nathu La | Connects Sikkim with Tibet; a major Indo-China trade route. |
| Jelep La | Connects Kalimpong (West Bengal) with Lhasa, Tibet (via the Chumbi Valley). |
VI. Western Ghats (Southern India)
| Pass Name | Key Features & Significance |
|---|---|
| Palghat (Palakkad) Pass | – Located in Kerala. – Situated between the Nilgiri Hills and the Anaimalai Hills. |
| Bhor Ghat | – Located in Maharashtra. – Links Mumbai and Pune. |
| Thal Ghat | – Located in Maharashtra. – Located on the Mumbai-Nashik route. |
VII. Passes Outside India (For Reference)
| Pass Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Khyber Pass | On the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. Note: It is not in India. |
Answers to Specific Queries from the Data
- Palghat Pass is situated between: The Nilgiri Hills and the Anaimalai Hills.
- Which is NOT a pass in the Western Ghats? Khyber Pass (it is located on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border).
- Incorrectly matched pair: Lipu Lekh – Uttar Pradesh (The correct state is Uttarakhand).
- Pass that leads to Leh: Zojila (Zoji La).
- Pass situated at the highest elevation: Based on the data provided, passes like Yangzi Diwan (5890 m) in Himachal Pradesh are at a higher elevation than the commonly known Zoji La or Rohtang Pass.
- What are Kingri-Wingri and Neeti-Mana? They are mountain passes located in Uttarakhand.
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