Mountain passes we crossed in the Himalayas

In our three months in North India, we spent most of our time in the Kashmir valley, Zanskar valley and the ever so stunning Ladakh.

It was a time when we called the Himalayas our home and the navigating the mountain passes was our daily commute!

This is a photo essay of the high altitude mountain passes that we experienced.

Sinthan Pass

Perennial snow cover is the main attraction of this pass. On the right of this photo, the zigzags of this road are seen.

Read “South Kashmir circuit: Non “touristy” fit for all travelers”.

Zoji la

The Greater Himalayas on one side and the Indus deep down the other, the graveled uneven roads makes this one of the most dangerous Himalayan passes.

Its tough to imagine, that in the not-too-distant past, a ferocious war was fought right here.

Read “Why visit Drass?”

Penzi la

The only pass on the only motor-able road that connects Zanskar valley to the rest of the country.

On a regular day, one wouldn’t cross more than 15 vehicles throughout the stretch of the 250 km gravel road that connects Padum in Zanskar with Kargil.

Read “Travel and backpack through Kargil and Suru valley”

Namika la

The first pass after Kargil on the Srinagar-Leh highway, also a part of NH1-D.

Fotu la

The last and the highest pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway. The roads are in an excellent condition and it is a pleasure to drive.

Read “Lamayuru, the moonland of Ladakh”

A small pass on the way to Tso Moriri

This motor-able pass, mostly gravel, connecting Leh to Tso Moriri – the high altitude mountain lake, doesn’t have any specific name.

What it does have, are purple (yes… purple) mountains!

Read “Tso Moriri: A mystical magical lake in Ladakh”

Tanglang la

Read “The Leh Manali route – an epic journey”
Just as you start to realise the magnanimity of the Leh-Manali, 470 km journey, the Tanglang la starts.

This was the highest point we crossed in our trip, at over 5300 m (17480 ft).

Try spotting the road in the picture!

Lachung la

The second pass of the Leh-Manali route, it is a long meandering pass with its peak at 4891 m.

Mountains the shades of browns you didn’t know and land formations you didn’t think possible are the characteristic of this pass!

Nakee la

The third mountain pass on the Leh-Manali highway is the Nakee la at 4792m.

The Indus and the oasis it creates along its flow faithfully follow you all through.

The Gata Loops

Yes, the landscape is mind blowing. Yes, the roads look unreal. Yes, the heart is in your mouth all through!

Baralacha la

The first pass in Himachal Pradesh and your last pass of the day on the Leh-Manali journey.

By now your heart is used to being in the mouth, and hair pin bends steep curves through deep valleys are “just another day at office”!

Rohtang Pass

So you think you are almost there. Its a new day. Before noon, you’ll be walking along the Beas in Manali.

But before that – there is the Rohtang. A monster of a pass on the Leh-Manali route. A pass no driver will cross in the night, the most talked about stretch in the entire journey.

The journey through the entire Rohtang Pass, is not something you will forget…EVER!