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About Khardung La |
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Khardung La is a high mountain pass situated in Ladakh region
of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Khardong La is
historically significant as it lies on the major caravan way
from Leh to Kashgar in Central Asia. About 10,000 camels and
horses used to take the route annually, and a small population
of Bactrian camels can still be seen at Hunder, in the area
north of the pass. During World War II there was an attempt to
transfer war material to China through this route.
The pass on the Ladakh Range lies north of Leh and is the
gateway to the Shyok and Nubravalleys. The Siachen Glacier
lies partway up the latter valley. Built in 1976, it was
opened to motor vehicles in 1988 and has since seen many ,
motorbike ,automobile and mountain biking expeditions.
Maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, the pass is
strategically significant for India as it is used to carry
supplies to the Siachen Glacier.
Local summit signs claim that its elevation is 5,602 m (18,379
ft) metres high and that it is the world's highest motorable
pass. But these claims are disputed by multiple modern
measurements, which all agree that its true height is much
nearer to 5,359 m (17,582 ft) measured using DGPS and imply
that there are numerous higher motorable passes.
Khardung La Pass is the only road access to the Nubra Valley
and is considered as the highest motorable road in the world.
The pass is at height of 18,380 ft above sea level and is
situated 37 km north of Leh. Khardung La Pass, also known as
K-Top, is a gateway to the Nubra and Shyok valleys. Maintained
by the Border Roads Organisation for most of the year, the
pass remains frozen in the summer.To visit Khardung-la
foreigners need to obtain special (inner line) permit in Leh. |
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Location of Khardung La |
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Khardung La is located 39 km by road from Leh. The first 24 km,
as far as the South Pullu check point, are smooth. From there to
the North Pullu check point about 15 km beyond the pass the
roadway is primarily loose rock, dirt, and occasional rivulets
of snow melt. However, this pass is in better repair than many
of the surrounding passes. From North Pullu into the Nubra
Valley, the road is very well maintained (except in a very few
places where washouts or falling rock occur). Hired vehicles (2
and 4-wheel-drive), heavy trucks, and motorcycles regularly
travel into the Nubra Valley, though special permits may need to
be arranged for travellers to make the journey.
Khardung La is widely, but incorrectly, believed to be the
highest vehicle-accessible pass in the world. A well-graded
Indian military road reaches 5,610 metres (18,406 ft) 250 meters
west of the 5,545 metres (18,192 ft) Mana Pass on the India -
Tibet border. It links with an equally well-constructed,
slightly lower Chinese military road based on SRTM data at
posting intervals of 30 meters. There are also higher motorable
passes at Suge La, west of Lhasa, 5,430 m (17,815 feet), and
Semo La 5,565 m (18,258 feet), between Raka and Coqen in Central
Tibet. Both these elevations are supported by GPS and SRTM
evidence and the latter was also measured by the Catalans and
supported by the Cartographic Institute of Catalonia. Vehicles
have been driven over the 5,582 metres (18,314 ft) Marsimik La,
in the Indian Karakoram to the north-east of Khardung La. |
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Access |
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The
nearest town is Leh, the capital of Ladakh. Leh is linked by
road from Manali and Srinagar, and daily flights are operated
from Delhi. From Leh, a daily bus service to Nubra Valley passes
over Khardungla. The ideal method to get to Khardung-la is by
taxi or bike.The two bases on either side of Khardong-la are
South Pullu and North Pullu. Inner Line Permit (ILP) is not
needed to reach Khardung La peak, however Inner Line Permit is
needed to cross North Pullu to reach Nubra Valley. Inner line
permit can be procured at the DC's office in Leh. Altitude
sickness is a serious health concern for travellers not
previously acclimatized to high altitudes. Prophylactic
altitude-sickness medication like acetazolamide may be necessary
for some travellers as there are no emergency medical facilities
to treat altitude sickness along the route. The road is closed
annually from October to May due to snow and one should
anticipate potential long travel delays due to traffic
congestion on narrow one-lane sections, washouts, landslides and
road accidents. |
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Weather Conditions and The Beauty of Khardung La Pass |
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Weather conditions on the pass:
During winters temperatures drop to -40 degrees Celsius
with almost 10 feet of snowfall. During the summer
temperatures float around 20 degrees Celsius but the
freaky weather could suddenly turn worse and it may be
bitterly cold.
The beauty of Khardung La Pass:
With the Ladakh range spreading towards the south and the
Karakoram range to the north the views are simply
wonderful with the white snow-capped mountain peaks all
around at almost touching distance. Just have a leisurely
walk with the cool refreshing mountain air caressing your
face. You will feel re-energized. The excitement of
visiting the highest pass in the world will stir up your
emotions. But it’s better to be safe than sorry and hence
do not expose yourself too much and for too long at such
high altitudes. |
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