
The Mountain passes in India are an integral part of Physiograpgy of India of Indian Geography. Mountain passes is an important topic for upcoming competitive exams. Often 1-2 questions asked in various exams. Here we provide important mountain passes of India include previous year questions asked about this topic.
Table of Contents
What is Mountain Pass?
• A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge.
• A mountain pass can be formed in three different ways. e.g
- The mountain pass between two volcanic peaks.
- Also mountain passes can be formed by the erosion of mountain ranges by water or wind.
List of mountain passes in India
Sl. No | Name | State |
1. | Aghil Pass | Ladakh |
2. | Changla Pass | Ladakh |
3. | Khardung La | Ladakh |
4. | Khunjerab Pass | Ladakh |
5. | Karakoram Pass (Qara Tagh) | Ladakh |
6. | Lanak Pass | Ladakh |
7. | Lungalacha La | Ladakh |
8. | Mintaka Pass | Ladakh |
9. | Parpik Pass | Ladakh |
10. | Sasser Pass | Ladakh |
11. | Imis La | Ladakh |
12. | Bara-lacha-la | Himachal Pradesh |
13. | Chanshal Pass | Himachal Pradesh |
14. | Kunzum Pass | Himachal Pradesh |
15. | Lamkhaga Pass | Himachal Pradesh |
16. | Rohtang Pass | Himachal Pradesh |
17. | Shipki La | Himachal Pradesh |
18. | Kalindi Pass | Uttarakhand |
19. | Banihal Pass | Jammu and Kashmir |
20. | Burzail Pass | Jammu and Kashmir |
21. | Pir-Panjal Pass | Jammu and Kashmir |
22. | Zojila Pass | Jammu and Kashmir |
23. | Bomdila | Arunachal Pradesh |
24. | Chankan Pass | Arunachal Pradesh |
25. | Dihang Pass | Arunachal Pradesh |
26. | Diphu Pass | Arunachal Pradesh |
27. | Hpungan Pass | Arunachal Pradesh |
28. | Lipulekh Pass | Uttarakhand |
29. | Mana Pass | Uttarakhand |
30. | Mangsha Dhura | Uttarakhand |
31. | Niti Pass | Uttarakhand |
32. | Nathu La | Sikkim |
33. | Jelep La | Sikkim |
34. | Palakkad Gap | Kerala |
35. | Sengottai | Kerala |
36. | Thalghat Gap | Maharshtra |
37. | Thalghat Gap | Maharshtra |
38. | Bhor Ghat Gap | Maharashtra |
36. | Sela Pass | Arunachal Pradesh |
39. | Kumjawng Pass | Arunachal Pradesh |

Details about the important mountain Passes
◘ Bom Di La (Arunachal Pradesh)
• It is situated near the western boundary of Bhutan in the greater Himalayas.
• The pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa.
◘ Dihang Pass (Arunachal Pradesh)
• It provides passage between Aunachal Pradesh and Myanmar.
◘ Yonggyap Pass (Arunachal Pradesh)
• Located near the Indo-China border.
• It joins Arunachal Pradesh with Tibet.
◘ Dipher or Diphu Pass (Arunachal Pradesh)
• Diphu Pass is lying at the trijunction of India, China and Myanmar border.
• It connects Arunachal Pradesh and Mandalay in Myanmar.
• It is an important land trade route between India and Myanmar.
• Diphu Pass lies on the McMahon Line.
◘ Mintaka Pass (Ladakh)
• It lies near the trijunction of India-China and Afghanistan border.
• It joins north Kashmir with China.
◘ Parpik Pass (Ladakh)
• It is Located to the east of Mintaka ass on the Indo-China border.
• It joins North Kashmir with China.
◘ Aghil Pass (Ladakh)
• It is lying in the north of K2 peak.
• It joins Ladakh region of India with the Xinjiang Province of China.
◘ Banihal Pass (Jammu and Kashmir)
• Banihal Pass is situated across the Pirpanjal Range.
• It joins Srinagar in the north and Jammu in south.
• A tunnel named ‘Jawahar Tunnel’ built across this pass.
• This pass provides railway link between Banihal and Kazigund.
• In the Kashmiri language, “Banihāl” means blizzard.
◘ Khardungla Pass (Ladakh)
• It is situated near Lehin Ladakh range.
• It is the World’s highest motorable road.
• Khardungla Pass is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys.
◘ Lanak La
List of important mountain passes
• Lanak La is a mountain pass in the disputed Aksai Chin region.
• It is administered by China as part of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
◘ Zoji La
• This Pass provides an important road link between Srinagar and Kargil and Leh.
• The road passing through this pass has been designated at the National Highway-I.
◘ Bara Lacha La (Himachal Pradesh)
• Bara-lacha la is a high mountain pass situated in Zanskar range.
• This pass connecting Lahul distric in Himachal Pradesh to Leh district in Ladakh.
• The Leh–Manali Highway traverses the pass.
• A water-divide is formed between the Bhaga river and the Yunam river by the Bara lacha la pass.
◘ Debsa pass (Himachal Pradesh)
• It provides a link between Kullu and Spiti districts.
◘ Rohtang pass (Himachal Pradesh)
• Located on the Pir Panjal Range.
• It provides road link between Kullu, Lahul and Spiti Valleys.
◘ Shipki La pass (Himachal Pradesh)
• This pass connects Himachal Pradesh and Tibet.
• The river Sutlej enter into India through this mountain pass.
◘ Lipu Lekh (Uttarakhand)
• This pass situated near the trijunction of Uttarakhand (India), Tibet (China) and Nepal borders.
• It is used by pilgrims to Kailash-Mansarovar.
◘ Mana pass (Uttarakhand)
• This pass is situated near the north of the holy place of Badrinath.
• This pass connects Uttarakhand with Tibet.
◘ Nathula pass (Sikkim)
• This pass situated on the border of India and China.
• It is a part of the ancient Silk Route.
• It connects Sikkim with Tibet.
• This pass is an important trade route between India and China.
◘ Jelep La pass (Sikkim)
• Jelep La is a high mountain pass between East Sikkim District, and Tibet Region, China.
• It connects the route Lhasa to India.
• The pass is about 4 km south of the Nathu La pass.
• The word ‘Jelep-la’ is a Tibetan word which means “The lovely level pass.
◘ Palakkad gap or Palghat gap
• Palghat gap is a mountain pass located in the Western Ghats.
• It connects Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Palakkad in Kerala.
• This mountain pass is located between the Nilgiri Hills and the Anaimalai Hills in Tami Nadu.
◘ Sengottai gap
• Sengottai is a town in the Tenkasi district, of Tamil Nadu, India.
• It is considered as the gateway of southern Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
◘ Thal Ghat Gap (Maharashtra)
• Thal Ghat gap also known as Thul Ghat or Kasara Ghat.
• It is a section in the Western Ghats near the town of Kasara in Maharashtra.
• The Thal Ghat is located on the busy Mumbai–Nashik.
◘ Bhor Ghat Gap (Maharashtra)
• The Bhor ghat Gap was used as an ancient trade route by the Satavahana Dynasty. It connects the Choul, Revdanda and Panvel ports located on the Konkan coast and the surrounding areas of the Deccan plateau.
• This ghat lies on the Mumbai Pune Highway.

Previous Years MCQ’s from this topic
1. The road that negotiates four high passes of the world in the Himalayas is
A. Darjeeling to Nepal
B. Shimla to Dalhousie
C. Manali to Leh
D. Shimla to Kulu
2. Zojila pass connects
A. Nepal and Tibet
B. Leh and Kargil
C. Leh and Srinagar
D. Kashmir and Tibet
3. Which of the following passes lies in the Sutlej valley?
A. Nathu La
B. Jelep La
C. Shipki La
D. Sherabathanga
4. The pilgrims of Kailash Mansarovar have to pass through, which pass to enter into Tibet
?
A. Khardungala
B. Rohtang
C. Lipu lekh
D. Nathu la
5. The pass located in Himachal Pradesh is
A. Shipkila
B. Zojila
C. Nathula
D. Jelepla
More Sample MCQ’s from this topic
1. Which of the following pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Lasa?
A. Chanken
B. Kumjawng
C. Dihang
D. Bom Di La
2. Which of the following pass located at the trijunction of Mayamar,
India, and China?
A. Dihang
B. Diphu
C. Kumjawng
D. Hpungan
3. Diphu pass connects Arunachal Pradesh to …………… in Mayamar , which is
an important trade route
A. Kachin
B .Mandaloy
C. Taunggyi
D. Shan
.4. Which of the following pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with China?
A. Chanken
B. Kumjawng
C. Dihang
D..Bom Di La
5. Which of the following pass located at the trijunction of Afganistan, India and China?
A. Aghil
B. Mintaka
C. Parpik
D. Khunjerab
6. Which of the following pass connects Ladakh with the Xinjiang province in China?
A. Khardungla pass
B. Parpik pass
C. Mintaa pass
D. Aghil pass
7.World’s highest motoeable road passes through which mountain pass?
A. Khardungla pass
B. Parpik pass
C. Mintaa pass
D. Aghil pass
8.Which of the following pass connects Kullu, Lahul and Spiti Valleys?
A. Bara Lacha La
B. Parpik pass
C. Shipki La
D..Rohtang pass
9. Which of the following pass located at the trijunction of Uttrakhand, Tibet and Nepal?
A. Mana pass
B..Lipu Lekh
C. Muling La
D. Niti pass
10. Traill’s pass is located in which state?
A.. Uttarakhand
B. Sikkim
C. Arunachal Pradesh
D. Himachal Pradesh
11. Banihal pass is located in which state?
A. Sikkim
B.. Jammu and Kashmir
C. Uttarakhand
D. Ladakh
12. Khunjerab pass is located in which state?
A. Jammu and Kashmir
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Uttarakhand
D.. Ladakh
13. Dihang pass is located in which state?
A. Sikkim
B. Himachal Pradesh
C.. Arunachal Pradesh
D. Uttarakhand
14. Hpungan pass is located in which state?
A. Himachal Pradesh
B.. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Sikkim
D. Uttarakhand
15. Mangsha Dhura pass is located in which state?
A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Jammu and Kashmir
C. Arunachal Pradesh
D. Uttarakhand
16. Parpik pass is located in which state?
A..Ladakh
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Uttarakhand
D. Jammu and Kashmir
17. Dipher pass is located in which state?
A. Uttarakhand
B.. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Himachal Pradesh
D. Sikkim
18. Lipulekh pass is located in which state?
A. Arunachal Pradesh
B.. Uttarakhand
C. Sikkim
D. Himachal Pradesh
19. Nathu la pass is situated in which state?
A.. Sikkim
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Himachal Pradesh
D. Jammu and Kashmir
20. Se la pass is located in which state?
A.. Arunachal Pradesh
B. Sikkim
C. Himachal Pradesh
D. Uttarakhand
21. Kumjawng pass is located in which state?
A.. Arunachal Pradesh
B. Sikkim
C. Uttarakhand
D. Himachal Pradesh
22. Lanak la pass is located in which state?
A. Uttarakhand
B. Jammu and Kashmir
C. Himachal Pradesh
D..Ladakh
23. Yonggyap pass is located in which state?
A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Uttarakhand
C. Sikkim
D. Arunachal Pradesh
24. The Jelep la pass is situated in which state?
A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Sikkim D. Jammu and Kashmir
25. The Debsa pass is situated in which state?
A.. Himachal Pradesh
B. Sikkim
C. Jammu and Kashmir
D. Arunachal Pradesh
26. Imis la pass is located in which state?
A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Jammu and Kashmir
C..Ladakh
D. Arunachal Pradesh
27. Which pass connects Sikkim with China’s Tibet autonomous region?
A. Rohtang pass
B. Sela pass
C. Changla pass
D. Nathu la
28. The Muling la pass is located in which state?
A. Arunachal Pradesh
B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Uttarakhand
D. Jammu and Kashmir
29. The Shipki la pass is situated in which state?
A. Sikkim
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Himachal Pradesh
D. Jammu and Kashmir
30. The mountain pass Baralacha la is situated in which of the following states?
A. Sikkim
B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Arunachal Pradesh
D. Jammu and Kashmir
31. The Mana pass is located in which state?
A. Arunachal Pradesh
B. Uttarakhand
C. Himachal Pradesh
D. Sikkim
32. Mintaka pass is located in which state?
A. Jammu and Kashmir
B. Uttarakhand
C. Himachal Pradesh
D. Ladakh
32. The river Satluj enters India through which pass?
A. Fotu la
B. Sela pass
C. Banihal pass
D. Shipki la
33. Sela pass is located in which state?
A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Uttarakhand
D. Sikkim
34. Pensi la pass is located in which state?
A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Jammu and Kashmir
D. Ladakh
35. The Bom di la pass is located in which state?
A. Uttarakhand
B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Sikkim
D. Arunachal Pradesh
36. The Qara Tag la pass is located in which of the following state?
A. Arunachal Pradesh
B. Ladakh
C. Jammu and Kashmir
D. Himachal Pradesh
37. Dongkhala pass is situated in which state?
A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Sikkim
D. Jammu and Kashmir
38. Zoji La pass is located in which state?
A. Jammu and Kashmir
B. Uttarakhand
C. Sikkim
D. Himachal Pradesh
39. The Fotu La pass is located in which state?
A. Jammu and Kashmir
B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Ladakh
D. Sikkim
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