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{{Short description|Mountain pass in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Shingo La
| photo = Frozen Lake Shinko La Lahaul Jun24 A7CR 00315.jpg
| photo_caption = Frozen lake at Shingo La, view south towards [[Darcha]], Lahaul
| elevation = {{convert|5091|m|ft}}
| elevation_ref =
| traversed =
| map = India Himachal Pradesh#India Ladakh
| map_caption = Location in Himachal Pradesh
| label_position = right
| location = [[Himachal Pradesh]], India
| range = Himalaya
| coordinates = {{Coord|format=dms|display=it}}
| topo =
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 14
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
}}

'''Shinku La''' (or '''Shingo La''')<ref>{{cite web|title=Darcha – Padum (Shingo La) Trek|url=https://www.aquaterra.in/my-product/darcha-padum-shingo-la-trek/|website=aquaterra.in|access-date=9 November 2016}}</ref> mountain pass on [[Nimmu-Padum-Darcha road]] on the state boundary between [[Ladakh]] and [[Himachal Pradesh]],<ref name=comp2/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Modi to carry out 'first blast' for Shinku La tunnel in Ladakh today |work=Hindustan Times |date=26 July 2024 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-to-carry-out-first-blast-for-shinku-la-tunnel-in-ladakh-today-101721961944369.html |access-date=2024-11-22}}</ref> connects the [[Zanskar]] region of Ladakh with the [[Lahaul]] region of Himachal Pradesh. The under-construction [[Shingo La#Shingo La Tunnel|Shingo La Tunnel]], with target expected completion date of 2028, will reduce the Manali to Kargil distance by 522 km<ref name=comp2>{{cite news |url=https://jantaserishta.com/local/himachal-pradesh/1569-bid-for-150464cr-project-hc-upholds-bros-move-to-forfeit-15cr-2895610|title=1,504.64 करोड़ की परियोजना के लिए 1,569 की बोली: HC ने BRO के 15 करोड़ जब्त करने के कदम को बरकरार रखा|work=jantaserishta |date=October 2023}}</ref> while providing an additional all-weather route to Ladakh as an alternative to the existing [[Leh–Manali Highway]].<ref name=FE>{{cite web |last=Dey |first=Monidipa |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/travel-tourism/journey-to-shinku-la-pass-connecting-lahaul-valley-in-himachal-with-the-zanskar-valley-in-ladakh/2887247/lite/ |title=Journey to Shinku-La pass connecting Lahaul valley in Himachal with the Zanskar valley in Ladakh |date=23 November 2022 |access-date=29 April 2023 |work=Financial Express}}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{see also | Geography of Ladakh | Tourism in Ladakh }}
[[File:Travellers Shinko La Snow Zanskar Lahaul Jun24 A7CR 00304.jpg|left|thumb|Travellers at the pass in June 2024. Lahaul on the left, Zanskar on the right.]]

The Sinkula Pass, traversed by a 10-day Zanskar-Lahaul footpath used by locals and trekkers, features Sinkula Lake, a shallow pool 20m below its summit on the southern side.<ref name=sp1>{{citation|last1=Zurick|first1=David|last2=Pacheco|first2=Julsun|year=2006|title=Illustrated Atlas of the Himalaya|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|quote=A ten-day trek leads south from Padum into the Great Himalaya, crosses the 5,100-meter Shingo La pass, and descends to the village of Darcha, located on the main road from Manali to Leh.|pages=183–184|isbn=9780813173849}}</ref> Acclaimed as one of the Indian Himalaya's technically easiest 5,000m+ passes (no glaciers or steep climbs), it is typically snowbound October–April and avalanche-prone.<ref name=hillpost>{{cite web|last=Dutta |first=Sanjay |title=Army Border Roads To Shinku La Pass Open Round The Year |url=https://hillpost.in/2023/01/army-border-roads-to-shinku-la-pass-open-round-the-year/119307/ |date=23 January 2023 |work=Hill Post}}</ref> While an official sign states 16,615.5 ft, trekking websites list elevations from 4,900-5,100m.

On the south side of the pass, the route from Barsi Bridge near Darcha Sumdol on [[National Highway 3 (India)|NH-3]] goes northwest via Rarig, Chikka-Be, Palamo buddhist monastery, Shinkunla Camp, Zanskar Sumdo, and past Green Tara Tal lake. "Mount Shinkun East" (6081 m) and "Mount Shinkun West" (6127 m) lie respectively to the east and west side of the pass, among these the Mount Shinkun West was summited by mountaineers in 2004.<ref>[https://www.indmount.org/IMF/shinkunwestandshinkuneast2004 Shinkun West and East], indmount.org, accessed 20 Mar 2025.</ref>

The route on the north side of the pass, along the [[Kargyak|Kurgiak Cho]] stream, has the [[All Ladakh Gonpa Association|Shunkula Upper Gompa]], and then the "Sumdo Shinkula North" which is a confluence of two glaciers (Sumdo means confluence in [[Lhasa Tibetan|Tibetan language]]). Further north are the "Lakhong" camping ground, and then the "Phuktal" camping ground near [[Gonbo Rangjon]] peak (also called Gumbok Rangan) which is a stand-alone lofty rocky [[precipice]] south of [[Kargyak]] village in the Lungnak valley considered to holy peak referred to as God's Mountain by the natives who practice [[Tibetan Buddhism]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McDougall |first=Eileen |date=28 Feb 2019 |title=Gonbo Rangjon, Zanskar's Sacred Mountain |url=https://www.insidehimalayas.com/gumbo-ranjan-zanskars-sacred-mountain/ |access-date=31 Oct 2022 |website=Inside Himalayas}}</ref> Further north are the "Phersayla" camp site, and then the confluence of "Kurgiak Cho" and [[Tsarap River]] where the route forks into two with the west route going to Padum and the east route going to Chah, Darcha and [[Phugtal Monastery|Phutkar Gompa]] (Phugtal Monastery).

==Road==
{{main|Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road}}
[[File:Darcha Padum Road Below Shinku La Lahaul Oct22 A7C 03533.jpg|thumb|left|The road from Shingo La to Darcha, Lahaul.]]
[[File:Padum Road Shingo La Zanskar Oct22 A7C 03574.jpg|thumb|left|The road from Shingo La to Padum, Zanskar.]]

A road connecting [[Darcha]] with [[Padum]] across the Shingo La pass was first conceived in after the [[Kargil conflict]] of 1999, and preliminary work began in 2002. The project was given approval in 2004 and completion was expected by 2012.<ref name=IT>{{cite web |last=Vats |first=Rohit |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/connecting-ladakh-india-growing-road-network-to-link-borders-with-the-mainland-1713978-2020-08-22 |title=Connecting Ladakh: India's growing road network to link borders with the mainland |work=India Today|date=23 August 2023}}</ref>

{{anchor | MC}}A 38 km long rudimentary road from Ramjak in Lahaul to Kargyakh in Zanskar via the Shingo La was first constructed between May 2014 and June 2017 by [[Tsultrim Chonjor]] (also called ''"Meme Chonjor"''), a retired government employee from Zanskar with his own funds and help from local villagers. He had tried to persuade the government to construct the road, and decided to build it himself when he failed to convince them; he was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] in 2021 for it.<ref name=livemint>{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/highaltitude-shinku-la-pass-connecting-lahaul-with-zanskar-valley-open-for-vehicles-this-time-of-year-11671270926444.html |title=High-altitude Shinku La Pass connecting Lahaul with Zanskar Valley open for vehicles this time of year |date=17 December 2022 |work=Livemint |access-date=29 April 2023}}</ref><ref>[https://www.team-bhp.com/news/meme-chonjor-man-who-built-road-himalayas-all-himself Meme Chonjor - The Man Who Built A Road In The Himalayas All By Himself], team-bhp.com, 17 June 2025.</ref> The road was later taken over by the [[Border Roads Organisation]] (BRO), and black-topped. The new metalled road has a capacity to carry truck loads of over 18 tonnes. A minibus service for Padum using the road was started by the [[Himachal Road Transport Corporation]] (HRTC).<ref name=livemint/> The BRO is turning the road into a double laned one, and is planning to construct a tunnel under the pass for all-weather connectivity. The organisation is also attempting to keep the road open during the winter months.<ref name=hillpost/>

==Shinku La tunnel==
{{anchor | Tunnel | Shingo La Tunnel | Shinku La Tunnel | Shinkun La Tunnel}}

Shinku La Tunnel is an under-construction {{Convert|4.1|km|4=-long|adj=mid}} tunnel on the [[Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road]], with a projected cost of ₹1,681 crores.<ref name=target1>{{Cite news |date=15 February 2023 |title=Cabinet approves construction of Shinku La Tunnel to provide all-weather connectivity in Ladakh |work=[[All India Radio|All India Radio News]] |url=https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=Cabinet-approves-construction-of-Shinku-La-Tunnel-to-provide-all-weather-connectivity-in-Ladakh&id=455852 |access-date=19 July 2023}}</ref> Its north portal will be in [[Zanskar]]'s [[Padum Valley]] in [[Ladakh]] and south portal in [[Himachal Pradesh]].<ref name=shintunl1/> It is being constructed under BRO's "Project Yojak"<ref name=tunlen1>{{cite web|last=Rogers|first=David|date=19 April 2022|url=https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/india-plans-worlds-highest-tunnel-in-the-himalayas/|title=India plans world's highest tunnel in the Himalayas|work=Global Construction Review}}</ref> and will have two unidirectional tubes, each with 2 lanes, for a total of 4 lanes.<ref name=comp2/> This tunnel, which will cut Manali-Leh distance by 60 km and facilitate the transportation of heavy machinery to [[Kargil]] and Siachen,<ref name=shintunl1>l [https://globalmatrix.in/strategic-road-development-in-ladakh-by-bro/ Strategic Road Development in Ladakh by BRO], globalmatrix.in, 18 March 2025.</ref> will provide all-weather access to 15 remote villages of Zanskar Valley and the India-China border that are cut off during winter, thus improving the economy and tourism value of Zanskar Valley while providing crucial year-round strategic border access to the defense forces of India.<ref name=target1/> The tunnel will have longitudinal ventilation using banana fans{{Clarify|date=January 2026}}, which require minimal electricity and lower operational costs.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} With the completion of this Tunnel, Nimmu–Padum–Darcha Road will become an all-weather road.<ref name=comp1>[https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/defence-ministry-clears-the-bro-tunnel-under-shinkun-la-in-ladakh-101621414374031.html Defence ministry clears the BRO tunnel under Shinkun La in Ladakh], [[Hindustan Times]], 19 May 2021.</ref>

===Status===

Conceived in 2006,<ref name=IT/> the project was forgotten<ref name=IT/> until it was revived in 2020.<ref name=tunstat1/> Since then the project has seen many false starts, resulting in the earlier expected completion date of 2025<ref name=daterev1/> moving to August 2028 with actual construction finally beginning in May 2025.<ref name=shintunl1/>

2006–2007: Plan for tunnel conceived.<ref name=IT/>

2009: Tenders floated, but no progress was made.<ref name=IT/>

2020: Indian government has approved preparation of a detailed project report (DPR).<ref name=tunstat1>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/industry/article/work-on-shinkun-la-tunnel-sped-up-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-world-s-longest-high-altitude-tunnel/656869 |title=Work on Shinkun La Tunnel sped up: All you need to know about the world's longest high-altitude tunnel|date=23 September 2020}}</ref>

2021: length was reduced to a new shorter 4.25-kilometer-long alignment to be built as part of BRO's "Project Yojak",<ref name=tunlen1/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constructionworld.in/transport-infrastructure/highways-and-roads-infrastructure/bro-develops-project-yojak-in-himachal-pradesh-to-boost-road-infra/32056 |title=BRO develops Project Yojak in Himachal Pradesh to boost road infra |date=18 January 2022 |work=Construction World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=19 May 2021|title=Defence ministry clears the BRO tunnel under Shinkun La in Ladakh|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/defence-ministry-clears-the-bro-tunnel-under-shinkun-la-in-ladakh-101621414374031.html|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

2022 April: BRO stated construction will commence by July with expected completion by 2025.<ref name=daterev1>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/roadways/bro-to-construct-worlds-highest-tunnel-at-shinku-la-pass-to-connect-himachal-to-ladakh/articleshow/91049727.cms?from=mdr |date=24 April 2022|title=BRO to construct world's highest tunnel at Shinku La Pass to connect Himachal to Ladakh |work=The Economic Times}}</ref> This plan did not materialise.

2023 February: the Union Cabinet approved the fundng of ₹1,681 crores with a target completion date of December 2027.<ref name=target1/>

2024 July: Foundation stone for commencement of construction laid by the Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]].<ref name=target2>{{Cite web |title=PM Modi Conducts 'First Blast' Of Shinku La Tunnel In Ladakh {{!}} All You Need To Know |url=https://www.livemint.com/videos/news/pm-modi-conducts-first-blast-of-shinku-la-tunnel-in-ladakh-11721996292162.html |access-date=2024-11-22}}</ref>

2025 March: Four-year timeline fixed in the contract, major construction to begin in May 2025, completion date is by August 2028.<ref name=shintunl1/>

2025 November: Work was in progress from both portals, completion will be in 4 years (2028–29).<ref name=opbrd1>[https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/linking-frontiers-with-the-nation-1503507700.html Linking frontiers with the nation], The Statesman, 5 Nov 2025.</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Atal Tunnel]]
* [[Victory Tunnel]]
* [[India–China Border Roads]]
* [[Leh Manali road]]
* [[Nimmu–Padam–Darcha road]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

{{Mountain passes of India}}
{{Ladakh}}

[[Category:Mountain passes of Ladakh]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Geography of Lahaul and Spiti district]]

Shinku La - Revision history

JaniePan0653361: made initial page with sources!