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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2007}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Zoji La
| other_name =
| photo = A view from Zoji La.jpg
| photo_caption = View from Zoji La
| elevation_m = 3528
| elevation_ref =
| traversed = [[National Highway 1 (India)|Srinagar–Leh Highway]]
| location = [[Ladakh]], [[India]]
| range = [[Himalaya]]
| map = India Ladakh#India
| map_caption = Location in [[Ladakh]]
| coordinates = {{coord|34|16|44|N|75|28|19|E|display=inline,title|type:pass}}
| topo =
}}
[[File:Zojila Road.jpg|thumb|Zoji La in June, 2004]]
'''Zoji La''' is a high [[List of mountain passes#India|mountain pass]] in the [[Himalaya]]s in the [[India]]n union territory of [[Ladakh]]. Located in the [[Dras]], the pass connects the [[Kashmir Valley]] to its west with the Dras and [[Suru valley|Suru]] valleys to its northeast and the [[Indus River|Indus]] valley further east.

The [[National Highway 1 (India)|National Highway 1]] between [[Srinagar]] and [[Leh]] in the western section of the [[Himalaya]]n mountain range traverses the pass. Since vehicle flow stops during winter every year due to heavy snowfall, the all weather [[Zoji-la Tunnel]] is now constructed to mitigate this.

==Etymology==
Zoji La means the "mountain pass of blizzards".<ref name=zojitank1>[https://theprint.in/defence/zojila-battle-of-1948-when-indians-surprised-pakistan-with-tanks-at-11553-ft/314474/ Zojila battle of 1948 — when Indians surprised Pakistan with tanks at 11,553 ft], The Print, 1 November 2019.</ref>

It is sometimes referred to as "Zojila Pass" which is a [[misnomer]] and the suffix "Pass" is redundant because the word "La" itself means a mountain pass in [[Tibetan People|Tibetan]], Ladakhi and several languages spoken in the Himalayan region. Other examples are [[Nathu La]] on Sikkim-Tibet border, [[Baralacha la|Baralacha La]] on [[Leh-Manali Highway]], [[Khardung La]], [[Fotu La]], Namika La and [[Pensi La]], to name only a few.

==Location==

Zoji La is about 100 km from [[Srinagar]], the capital of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and 15 km from [[Sonamarg|Sonmarg]]. It provides a vital link between [[Ladakh]] and Kashmir Valley. It runs at an elevation of approximately {{convert|3528|m|ft|0}}, and is the second highest pass after [[Fotu La]] on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway. It is often closed during winter, though the [[Border Roads Organisation]] (BRO) is working to extend traffic to more period in winter. The Beacon Force unit and The Vijayak Force unit of the BRO are responsible for clearing and maintenance of the road during Winter. Driving through the pass in winter means driving between thick walls of ice on both sides.

== Indo-Pakistani War 1947–1948 ==
During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947|Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948]], Zoji La was seized by Pakistani raiders in 1948 in their campaign to capture [[Ladakh]]. The pass was recaptured by Indian forces on 1 November in an assault codenamed [[Operation Bison (Jammu & Kashmir 1948)|Operation Bison]], which achieved success primarily due to the surprise use of tanks, then the highest altitude at which tanks had operated in combat in the world.<ref name="Rescue">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SMwBAAAAMAAJ|title=Operation Rescue:Military Operations in Jammu & Kashmir 1947–49|last=Sinha|first=Lt. Gen. S.K.|publisher=Vision Books|year=1977|isbn=81-7094-012-5|location=New Delhi|pages=103–127|access-date=4 August 2010}}</ref>

== Zoji La tunnel ==
The [[Zoji-la Tunnel|Zoji La tunnel]] project was approved by the [[Government of India]] in January 2018 and the commencement of its construction was inaugurated by Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] in May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/j-k-pm-modi-inaugurates-zojila-tunnel-project-in-leh-all-you-need-to-know-about-indias-longest-tunnel-5182934/|title=PM Modi inaugurates Zojila project in Leh: All you need to know about India’s longest tunnel|date=19 May 2018}}</ref> The 14 km long tunnel will reduce the time to cross the Zoji La from more than 3 hours to just 15 minutes. The initial cost of the tunnel is {{USD|930 million}}. When completed, it will be the longest bidirectional tunnel in Asia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cabinet-approves-zojila-pass-tunnel-project/articleshow/62355962.cms|title=Cabinet approves Zojila Pass tunnel project – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-approves-zojila-tunnel-project-jammu-kashmir-leh-ladakh-connectivity-winters-5010221/|title=Cabinet nod for Rs 6,809-crore Zojila tunnel project connecting Jammu and Kashmir with Ladakh|date=2018-01-04|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-04-07|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery perrow="5" style="padding:0px;border:0px;">
Image:SnowCutting.jpg|Snow cutting machine on the Zoji La
Image:Zojila Road.jpg|[[National Highway 1D (India)|Srinagar-Zojila-Leh Road]]
Image:Road to Zoji La.jpg|Street up to Zoji La (coming from Srinagar)
Image:Zoji La - Jammu And Kasmir.jpg|Vehicles proceeding towards the valley through the Zoji La
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}
* [[Machoi Glacier]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://theprint.in/defence/zojila-battle-of-1948-when-indians-surprised-pakistan-with-tanks-at-11553-ft/314474/ Zojila battle of 1948 — when Indians surprised Pakistan with tanks at 11,553 ft], The Print, 1 November 2019.

{{Mountain passes of India}}
{{Ladakh}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mountain passes of Ladakh]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of the Himalayas]]
[[Category:Ladakh]]
[[Category:Geography of Ladakh]]

Zoji La - Revision history

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