Chang La: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:00, 27 December 2025

Chang La is a high mountain pass in Ladakh at an elevation of 5,360 m (17,590 ft) in the Greater Himalaya between Leh and the Shyok River valley.^[1]^[2] The Chang La, on Leh to Pangong Lake road,^[3] lies on the Leh-Karu-Sakti-Zingral-Chang La-Durbuk-Tangtse-Pangong Lake motorable road. Karu, which lies on Leh-Manali NH-3, connects Chang La and Pangong Lake to Leh and the rest of India. In September 2021, BRO opened another alternate motorable asphalt road between Zingral and Tangtse via Ke La pass (5,669.28 m or 18,600.0 ft) and Taruk (also spelled Tharuk).^[4]^[5]

Chang La is approached from Zingral village by a steeply climbing asphalt road which requires careful driving. The stretch of 10–15 km road on either side of Chang La becomes loose dirt and slush after the winter and requires regular maintenance. During the summer months specifically the tourist season, small streams appear across the road, making the climb a challenge for bikers. The descent from Chang La towards Tangtse or Darbuk is again very steep. Doctors advise not staying at the top for more than 20–25 minutes as it may cause altitude sickness.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Chang La literally means "Southern Pass" ("Chang" = South, "La" = Pass) in the Tibetic language of Ladakhi.^[6]^[7]

Geography[edit | edit source]

The Changla pass is the main gateway for the Nubra region. The small town of Tangste is one of the nearest settlements.^[3] Zingral is the nearest habitation.

DRDO research station[edit | edit source]

The world's highest research station, established by the Defence Research and Development Organisation is functional at Chang La situated at the height of 5,384 metres (17,664 ft).^[3]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Chang La with prayer flags
Chang La, Tea Point, everyone is welcome
Chang La, Ladakh in 2013

References[edit | edit source]

↑ GeoNames. "Chang La Pass". Retrieved 17 June 2009.
↑ Jina, Prem Singh (31 August 1998). Ladakh: The Land & The People. India: Indus Publishing. pp. 25–26. ISBN 978-81-7387-057-6.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Service, Tribune News. "At 17,500 ft, world's highest research station becomes functional in Ladakh". Tribuneindia News Service.
↑ "World's highest motorable road at 18600 ft inaugurated in Ladakh". The News Minute. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
↑ "MP Ladakh inaugurates road connecting Zingral to Tharuk, Tangtse". Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh. Govt of Ladakh. 1 September 2021. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
↑ "Changla Pass". www.jktdc.co.in. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
↑ "Chang La – Gateway to Pangong and Guardian of the Cold → History of Chang La – Gateway to Pangong and Guardian of the Cold". ColorStays. Retrieved 30 October 2025.

External links[edit | edit source]

Video clip of road on Chang La

Template:Mountain passes of India

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[geonames-1] GeoNames. "Chang La Pass". Retrieved 17 June 2009.

[Jina-2] Jina, Prem Singh (31 August 1998). Ladakh: The Land & The People. India: Indus Publishing. pp. 25–26. ISBN 978-81-7387-057-6.

[new2-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Service, Tribune News. "At 17,500 ft, world's highest research station becomes functional in Ladakh". Tribuneindia News Service.

[new1-4] "World's highest motorable road at 18600 ft inaugurated in Ladakh". The News Minute. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.

[AUTL-5] "MP Ladakh inaugurates road connecting Zingral to Tharuk, Tangtse". Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh. Govt of Ladakh. 1 September 2021. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2021.

[6] "Changla Pass". www.jktdc.co.in. Retrieved 30 October 2025.

[7] "Chang La – Gateway to Pangong and Guardian of the Cold → History of Chang La – Gateway to Pangong and Guardian of the Cold". ColorStays. Retrieved 30 October 2025.

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@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 | traversed = Road from Indus Valley to [[Pangong Lake]]
 | location = [[Ladakh]], [[India]]
-| range = [[Himalaya]]
+| range = [[Himalayas]]
 | coordinates = {{coord|34.04704|77.93054|region:IN_type:pass|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 | topo =
 }}
-'''Chang La''' is a high [[mountain pass]] in [[Ladakh]] at an elevation of {{convert|5391.3024|m|ft|disp=or|abbr=on}} in the [[Ladakh Range]] between [[Leh]] and the [[Shyok River]] valley.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.geonames.org/1274656/chang-la.html |title= Chang La Pass |author=GeoNames |author-link=GeoNames |access-date=2009-06-17}}</ref><ref name="Jina">{{cite book |last = Jina |first = Prem Singh |location = India |title = Ladakh: The Land & The People |publisher = Indus Publishing |pages = 25–26 |date = 31 August 1998 |url = https://www.holidaymoods.in/leh-ladakh-tour-package |isbn = 978-81-7387-057-6 }} </ref>
+'''Chang La''' is a high [[mountain pass]] in [[Ladakh]] at an elevation of {{convert|5360|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the [[Great Himalayas|Greater Himalaya]] between [[Leh]] and the [[Shyok River]] valley.<ref name=geonames>{{cite web |url= http://www.geonames.org/1274656/chang-la.html |title= Chang La Pass |author=GeoNames |author-link=GeoNames |access-date=2009-06-17}}</ref><ref name="Jina">{{cite book |last = Jina |first = Prem Singh |location = India |title = Ladakh: The Land & The People |publisher = Indus Publishing |pages = 25–26 |date = 31 August 1998 |url = https://www.holidaymoods.in/leh-ladakh-tour-package |isbn = 978-81-7387-057-6 }} </ref><!-- WARNING: Do not insert "sourced" claims of highest motorable pass/road, as of Sept 2021 "Umingla pass" at the height of 19300 feet is the highest  motorable pass/road and other sources fail to take this fact into consideration, see https://www.livemint.com/Politics/YpojBHOzLBVypMDOylGPXJ/BRO-builds-worlds-highest-motorable-road-in-Ladakh-at-1930.html --> The Chang La, on [[Leh]] to [[Pangong Lake]] road,<ref name=new2/> lies on the Leh-[[Karu, Ladakh|Karu]]-[[Sakti, Ladakh|Sakti]]<!--Retain redlink per Bharatpedia guidelines to encourage article creation.-->-[[Zingral]]<!--Retain redlink per Bharatpedia guideliens to encourage article creation.-->-Chang La-[[Durbuk]]-[[Tangtse]]-[[Pangong Lake]] motorable road. Karu, which lies on Leh-[[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]] [[National Highway 3 (India)|NH-3]], connects Chang La and Pangong Lake to Leh and the rest of India. In September 2021, [[Border Roads Organisation|BRO]] opened another alternate motorable asphalt road between Zingral and Tangtse via [[Ke La]] pass<!--Retain redlink per Bharatpedia guidelines to encourage article creation.--> ({{convert|5669.28|m|ft|disp=or|abbr=on}}) and [[Taruk]]<!--Retain redlink per Bharatpedia guideliens to encourage article creation.--> (also spelled Tharuk).<ref name=new1>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/worlds-highest-motorable-road-18600-ft-inaugurated-ladakh-154665|title=World's highest motorable road at 18600 ft inaugurated in Ladakh|publisher=The News Minute|date=31 August 2021|access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref><ref name=AUTL>{{cite web|url=https://ladakh.nic.in/mp-ladakh-inaugurates-road-connecting-zingral-to-tharuk-tangtse/|title=MP Ladakh inaugurates road connecting Zingral to Tharuk, Tangtse|work=Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh|publisher=Govt of Ladakh|date=September 1, 2021|access-date=September 1, 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203123648/https://ladakh.nic.in/mp-ladakh-inaugurates-road-connecting-zingral-to-tharuk-tangtse/|archive-date=2024-12-03}}</ref>
-<!-- WARNING: Do not insert "sourced" claims of highest motorable pass/road, as of Sept 2021 "Umingla pass" at the height of 19300 feet is the highest  motorable pass/road and other sources fail to take this fact into consideration, see https://www.livemint.com/Politics/YpojBHOzLBVypMDOylGPXJ/BRO-builds-worlds-highest-motorable-road-in-Ladakh-at-1930.html -->
+Chang La is approached from Zingral village by a steeply climbing asphalt road which requires careful driving. The stretch of 10–15&nbsp;km road on either side of Chang La becomes loose dirt and slush after the winter and requires regular maintenance. During the summer months specifically the tourist season, small streams appear across the road, making the climb a challenge for bikers. The descent from Chang La towards Tangtse or Darbuk is again very steep. Doctors advise not staying at the top for more than 20–25 minutes as it may cause [[altitude sickness]].
-The Chang La, on [[Leh]] to [[Pangong Lake]] road,<ref name=new2/> lies on the Leh-[[Karu, Ladakh|Karu]]-[[Sakti, Ladakh|Sakti]]<!--Retain redlink per wikipedia guidelines to encourage article creation.-->-[[Zingral]]<!--Retain redlink per wikipedia guideliens to encourage article creation.-->-Chang La-[[Durbuk]]-Tangtse-[[Pagong Lake]] motorable road. Karu, which lies on Leh-[[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]] [[National Highway 3 (India)|NH-3]], connects Chang La and Pangong Lake to Leh and the rest of India. In September 2021, [[Border Roads Organisation|BRO]] opened another alternate motorable asphalt road between Zingral and Tangtse via [[Kela Pass]]-<!--Retain redlink per wikipedia guideliens to encourage article creation.--> ({{convert|5669.28|m|ft|disp=or|abbr=on}}) and [[Taruk]]<!--Retain redlink per wikipedia guideliens to encourage article creation.--> (also spelled Tharuk).<ref name=new1>[https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/worlds-highest-motorable-road-18600-ft-inaugurated-ladakh-154665 World's highest motorable road at 18600 ft inaugurated in Ladakh], The News Minute, 21 SEPTEMBER 2021.</ref><ref name=new3>[https://ladakh.nic.in/mp-ladakh-inaugurates-road-connecting-zingral-to-tharuk-tangtse/ MP Ladakh inaugurates road connecting Zingral to Tharuk, Tangtse], Govt of Ladakh, accessed Sept 2021.</ref>
-Chang La is approached from Zingral village by a steeply climbing asphalt road which requires a careful drive. The stretch of 10–15&nbsp;km road on either side of Chang la becomes loose dirt and slush after the winter and requires regular maintenance. During the summer months specifically the tourist season, small streams appear across the road, making the climb a challenge for the bikers. The descent from Chang La towards Tangtse or Darbuk is again very steep. As per the medics, it is advisable to not stay at the top for more than 20-25 mins as it could be detrimental to health owing to its high altitude which could cause the [[altitude sickness]].
 == Etymology ==
+''Chang La'' literally means "Southern Pass"  ("Chang" = South, "La" = Pass) in the [[Tibetic languages|Tibetic language]] of [[Ladakhi language|Ladakhi]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Changla Pass |url=https://www.jktdc.co.in/changla-pass.aspx |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=www.jktdc.co.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chang La – Gateway to Pangong and Guardian of the Cold → History of Chang La – Gateway to Pangong and Guardian of the Cold |url=https://www.colorstays.in/place/chang-la-pass-ladakh#HowToReach |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=ColorStays |language=en}}</ref>
-''Chang La'' literally means "Northern Pass"  (Chang = north, La = Pass).<ref name=new2/>
 == Geography ==
+The Changla pass is the main gateway for the [[Nubra]] region. The small town of [[Tangste]] is one of the nearest settlements.<ref name=new2/> Zingral is the nearest habitation.
-The Changla Pass is the main gateway for the [[Nubra]] region. The small town of [[Tangste]] is one of the nearest settlement.<ref name=new2/> Zingral is the nearest habitation.
 == DRDO research station ==
 {{anchor | DRDO | RS | DRDORS | DRDO RS | Research | DRDO Research Station | DRDO research station | Research station | Research Station }}
-The world's highest research station, established by the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] is functional in Chang La at a height of 17,664&nbsp;ft.<ref name=new2>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/at-17-500-ft-worlds-highest-research-station-becomes-functional-in-ladakh-141003|title=At 17,500 ft, world’s highest research station becomes functional in Ladakh|first=Tribune News|last=Service|website=Tribuneindia News Service}}</ref>
+The [[Defence Institute of High Altitude Research|world's highest research station]], established by the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] is functional at Chang La situated at the height of {{convert|17664|ft|m|order=flip}}.<ref name=new2>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/at-17-500-ft-worlds-highest-research-station-becomes-functional-in-ladakh-141003|title=At 17,500 ft, world's highest research station becomes functional in Ladakh|first=Tribune News|last=Service|website=Tribuneindia News Service}}</ref>
 ==Gallery==
@@ Line 47: / Line 42: @@
 ==See also ==
 * [[India-China Border Roads]]
 * [[Tourism_in_Ladakh#Transport|Transport and tourism in Ladakh]]
@@ Line 55: / Line 49: @@
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
+==External links==
+* [https://twitter.com/Ieshan_W/status/1463822067707510789 Video clip of road on Chang La]
 {{Ladakh}}
@@ Line 61: / Line 58: @@
 [[Category:Mountain passes of Ladakh]]
 [[Category:Mountain passes of the Himalayas]]
+[[Category:Mountain passes of India]]
 {{Ladakh-geo-stub}}