Chang La is a high mountain pass in

Ladakh Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947. (subscription required) Quote: "Jammu ...

at an elevation of in the Ladakh Range between Leh and the Shyok River valley. The Chang La, on Leh to

Pangong Lake Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake (; ; hi, text=पैंगोंग झील) is an endorheic lake spanning eastern Ladakh and West Tibet situated at an elevation of . It is long and divided into five sublakes, called ''Pangong Tso'', ''Tso N ...

road, lies on the Leh- Karu- Sakti- Zingral-Chang La-

Durbuk Durbuk or Darbuk, is a village and the headquarters of the eponymous subdivision and block in the Leh district of Ladakh, India.

Tangtse Tangtse or Drangtse () is a village in the Leh district of Ladakh, India. It is located in the Durbuk tehsil. Traditionally, it was regarded as the border between the Nubra region to the north and the Pangong region to the south. It was a k ...

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 () and Taruk (also spelled Tharuk).World's highest motorable road at 18600 ft inaugurated in Ladakh
The News Minute, 21 SEPTEMBER 2021.MP Ladakh inaugurates road connecting Zingral to Tharuk, Tangtse
Govt of Ladakh, accessed Sept 2021. Chang La is approached from Zingral village by a steeply climbing asphalt road which requires a careful drive. 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 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 Altitude sickness, the mildest form being acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the harmful effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. People can respond to high altitude in different ways. Sympt ...

Etymology

''Chang La'' literally means "Northern Pass" (Chang = north, La = Pass).

Geography

The Changla Pass is the main gateway for the

Nubra Nubra, also called Dumra, is a historical region of Ladakh, India that is currently administered as a subdivision and a tehsil in the Leh district. Its inhabited areas form a tri-armed valley cut by the Nubra and Shyok rivers. Its Tibetan name ...

region. The small town of

Tangste Tangtse or Drangtse () is a village in the Leh district of Ladakh, India. It is located in the Durbuk tehsil. Traditionally, it was regarded as the border between the Nubra region to the north and the Pangong region to the south. It was a k ...

is one of the nearest settlement. Zingral is the nearest habitation.

DRDO research station

The world's highest research station, established by the

Defence Research and Development Organisation The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) (IAST: ''Raksā Anūsandhān Evam Vikās Sangaṭhan'') is the premier agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development in Ministry of Defence of the Government of India, ...

is functional in Chang La at a height of 17,664 ft.

Gallery

File:Chang La prayer flag.jpg, Chang La with prayer flags File:Chang La, Tea Point.jpg, Chang La, Tea Point, everyone is welcome File:Chang La pass, Ladakh.JPG, Chang La, Ladakh in 2013

References

External links