View source for Chang La

{{Short description|Mountain pass in Ladakh, India}}
{{About|the mountain pass in India|the mountain on the China–Nepal border|Changla}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Chang La
| photo = ChanglaPass.jpg
| photo_caption = 
| map = India Ladakh#India
| map_caption = Location of Chang La in Ladakh
| elevation_m = 5360
| elevation_ref = 
| traversed = Road from Indus Valley to [[Pangong Lake]]
| location = [[Ladakh]], [[India]]
| range = [[Himalaya]]
| 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|abbr=on}} in the [[Great Himalayas|Greater Himalaya]] 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><!-- 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 wikipedia guidelines to encourage article creation.-->-[[Zingral]]<!--Retain redlink per wikipedia 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 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. Doctors advise that staying at the top for more than 20-25 minutes can cause [[altitude sickness]].

== Etymology ==

''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 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>

==Gallery==
 
<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
</gallery>

==See also ==

* [[India-China Border Roads]]
* [[Tourism_in_Ladakh#Transport|Transport and tourism in Ladakh]]
* [[List of mountain passes of India]]
* [[List of mountains in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://twitter.com/Ieshan_W/status/1463822067707510789 Video clip of road on Chang La]

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

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


{{Ladakh-geo-stub}}