
Dare to drive the dangerous Changi La road
India, asia
14.1 km
4,235 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, adventure junkies, let me tell you about Changi La in Ladakh, India! This beast of a mountain pass climbs to a dizzying 13,894 feet. The road? Let's just say it's not for the faint of heart. We're talking a super-narrow, unpaved, winding path, so buckle up and get ready for 42 hairpin turns that'll test your driving skills. Seriously, you're going to want a 4x4 for this one.
The views are absolutely breathtaking, though! The road, appropriately named Changi La Road, kicks off from Akchamal and stretches for about 8.7 miles. In that short space, you'll climb over 4,100 feet. That’s an average grade of almost 9%! At the top, you'll find some communication towers, but the real reward is the panoramic scenery and the bragging rights of conquering this epic climb. Trust me, this is one road trip you won't soon forget!
Where is it?
Dare to drive the dangerous Changi La road is located in India (asia). Coordinates: 25.6072, 73.4975
Road Details
- Country
- India
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 14.1 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,235 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 25.6072, 73.4975
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