Driving the Scenic Paved Mountain Road to Namshang La
India, asia
44.8 km
4,960 m
easy
Year-round
Namshang La, sitting pretty at 16,273 feet in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, India, is a total feast for the eyes. Picture this: you're surrounded by hundreds of colorful Buddhist prayer flags fluttering in the wind at the summit. This pass is your gateway from the Indus Valley up to the high plateau of Tsomoriri, right near the border with Tibet and its massive lake sitting pretty at 14,700 feet.
The good news? The road is a smooth, newly paved black tarmac. The area is remote, so prepare for vast, sparsely populated landscapes and raw natural beauty. Keep in mind there's next to nothing in the way of villages or gas stations along the route, so fill 'er up before you go!
This 27.83-mile stretch runs north-south from Sumdo to Korzok, one of the highest towns in India. Nestled in the Rupshu region of the Changthang Plateau, expect freezing temperatures in winter, which pretty much shuts things down until summer. Even then, be prepared for some seriously high passes (like Kiagar La at 15,941 feet!), a small saline lake called Kyagar Tso at 15,436 feet and cold nights, even in the summer months.
Where is it?
Driving the Scenic Paved Mountain Road to Namshang La is located in India (asia). Coordinates: 20.6637, 75.1407
Road Details
- Country
- India
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 44.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,960 m
- Difficulty
- easy
- Coordinates
- 20.6637, 75.1407
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