
Travel guide to the top of Shingo La Pass
India, asia
56.8 km
5,048 m
hard
Year-round
Shingo La, also called Shinkun La and a bunch of other similar names, is this crazy-high mountain pass sitting right on the border between Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, India. We're talking 5,048m (16,561ft) above sea level!
The road, known as Shingo La Road, is now completely paved as part of the Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road, aka the Zanskar Highway. This beauty finally wrapped up in 2024!
Now, even though it's paved, don't get complacent! This is still a wild ride. Think hairpin turns, potential avalanches, blizzards, and landslides. Seriously, Mother Nature throws everything she's got at this road.
Straddling the Lahaul and Zanskar valleys, the pass stretches for 56.8 km (35.29 miles) of pure scenic bliss. You'll be cruising through massive open plains, surrounded by epic mountains, and catching glimpses of crystal-clear lakes.
Because of the heavy snowfall, expect it to be closed from around October to June. They're building a tunnel to try and keep it open year-round, but even then, winter closures are likely. The tunnel is expected to be completed by 2025.
Where is it?
Travel guide to the top of Shingo La Pass is located in India (asia). Coordinates: 24.7424, 77.3605
Road Details
- Country
- India
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 56.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,048 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 24.7424, 77.3605
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