Why a motor-able road on Khardung la pass was built?

Ladakh, popularly known as “the moon land”, “snow desert” and “the land of high passes” is one of the most popular tourist destinations of India. Trekkingin Ladakh is a heavenly feeling for the enthusiast trekkers of the globe. Leh is the capital city and central point of Ladakh Tourism of this region. Khardung la, Alchi, Hemis, Lamayuru, Zanskar Valley, Nubra Valley, Kargil, Pangong Tso, Tso Kar and Tso Moriri are the main tourist destinations of the Leh Ladakh.

That is where Khardung la Pass, is located on the way from Leh to the Nubra Valley in Leh Ladakh. It is the highest motor-able road in the world as a signboard is kept at the ending point of Khardung la (also known as K-Top) pass denoting the height by the Border Roads Organization of India.

The Reasons why Khardung la pass was built:

According to the documents available with the Indian Army, the Khardung la has quite a bit of history behind it. I am about to share the facts which I got to read and know from Lt. General (Retired) TB Nanda, then Chief Engineer of the Northern Command in-charge of building this road:

“After the 1971 war with Pakistan, there was an exchange of territory in the mountainous country north of the Himalayas, and India acquired an area of some 400 square miles across the Shyok River.

Our main supply base for this area was at Leh on south of the Ladakh range. On the north side of this range was a Forward Supply Depot at Partapur. Up to this time supply to the FSD from Leh had been both by pack transport over the Ladakh range and by aircraft to Thoise, where there was a narrow runway.

But despite the efforts of path clearing gangs, the Khardung la pass was often impassable for pack transport in winter, and the Air Force was unhappy using the Thoise runway. The low mounted engines of the aircraft tended to chock in dust and sand.”

Then it was decided to make a motorable road over the Khardung La. The road was built within a year and later was opened to traffic on August 27, 1973 to solve the problem of supplies to the whole region.

Here, the weather can turn for the worse suddenly. Even on 2^nd May 2012, snowfall in this area is an indicator that one needs to be careful to harsher conditions anytime. The views from Khardung la pass are undoubtedly breathtaking views of Ladakh range to the south and Karakoram to the north. And snow capped peaks at almost touching distance all around.

One should not expect much to do while here, except walk around a bit and feel the cool air against the face and admire the views. But you can actually do some shopping here at a souvenir shop run by the Army at Khardung la the highest motor-able road of the world.

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