Got a motorcycle? Test your mad riding skills here.

Tripoto
3rd Aug 2016
Photo of Got a motorcycle? Test your mad riding skills here. 1/1 by The Travelling Assassin

So, in your appetite/lust for adventure; you jump from trains, dive from planes, live and die by the sword. You think you have seen it all and believe you are the baddest thing around town.

Well, get ready to be thrown around like a ragdoll (read: send shivers down your spine). You haven't had your fair share of adventure until you have survived (yes!! survived) these high altitude motorable passes in India.

The Indian Sub Continent, is clearly a country of great extreme. Home to some of the richest trails and ranges that make for the most enriching motorcycle rides housing almost all of the "badass" high altitude motorable passes in the world.

At these passes, amidst the chaos and unforgiving, freak weather causing mayhem; Your heart races, stomach lurches and your brains go into an overdrive, when you ride along with bated breadth and awestruck expressions leaving behind clouds of dust and images in motion, only to realize where you're heading is a matter of pride and adventure is just an understatement.

So, here's a list of high altitude motorable passes which sets the motorcycle tour in India apart from rest of the world.

La = Pass (Tibetan).

1. Dungri La/Mana pass

Photo of Mana Pass, Uttarakhand, India by The Travelling Assassin
  • Elevation : 5610 m (18406 feet)*.
  • Location : Uttarkhand.
  • Permits : Special permission is required for civilians.

2. Marsimik La

Photo of Marsimik La by The Travelling Assassin
  • Elevation : 5582 m (18314 feet)*.
  • Location : Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Permits : Required. Obtained from Leh DC office.

3. Chang La

Photo of Chang La Pass by The Travelling Assassin
  • Elevation : 5360 m (17585 feet)*
  • Location : Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Permits : Not required.

4. Khardung La

Photo of Khardung La by The Travelling Assassin
  • Elevation : 5359 m (17582 feet)*.
  • Location : Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Permits : Not required.

5. Tanglang La

Photo of Tanglang La by The Travelling Assassin
  • Elevation : 5328 m (17480 feet)*.
  • Location : Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Permits : Not required.

6. Lachung La

Photo of Lachung, Sikkim, India by The Travelling Assassin
  • Elevation : 5059 m (16598 feet)*.
  • Location : Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Permits : Not required.

7. Baralacha La

Photo of Baralacha La Pass, Lahaul And Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India by The Travelling Assassin
  • Elevation : 4890 m (16043 feet)*.
  • Location : Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Permits : Not required.

8. Kunzum La

Photo of Kunzum La, Dhar Thachakarpo, Himachal Pradesh, India by The Travelling Assassin
  • Elevation : 4590 m (15059 feet)*.
  • Location : Himachal Pradesh.
  • Permits : Required. Obtained from Manali DC office.

9. Nathu La

Photo of Nathula, Sikkim, India by The Travelling Assassin
  • Elevation : 4310 m (14140 feet)*.
  • Location : Sikkim.
  • Permits : Required. Obtained from Gangtok. Only Indian citizens are allowed to visit Nathu La.

10. Sela Pass

Photo of Sela Pass by The Travelling Assassin
  • Elevation : 4170 m (13360 feet)*.
  • Location : Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Permits : Not required.

* = height disputed.

There are many other passes which need to be uncovered completely. (Pothi La, Wari La, Namsang La, Polokung La etc). Until then, test your motoring skills at above mentioned passes.