Kunzum Pass

Kunzum Pass (Tibetan: Kunzum La, elev. 4,551 m or 14,931 ft), is a high mountain pass in the eastern Kunzum Range of the Himalayas. It connects Lahaul valley and Spiti valley. It is on the route from Gramphoo in Lahaul to Kaza the subdivisional headquarters of Spiti. Kunzum Pass on NH505 is 122 km (76 mi) from Manali, and 79 km (49 mi) from Kaza.[1]

Kunzum La
Kunzum Pass between Lahaul & Spiti
Elevation4,551 m (14,931 ft)
Traversed byKaza-Keylong
LocationHimachal, India
RangeKunzum, Himalayas
Coordinates32.415798°N 77.648528°E / 32.415798; 77.648528
Road from Losar on the Spiti side up to Kunzum La Pass. Mountains on the Lahaul side of the Kunzum Pass.

Transport

NH505 over the Kunzum Pass connects Kaza to Manali in southwest, and Kaurik, Sumdo, Pooh & Tabo in east. Kaza-Pooh-Tabo-Shimla route is open whole year, but the Manali-Kaza route is closed for 7 winter months every year during which Kunzum Pass (15,000 ft) is closed. NHAI is planning to construct a tunnel under the Kunzum Pass to provide all-weather connectivity between Manali and Spiti valley.[1] The Kunzum Pass is normally open from June/July to October/November.[2] The dates of opening and closing are dependent on the weather and road repair by the Border Roads Organisation.[3]

NH505 from the Manali-Gramphoo side in the west climbs steeply through fifteen (15) sharp hairpin turns from Batal (el. 4,000 m or 13,000 ft) on the Chandra River, testing the driving skills of even experienced drivers.[4] On the Kaza side in east, the road from the small town of Losar (el. 4,076 m or 13,373 ft) runs on the right bank of a tributary of the Spiti. It climbs through a dry, semi-desert landscape 22 km (14 mi) up to the Kunzum Pass.[5]

Tourism

Many drivers and travelers seek blessings of Kunzum Mata before continuing on the dangerous journey. There is also a 15 km trek to Chandratal, the Moon Lake, from the Kunzum La.

References
  1. Rs 200 cr for Sumdoh-Gramphu road, The Tribune, 14 June 2020.
  2. "District Lahaul and Spiti > Tourism > How to Reach". District Lahaul and Spiti, Government of Himachal Pradesh. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  3. "Kunzum Pass Reopened After Months of Closure". Outlook Traveller. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  4. "Node: Kunzum La (287412459)". OpenStreetMap.org. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  5. Chaudhry, Minakshi (2007). Destination Himachal: Over 132 Offbeat and 12 Popular Getaways. New Delhi: Rupa. pp. 346–348. ISBN 978-81-291-0715-2.
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