Head To The Top Of The World With A Journey To Umling La

Sounds exciting, right?! We’re sure it is. 

The first thought that would be coming to your mind is, where is it? 

Well, you’ll be thrilled to know that it is in India itself, and second thought, how do you reach the spot which is the gateway to the top? Well, all you have to do is scroll down and find out for yourself. 

Whenever you read about Leh Ladakh and the various Ladakh tour packages, the most significant name that appears in almost all of them is Khardung La. Well, it has all the reasons to be in that position too. 

Renowned as the gateway to the Nubra and the Shyok Valley, Khardung La pass offers breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains surrounding it; the landscape is an amalgamation of rocky mountains, deep valleys and stretches of snow. 

Besides the beauty, the Khardung La pass also has a significant history; since time immemorial, it has been a major trade route between India and Central Asia and has been used by caravans for centuries. The pass, in the modern day, is an essential link between Ladakh and the rest of India. 

The pass is also known as one of the most unique and one of the 50+ amazing places to visit in Ladakh; well, the reason for that is the altitude of this pass. The Khardung La is located at an elevation of 5,359 metres above sea level and is the highest pass in the world. Well, here’s where things change; we all used to think that Khardung La was the highest pass in the world, but in recent times, it was learnt that Umling La took over Khardung La to become the highest pass in the world.

After renovating, the Border Roads Organisation officially opened the Umling La pass’s doors to the public for the first time. Located at an altitude of 19,024 feet, the Umling La pass officially became the highest pass in the world, giving you the opportunity to actually reach the top of the world. Just like its counterpart, the Umling La pass offers the same thrill, adventure and breathtaking beauty but much better than others. 

In order to travel on the pass, one does not need a travel permit but needs to pay a small environmental fee which goes towards the betterment of the region. Well, here’s another thing to keep in mind before travelling to the pass. Since Umling La is located at an altitude of more than 19,000 feet above sea level, acute mountain sickness becomes a common thing there, so before heading to the pass, do read more about it.

Here’s another thing, also the most important thing– how to reach Umling La? Well, there are 3 routes to reach Umling La. They are: 

Route 1: Fukche- Royul- Demchok- Umling La