An Explorer's Guide to Karakoram La

Karakoram Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.542m (18,182ft) above sea level, located on the China-India border. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Karakoram La

Set high in the Karakoram mountain range, the road to the summit, also known as Kunlun La, is paved on the Chinese side. It’s impassable from September to June. The climb is simply terrible. Remember this is a mountainous area, climbing up a high mountain, with a notorius absence of oxygen. Altitude and extreme weather are always a factor. The road is heavily used by military vehicles. The pass links Jammu and Kashmir in India and the Xinjiang autonomous region in western China. The road used to be a popular trade route. Accessibility is largely limited to the summer season. Facilities like electricity, medical aid, hot running water, western toilets etc. are rare to find.

 

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