Zojila Pass, Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir India

The Zozila or Zojila Pass is one of the important mountain passes in India. The pass lies amid Leh in the Western Himalayan Mountain Ranges and Srinagar, on the Indian National Highway 1D. In other words, it connects Leh and Srinagar.

In spite of the fact that it is commonly mentioned as Zojila Pass in the worldwide press, the precise English adaptation is Zoji Pass or just Zojila because the suffix “La” represents pass in different languages talked in the Himalayan territory. In present-day languages in North India, “La” and “Darra” are both implemented interchangeably to signify pass.

Zojila Pass on the crucial 434 km - long Srinagar-Leh National Highway was formally opened to traffic by Lt Gen JR Mukherjee, GOC 15 Corps. Beacon Force of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is responsible for the clearance and maintenance of Srinagar-Leh highway and its greatest bottleneck, Zojila, at an altitude of 3530 metres, which ironically is the lowest motorable pass on the Great Himalayan Range.

Zojila experiences vicious winds due to the funnel effect and very heavy snowfall. There are more than 60 dangerous avalanche sites on this road. Moreover, Beacon boys have to brave blizzards, extreme wind, chill and very risky situations as in the Kargil sector. Notwithstanding such conditions, the brave jawans of BRO assisted by 120 civilians worked tirelessly to open the pass in a record time.

In view of the fact that by April end most supplies in Ladakh dwindle to sustainable levels, this opening will prove to be a boon to all Ladakhis. Ladakh remains cut off from the rest of the country from November onwards when all passes connecting it across the Himalayas are blocked by heavy snow. The opening would make available to tourists a cheaper and more thrilling land route to explore upper Kashmir and Ladakh.