Going To Ladakh? You Can Add The New Highest Motorable Road In The World to Your List

Khardung La visitors can no longer boast of having visited the highest motorable road in India

Published On Aug 06, 2021 17:42 IST

Published OnAug 06, 2021 17:42 IST

Last Updated OnAug 06, 2021 17:42 IST

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The Umling La Pass in eastern Ladakh is now complete, and it is the world’s highest motorable road at 19,300 feet. The pass, developed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), lies higher than the base camp of Mt. Everest!

At that height, the amount of oxygen available in the air is 50 percent lesser than sea level.

Also See: Electric Cars In India

The entire stretch is black-topped and it’s 52 km long, provides better connectivity to towns in eastern Ladakh’s Chumar sector. The road is expected to boost tourism in the union territory. This project was challenging, considering temperatures in the region can be unforgiving, dipping as low as -40 degree celsius during winters.

Before the Umling La pass, the highest motorable road in the world was in Bolivia (connecting the Uturuncu volcano) at 18,953 feet. The same record in India was held by the Khardung La Pass, at 17,582 feet.

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Dhruv

He has been passionate about getting behind the wheel since a very early age. Prefers petrol over diesel any day and uses a 2003 Honda City for daily driving. Also owns a 2016 TVS Apache RTR 200 that he uses to hone his riding skills and doesn’t like to pick between four-wheels and two-wheels. Holds a postgraduate degree in Journalism and ultimately aims to be a racecar driver someday.Read more