Himalayan Ranges, Peaks and Passes
Peaks and passes are common "match the following" questions. Learn the table, then locate them on the map.
Important peaks of India
| Peak | Height (m, approx.) | State / UT | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kangchenjunga | 8,586 | Sikkim-Nepal | Highest peak in India; third highest in the world |
| Nanda Devi | 7,816 | Uttarakhand | Highest peak entirely in India; Nanda Devi NP |
| Kamet | 7,756 | Uttarakhand | Second highest in Uttarakhand |
| Saser Kangri I | 7,672 | Ladakh | Highest in the Saser Muztagh (Eastern Karakoram) |
| Mamostong Kangri | 7,516 | Ladakh | Rimo Muztagh |
| Rimo I | 7,385 | Ladakh | Near Siachen |
| Hardeol | 7,151 | Uttarakhand | Kumaon |
| Chaukhamba (Badrinath) | 7,138 | Uttarakhand | Near Badrinath |
| Nun | 7,135 | Ladakh (Zanskar) | Highest in Zanskar; Kun nearby (7,087) |
| Trisul | 7,120 | Uttarakhand | Three-pronged |
| Kangto | 7,090 | Arunachal Pradesh | Highest in Arunachal |
| Kedarnath | 6,940 | Uttarakhand | Kedarnath temple below |
| Shivling | 6,543 | Uttarakhand | Gangotri glacier |
| Kolahoi | 5,425 | J&K (Kashmir Valley) | Highest peak in the Kashmir Himalaya valley; "Matterhorn of Kashmir" |
| K2 (Godwin Austen) | 8,611 | Karakoram (India claims as Gilgit-Baltistan) | Highest in the Karakoram, second highest in the world |
| Nanga Parbat | 8,126 | Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan-administered) | Western anchor of the Himalaya |
Himalayan passes: state-wise
Passes are the gaps in the high mountains used for roads, trade and invasion.
| Pass | Height (m, approx.) | Region | Connects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banihal | 2,832 | J&K | Jammu and Srinagar (Jawahar Tunnel, Banihal tunnel); Pir Panjal |
| Pir Panjal Pass | 3,490 | J&K | Mughal Road: Shopian and Rajouri-Poonch |
| Zoji La | 3,528 | J&K / Ladakh | Srinagar to Leh (Kargil); Great Himalaya |
| Khardung La | ~5,359 | Ladakh | Leh to Nubra valley (Siachen road) |
| Chang La | ~5,360 | Ladakh | Leh to Pangong |
| Fotu La | 4,108 | Ladakh | Highest on the Srinagar-Leh road |
| Karakoram Pass | 5,540 | Ladakh | Ladakh to Xinjiang |
| Tanglang La | ~5,328 | Ladakh | Manali-Leh highway (second highest pass of this route) |
| Baralacha La | 4,890 | Himachal-Ladakh | Manali-Leh road; Lahaul and Zanskar |
| Rohtang | 3,978 | Himachal Pradesh | Kullu to Lahaul-Spiti; Atal Tunnel (9.02 km; opened 3 Oct 2020) |
| Kunzum La | 4,551 | Himachal | Lahaul to Spiti |
| Shipki La | 3,930 | Himachal | India to Tibet; Sutlej enters India |
| Lipulekh | ~5,334 | Uttarakhand | India-Tibet; Kailash Mansarovar Yatra |
| Mana | 5,611 | Uttarakhand | Badrinath to Tibet; among the highest motorable passes |
| Niti | 5,070 | Uttarakhand | India-Tibet |
| Nathu La | 4,310 | Sikkim | India-Tibet; Old Silk Route; trade reopened 2006 |
| Jelep La | 4,538 | Sikkim | Sikkim to Tibet (Lhasa) |
| Bomdi La | 2,438 | Arunachal Pradesh | Tawang area |
| Sela Pass | ~4,170 | Arunachal Pradesh | Tawang; Sela Tunnel opened March 2024 |
| Pangsau (Hell Pass) | 1,136 | Arunachal / Myanmar | Stilwell Road |
Minor ranges and peaks (selected)
| Range | Location |
|---|---|
| Karakoram | Ladakh / Gilgit-Baltistan; K2, Gasherbrum, Broad Peak, Masherbrum |
| Ladakh Range | Parallel to the Indus, across Leh |
| Zanskar Range | South of the Indus, between Zanskar valley and Great Himalaya |
| Pir Panjal | J&K and Himachal; Banihal Pass, Mughal Road |
| Dhauladhar | Himachal (Dharamshala at its foot) |
| Nag Tibba, Mussoorie | Uttarakhand |
| Kumaon peaks | Nanda Devi, Kamet, Trisul |
| Sikkim | Kangchenjunga and Pauhunri |
| Arunachal | Kangto, Gorichen (Gorichen Chuli, 6,488 m) |
Map practice
Locate K2, Kangchenjunga, Nanda Devi, Kangto; passes Banihal, Zoji La, Khardung La, Rohtang, Shipki La, Nathu La, Bomdi La.
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from NCERT, standard geography textbooks, the Census of India 2011, the India State of Forest Report, IMD, Ministry of Agriculture and other official sources. Maps are schematic teaching maps, not Survey of India maps, and zone boundaries are approximate. Figures such as production, capacity, counts of parks and ports, and census status change, so check the latest official source before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.