Kunzum Pass
| Kunzum La | |
|---|---|
 Kunzum Pass between Lahaul & Spiti | |
| Elevation | 4,551 m (14,931 ft) |
| Traversed by | Kaza-Keylong |
| Location | Himachal, India |
| Range | Kunzum, Himalayas |
| Coordinates | 32°24′57″N 77°38′55″E / 32.415798°N 77.648528°E |
Kunzum Pass (Tibetan: Kunzum La, elev. 4,551 m or 14,931 ft), is a high mountain pass in the eastern Kunzum Range of the Himalayas. It connects Lahaul valley and Spiti valley. It is on the route from Gramphoo in Lahaul to Kaza the subdivisional headquarters of Spiti. Kunzum Pass on NH505 is 122 km (76 mi) from Manali, and 79 km (49 mi) from Kaza.[1]
Transport
[edit]NH505 over the Kunzum Pass connects Kaza to Manali in southwest, and Kaurik, Sumdo, Pooh & Tabo in east. Kaza-Pooh-Tabo-Shimla route is open whole year, but the Manali-Kaza route is closed for 7 winter months every year during which Kunzum Pass (15,000 ft) is closed. NHAI is planning to construct a tunnel under the Kunzum Pass to provide all-weather connectivity between Manali and Spiti valley.[1] The Kunzum Pass is normally open from June/July to October/November.[2] The dates of opening and closing are dependent on the weather and road repair by the Border Roads Organisation.[3]
NH505 from the Manali-Gramphoo side in the west climbs steeply through fifteen (15) sharp hairpin turns from Batal (el. 4,000 m or 13,000 ft) on the Chandra River, testing the driving skills of even experienced drivers.[4] On the Kaza side in east, the road from the small town of Losar (el. 4,076 m or 13,373 ft) runs on the right bank of a tributary of the Spiti. It climbs through a dry, semi-desert landscape 22 km (14 mi) up to the Kunzum Pass.[5]
Tourism
[edit]Many drivers and travelers seek blessings of Kunzum Mata before continuing on the dangerous journey. There is also a 15 km trek to Chandratal, the Moon Lake, from the Kunzum La.
Climate
[edit]| Climate data for Kunzum Pass, elevation 4,551 m (14,931 ft), (1991–2020, extremes 1962–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −26 (−15) |
−28 (−18) |
−19 (−2) |
−10 (14) |
−7 (19) |
2 (36) |
4 (39) |
7 (45) |
8 (46) |
1 (34) |
−12 (10) |
−20 (−4) |
−8 (17) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −40 (−40) |
−41 (−42) |
−36 (−33) |
−28 (−18) |
−20 (−4) |
−12 (10) |
−10 (14) |
−9 (16) |
−8 (18) |
−14 (7) |
−30 (−22) |
−38 (−36) |
−24 (−11) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 19 (0.7) |
22 (0.9) |
24 (0.9) |
30 (1.2) |
10 (0.4) |
7 (0.3) |
3 (0.1) |
9 (0.4) |
7 (0.3) |
4 (0.2) |
2 (0.1) |
12 (0.5) |
149 (6) |
| Source: India Meteorological Department[6][7] | |||||||||||||
Gallery
[edit]-
Young Tibetan couple at Kunzum Pass -
Kunzum Mata temple -
Kunzum La, Lahaul & Spiti Himachal Pradesh -
References
[edit]- ^ a b Rs 200 cr for Sumdoh-Gramphu road, The Tribune, 14 June 2020.
- ^ "District Lahaul and Spiti > Tourism > How to Reach". District Lahaul and Spiti, Government of Himachal Pradesh. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ "Kunzum Pass Reopened After Months of Closure". Outlook Traveller. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ "Node: Kunzum La (287412459)". OpenStreetMap.org. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ Chaudhry, Minakshi (2007). Destination Himachal: Over 132 Offbeat and 12 Popular Getaways. New Delhi: Rupa. pp. 346–348. ISBN 978-81-291-0715-2.
- ^ "Station: Banihal Climatological Table 1991–2020" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1991–2020. India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Station: Banihal Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 85–86. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.