Nathu La Pass

Nathu La Pass Latest News

Border trade via Nathu La Pass, which had remained suspended for six years due to Covid-19 pandemic and India-China border tensions, resumed recently.

About Nathu La Pass

• It is a mountain pass in the Himalayas in Sikkim, 54 kilometres east of Gangtok.
• It connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. 
• ‘’Nathu’’ means “listening ears”, and ‘’La’’ means “pass” in Tibetan.
• The pass, at 4,310 m above mean sea level, forms a part of an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road. 
• It is one of the highest motorable roads in the world.
• It is guarded on both sides by Chinese and Indian soldiers.
• It is one of the three open trading border posts between India and China; the other two are in Himachal Pradesh (Shipkila) and Uttarakhand (Lipulekh).
• Sealed by India after the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Nathu La was reopened in 2006 following numerous bilateral trade agreements.
• Traded items are limited and include silk, clothes, and yak hair and tail.  
• Only citizens of India can visit the pass, and then only after obtaining a permit in Gangtok.

News: NIE

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