Lipulekh Pass

Lipulekh Pass Latest News

The centuries-old India-Tibet trade route through Lipulekh Pass has reopened recently, with a 17-member Indian delegation entering Taklakot in Tibet after China cleared cross-border trade.

About Lipulekh Pass

• It is a high-altitude mountain pass located in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, in India’s Kumaon region. 
• It sits at the intersection of three international borders: India to the south and west, China (Tibet Autonomous Region) to the north and east, and Nepal to the west. 
• It links the Indian state of Uttarakhand with the Tibet region of China.
• Altitude: It lies at an altitude of approximately 5,334 meters (17,500 feet).
• Its elevation and strategic location make it a gateway to the higher reaches of the Himalayas.
• It is the first Indian border post opened for trade with China in 1992.
• Other passes: This was followed by the opening of Shipki La Pass, Himachal Pradesh, in 1994 and Nathu La Pass, Sikkim, in 2006.
• Significance:
  • Strategic Location: Lies at the tri-junction of India, Nepal, and China, making it geographically significant.
  • Ancient Trade Route: Lipulekh Pass has been utilized for centuries as a trade route, connecting the Indian subcontinent with the Tibetan plateau.
  • Religious Significance: It is a key corridor for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and plays an important role in connecting border communities, especially tribal groups such as the Bhotiyas who depend on cross-border trade.

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What are the territorial disputes?

• The disagreement dates back to the 1816 Sugauli Treaty signed between British India and Nepal after the Anglo-Nepal War. 
• Under the treaty, the Kali River was accepted as the boundary between the two sides.
• The problem is that India and Nepal disagree on where the Kali River actually begins. 
• India maintains that the river originates near Kalapani, placing areas such as Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura within Indian territory. 
• Nepal, however, argues that the river begins farther west, which would place all three areas inside Nepal.
• Because both countries use different interpretations of the treaty, the border remains disputed even today.
• How does China come into the mix?
  • What adds to the dispute is that Nepal argues that trade between India and China through this pass is often held without Nepali consent.
  • In 2015, India and China agreed to use Lipulekh for bilateral trade and the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, triggering widespread protests in Nepal.

News: NIE