Shingo La

2012-10-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Shingo-la is a mountain pass in India, on the border between Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. There is a shallow lake or pool 20m below the pass. The pass is on a long-distance footpath linking Zanskar and Lahaul, used often by locals and trekkers alike. For trekkers it is one of the technically easiest 5000m passes in Indian Himalaya, involving no glacier trekking nor steep climbs. There is snow on the pass all year round, although in the summer only a small stretch of snow has to be passed. There is no official sign proclaiming height of the pass. The height indicated by various trekking website varies from 4900 to 5100 meters.

This pass may be considered as an entry point to Lugnak Valley in Zanskar. The nearest inhabited village on Zanskar side is Kurgiak and on the Lahaul side is Chikka. Both the villages generally involves two days trekking from the pass. The base camp for crossing the pass are set up at Chumik Nakpo from Darcha side and Lakham from Padum side.
The Indian government is planning to build a road over Shingo La. Currently there is no road going south from Zanskar. However there is an unmetalled road till Zanskar Sumdo which is 9-10 hrs from this pass towards Darcha side. The four-wheelers however can come till Palamo which is around 8 km from Zanskar Sumdo towards Darcha side.