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Coordinates: 34°16′44″N 75°28′19″E / 34.27889°N 75.47194°E / 34.27889; 75.47194
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{{Short description|Himalayan mountain pass in Ladakh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2007}}
{{Inline|date=September 2022}}

{{Infobox mountain pass
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Zoji La
| name = Zoji La
| other_name =
| other_name =
| photo = A view from Zoji La.jpg
| photo = Zojila Road.jpg
| photo_caption = View from Zoji La
| photo_caption = Zoji La in June 2004
| elevation_m = 3528
| elevation_m = 3528
| elevation_ref =
| elevation_ref =
| traversed = [[National Highway 1 (India)|Srinagar–Leh Highway]]
| traversed = [[National Highway 1 (India)|Srinagar–Leh Highway]]
| location = [[Ladakh]], [[India]]
| location = [[Ladakh]], [[India]]
| range = [[Himalaya]]
| range = [[Himalayas]]
| map = India Ladakh#India Jammu and Kashmir#India
| map = #India Jammu and Kashmir#India
| label_position = right
| label_position = right
| map_caption = Location in [[Ladakh]]
| map_caption = Location in [[Ladakh]]
| coordinates = {{coord|34|16|44|N|75|28|19|E|display=inline,title|type:pass}}
| coordinates = {{coord|34|16|44|N|75|28|19|E|display=inline,title|type:pass}}
| topo =
| topo =
| embedded = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
| embedded = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
}}
}}
'''Zoji La''' (sometimes '''Zojila Pass''') is a high [[List of mountain passes#India|mountain pass]] in the [[Himalaya]]s. It is in the [[Kargil district]], Indian Union territory of Ladakh. Located in the [[Dras]] subdivision, the pass connects the [[Kashmir Valley]] to its west with the [[Dras River|Dras]] and [[Suru valley]]s to its northeast and the [[Indus River|Indus]] valley further east. [[National Highway 1 (India)|National Highway #1]] between [[Srinagar]] and [[Leh]] in the western section of the Himalayan mountain range, traverses the pass. As of late 2022, an all-weather [[Zoji-la Tunnel]] is under construction to mitigate seasonal road blockages due to heavy snowfall.
[[File:Zojila Road.jpg|thumb|Zoji La in June, 2004]]
'''Zoji La''' is a high [[List of mountain passes#India|mountain pass]] in the [[Himalaya]]s in the [[India]]n union territory of [[Ladakh]]. Located in the [[Dras]], the pass connects the [[Kashmir Valley]] to its west with the Dras and [[Suru valley|Suru]] valleys to its northeast and the [[Indus River|Indus]] valley further east.

The [[National Highway 1 (India)|National Highway 1]] between [[Srinagar]] and [[Leh]] in the western section of the [[Himalaya]]n mountain range traverses the pass. Since vehicle flow stops during winter every year due to heavy snowfall, the all weather [[Zoji-la Tunnel]] is now constructed to mitigate this.


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
According to some sources, Zoji La means the "mountain pass of blizzards".<ref name=zojitank1>[https://theprint.in/defence/zojila-battle-of-1948-when-indians-surprised-pakistan-with-tanks-at-11553-ft/314474/ Zojila battle of 1948 — when Indians surprised Pakistan with tanks at 11,553 ft], The Print, 1 November 2019.</ref>. However the word for blizzards is བུ་ཡུག་ (wylie bu-yug)
According to some sources, ''Zoji La'' means the "mountain pass of blizzards".<ref name=zojitank1>[https://theprint.in/defence/zojila-battle-of-1948-when-indians-surprised-pakistan-with-tanks-at-11553-ft/314474/ Zojila Battle of 1948—When Indians Surprised Pakistan with Tanks at 11,553 ft]; The Print; 1 November 2019; article; accessed ???</ref> The word for blizzards, however, is བུ་ཡུག་ (''wylie bu-yug''). Based on oral tradition that survived among the local people, Zoji refers to Du-Zhi-la, the goddess of Tibet’s four seasons. The ''[[Du-Zhi-lha-mo legend]]'' (དུས་བཞི་ལྷ་མོ ) describes her as the wife of [[Naropa]].<ref name=KL>{{cite web |title=O' Zoji La |website=Kashmir Life |date=2015-05-18 |accessdate=2024-06-03 |url=https://kashmirlife.net/o-zoji-la-issue-09-vol-07-79128/}}</ref>

Zoji is actually Du-Zhi-la, the goddess of Tibetan’s four seasons; the Du-Zhi-lha-mo དུས་བཞི་ལྷ་མོ Legend terms her the wife of Naropa. With time people changed it to Zojila. This is wholly based on oral transmission that survived among the local people.
It is sometimes referred to as "Zojila Pass" which is a [[misnomer]] and the suffix "Pass" is redundant because the word "La" itself means a mountain pass in [[Tibetan People|Tibetan]], Ladakhi and several languages spoken in the Himalayan region. Other examples are [[Nathu La]] on Sikkim-Tibet border, [[Baralacha la|Baralacha La]] on [[Leh-Manali Highway]], [[Khardung La]], [[Fotu La]], Namika La and [[Pensi La]], to name only a few.
The pass is also referred to as "Zojila Pass", which is a [[misnomer]]. The word "pass" is redundant because the suffix "La/Lah" itself means a mountain pass in [[Tibetic languages|Tibetan]], [[Ladakhi language|Ladakhi]], and several other languages spoken in the Himalayan region.<ref group=notes name="a">Other examples of this use of "''La / Lah''" are [[Nathu La]] (on the Sikkim–[[Tibet]] border), [[Baralacha la|Baralacha La]] (on the [[Leh–Manali Highway]]), [[Khardung La]], [[Fotu La]], Namika La and [[Pensi La]], to name only a few.</ref>{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}


==Climate==
{{Weather box
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| width = auto
| location = Zojila Pass {1981–2023 via satellite based observations ( All values are rounded to the nearest integer )}
| Jan record high C = -2
| Feb record high C = 3
| Mar record high C = 13
| Apr record high C = 18
| May record high C = 23
| Jun record high C = 29
| Jul record high C = 32
| Aug record high C = 32
| Sep record high C = 29
| Oct record high C = 20
| Nov record high C = 11
| Dec record high C = 2
| year record high C = 32
| Jan high C = -13
| Feb high C = -10
| Mar high C = -4
| Apr high C = 4
| May high C = 9
| Jun high C = 11
| Jul high C = 13
| Aug high C = 13
| Sep high C = 11
| Oct high C = 7
| Nov high C = -6
| Dec high C = -10
| year high C = NA
| Jan low C = -22
| Feb low C = -21
| Mar low C = -13
| Apr low C = -4
| May low C = -1
| Jun low C = 7
| Jul low C = 9
| Aug low C = 9
| Sep low C = 8
| Oct low C = -6
| Nov low C = -13
| Dec low C = -21
| year low C = NA
| Jan record low C = -44
| Feb record low C = -41
| Mar record low C = -32
| Apr record low C = -19
| May record low C = -11
| Jun record low C = -8
| Jul record low C = 1
| Aug record low C = -1
| Sep record low C = -7
| Oct record low C = -20
| Nov record low C = -34
| Dec record low C = -43
| year record low C = -44
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 220
| Feb rain mm = 242
| Mar rain mm = 420
| Apr rain mm = 340
| May rain mm = 203
| Jun rain mm = 182
| Jul rain mm = 230
| Aug rain mm = 210
| Sep rain mm = 180
| Oct rain mm = 92
| Nov rain mm = 83
| Dec rain mm = 228
| year rain mm =
| source = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Kupwara Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 441–442
| access-date = 24 March 2020}}</ref>
}}


==Location==
==Location==
[[File:SnowCutting.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.8|Snow cutting machine on the Zoji La]]


Zoji La is about 100&nbsp;km from [[Srinagar]], the capital of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and 15&nbsp;km from [[Sonamarg|Sonmarg]]. It provides a vital link between [[Ladakh]] and Kashmir Valley. It runs at an elevation of approximately {{convert|3528|m|ft|0}}, and is the second highest pass after [[Fotu La]] on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway. It is often closed during winter, though the [[Border Roads Organisation]] (BRO) is working to extend traffic to more period in winter. The Beacon Force unit and The Vijayak Force unit of the BRO are responsible for clearing and maintenance of the road during Winter. Driving through the pass in winter means driving between thick walls of ice on both sides.
Zoji La is about 100 km from [[Srinagar]], the capital of the [[Union Territory]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], and 15 km from [[Sonamarg|Sonmarg]]. It provides a vital link between Ladakh and the Kashmir Valley. It runs at an elevation of approximately {{convert|3528|m|ft|0}}, and is the second-highest pass after [[Fotu La]] on the Srinagar–Leh National Highway. It is often closed during winter, though the [[Border Roads Organisation]] (BRO) works to keep the pass open when possible; driving through the pass in winter means driving between thick walls of ice on both sides.<ref name=KL/>


{{clr|left}}
== First Kashmir War ==
During the [[First Kashmir War]], Zoji La was seized by [[Gilgit Scouts|Gilgit rebels]] in 1948 in their campaign to capture [[Ladakh]]. The pass was recaptured by Indian forces on 1 November in an assault codenamed [[Operation Bison (Jammu & Kashmir 1948)|Operation Bison]], which achieved success primarily due to the surprise use of tanks, then the highest altitude at which tanks had operated in combat in the world.<ref name="Rescue">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SMwBAAAAMAAJ|title=Operation Rescue:Military Operations in Jammu & Kashmir 1947–49|last=Sinha|first=Lt. Gen. S.K.|publisher=Vision Books|year=1977|isbn=81-7094-012-5|location=New Delhi|pages=103–127|access-date=4 August 2010}}</ref>


== Zoji La tunnel ==
== History==
{{main article|Zoji-la Tunnel}}
The project was approved by the [[Government of India]] in January 2018 and the commencement of its construction was inaugurated by Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] in May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/j-k-pm-modi-inaugurates-zojila-tunnel-project-in-leh-all-you-need-to-know-about-indias-longest-tunnel-5182934/|title=PM Modi inaugurates Zojila project in Leh: All you need to know about India’s longest tunnel|date=19 May 2018}}</ref> The 14&nbsp;km long tunnel will reduce the time to cross the Zoji La from more than 3 hours to just 15 minutes. The initial cost of the tunnel is {{USD|930 million}}. When completed, it will be the longest bidirectional tunnel in Asia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cabinet-approves-zojila-pass-tunnel-project/articleshow/62355962.cms|title=Cabinet approves Zojila Pass tunnel project – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-approves-zojila-tunnel-project-jammu-kashmir-leh-ladakh-connectivity-winters-5010221/|title=Cabinet nod for Rs 6,809-crore Zojila tunnel project connecting Jammu and Kashmir with Ladakh|date=2018-01-04|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-04-07|language=en-US}}</ref>


===First Kashmir War ===
==Gallery==
During the [[First Kashmir War]], Zoji La was seized by [[Gilgit Scouts|Gilgit rebels]] in 1948 in their campaign to capture [[Ladakh]]. Pakistan Army led by Maj. Muhammad Khan Jarral conquered Zojila pass in 1948. The pass was recaptured by Indian forces on 1 November in an assault codenamed [[Operation Bison (Jammu & Kashmir 1948)|Operation Bison]], which achieved its objective primarily due to the surprising use of tanks by Indian forces. At the time, this was the highest altitude at which tanks had operated in combat in the world.<ref name="Rescue">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SMwBAAAAMAAJ| title=Operation Rescue:Military Operations in Jammu & Kashmir 1947–49| last=Sinha| first=Lt. Gen. S.K.| publisher=Vision Books| year=1977| isbn=81-7094-012-5| location=New Delhi| pages=103–127| access-date=4 August 2010}}</ref>
<gallery perrow="5" style="padding:0px;border:0px;">

Image:SnowCutting.jpg|Snow cutting machine on the Zoji La
== Zoji La tunnel ==
Image:Zojila Road.jpg|[[National Highway 1D (India)|Srinagar-Zojila-Leh Road]]
{{Main|Zoji-la Tunnel}}
Image:Road to Zoji La.jpg|Street up to Zoji La (coming from Srinagar)
The Zoji-la Tunnel project was approved by the government in January 2018. Construction was inaugurated by [[Prime minister|Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]] in May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/j-k-pm-modi-inaugurates-zojila-tunnel-project-in-leh-all-you-need-to-know-about-indias-longest-tunnel-5182934/| title=PM Modi Inaugurates Zojila Project in Leh: All you need to know about India’s longest tunnel| date=19 May 2018}}</ref> The 14 km long tunnel will reduce the time to cross the Zoji La from over 3 hours to just 15 minutes. The initial cost of the tunnel is {{USD|930 million}}. When completed, it will be the longest bidirectional tunnel in Asia.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cabinet-approves-zojila-pass-tunnel-project/articleshow/62355962.cms| title=Cabinet Approves Zojila Pass Tunnel Project| work=The Times of India| access-date=2018-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-approves-zojila-tunnel-project-jammu-kashmir-leh-ladakh-connectivity-winters-5010221/| title=Cabinet Nod for Rs 6,809-crore Zojila Tunnel Project Connecting Jammu and Kashmir with Ladakh| date=2018-01-04| work=The Indian Express| access-date=2018-04-07| language=en-US}}</ref>
Image:Zoji La - Jammu And Kasmir.jpg|Vehicles proceeding towards the valley through the Zoji La
</gallery>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}
* [[Machoi Glacier]]
* [[Machoi Glacier]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=notes}}
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://theprint.in/defence/zojila-battle-of-1948-when-indians-surprised-pakistan-with-tanks-at-11553-ft/314474/ Zojila battle of 1948 — when Indians surprised Pakistan with tanks at 11,553 ft], The Print, 1 November 2019.


{{Mountain passes of India}}
{{Mountain passes of India}}
{{Ladakh}}
{{Ladakh}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Mountain passes of Ladakh]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of the Himalayas]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of the Himalayas]]
[[Category:Ladakh]]
[[Category:Geography of Ladakh]]
[[Category:Geography of Ladakh]]

Latest revision as of 07:08, 27 September 2024

Zoji La
Zoji La in June 2004
Elevation3,528 m (11,575 ft)
Traversed bySrinagar–Leh Highway
LocationLadakh, India
RangeHimalayas
Coordinates34°16′44″N 75°28′19″E / 34.27889°N 75.47194°E / 34.27889; 75.47194
Zoji La is located in Jammu and Kashmir
Zoji La
Zoji La
Location in Ladakh
Zoji La is located in India
Zoji La
Zoji La
Zoji La (India)
Map

Zoji La (sometimes Zojila Pass) is a high mountain pass in the Himalayas. It is in the Kargil district, Indian Union territory of Ladakh. Located in the Dras subdivision, the pass connects the Kashmir Valley to its west with the Dras and Suru valleys to its northeast and the Indus valley further east. National Highway #1 between Srinagar and Leh in the western section of the Himalayan mountain range, traverses the pass. As of late 2022, an all-weather Zoji-la Tunnel is under construction to mitigate seasonal road blockages due to heavy snowfall.

Etymology

[edit]

According to some sources, Zoji La means the "mountain pass of blizzards".[1] The word for blizzards, however, is བུ་ཡུག་ (wylie bu-yug). Based on oral tradition that survived among the local people, Zoji refers to Du-Zhi-la, the goddess of Tibet’s four seasons. The Du-Zhi-lha-mo legend (དུས་བཞི་ལྷ་མོ ) describes her as the wife of Naropa.[2]

The pass is also referred to as "Zojila Pass", which is a misnomer. The word "pass" is redundant because the suffix "La/Lah" itself means a mountain pass in Tibetan, Ladakhi, and several other languages spoken in the Himalayan region.[notes 1][citation needed]


Climate

[edit]
Climate data for Zojila Pass {1981–2023 via satellite based observations ( All values are rounded to the nearest integer )}
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) −2
(28) 		3
(37) 		13
(55) 		18
(64) 		23
(73) 		29
(84) 		32
(90) 		32
(90) 		29
(84) 		20
(68) 		11
(52) 		2
(36) 		32
(90)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −13
(9) 		−10
(14) 		−4
(25) 		4
(39) 		9
(48) 		11
(52) 		13
(55) 		13
(55) 		11
(52) 		7
(45) 		−6
(21) 		−10
(14) 		2
(36)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −22
(−8) 		−21
(−6) 		−13
(9) 		−4
(25) 		−1
(30) 		7
(45) 		9
(48) 		9
(48) 		8
(46) 		−6
(21) 		−13
(9) 		−21
(−6) 		−6
(22)
Record low °C (°F) −44
(−47) 		−41
(−42) 		−32
(−26) 		−19
(−2) 		−11
(12) 		−8
(18) 		1
(34) 		−1
(30) 		−7
(19) 		−20
(−4) 		−34
(−29) 		−43
(−45) 		−44
(−47)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 220
(8.7) 		242
(9.5) 		420
(16.5) 		340
(13.4) 		203
(8.0) 		182
(7.2) 		230
(9.1) 		210
(8.3) 		180
(7.1) 		92
(3.6) 		83
(3.3) 		228
(9.0) 		2,630
(103.7)
Source: India Meteorological Department[3]

Location

[edit]
Snow cutting machine on the Zoji La

Zoji La is about 100 km from Srinagar, the capital of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and 15 km from Sonmarg. It provides a vital link between Ladakh and the Kashmir Valley. It runs at an elevation of approximately 3,528 metres (11,575 ft), and is the second-highest pass after Fotu La on the Srinagar–Leh National Highway. It is often closed during winter, though the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) works to keep the pass open when possible; driving through the pass in winter means driving between thick walls of ice on both sides.[2]

History

[edit]

First Kashmir War

[edit]

During the First Kashmir War, Zoji La was seized by Gilgit rebels in 1948 in their campaign to capture Ladakh. Pakistan Army led by Maj. Muhammad Khan Jarral conquered Zojila pass in 1948. The pass was recaptured by Indian forces on 1 November in an assault codenamed Operation Bison, which achieved its objective primarily due to the surprising use of tanks by Indian forces. At the time, this was the highest altitude at which tanks had operated in combat in the world.[4]

Zoji La tunnel

[edit]
Main article: Zoji-la Tunnel

The Zoji-la Tunnel project was approved by the government in January 2018. Construction was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2018.[5] The 14 km long tunnel will reduce the time to cross the Zoji La from over 3 hours to just 15 minutes. The initial cost of the tunnel is US$930 million. When completed, it will be the longest bidirectional tunnel in Asia.[6][7]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Other examples of this use of "La / Lah" are Nathu La (on the Sikkim–Tibet border), Baralacha La (on the Leh–Manali Highway), Khardung La, Fotu La, Namika La and Pensi La, to name only a few.
This article contains Indic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks or boxes, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Zojila Battle of 1948—When Indians Surprised Pakistan with Tanks at 11,553 ft; The Print; 1 November 2019; article; accessed ???
  2. ^ a b "O' Zoji La". Kashmir Life. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Station: Kupwara Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 441–442. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  4. ^ Sinha, Lt. Gen. S.K. (1977). Operation Rescue:Military Operations in Jammu & Kashmir 1947–49. New Delhi: Vision Books. pp. 103–127. ISBN 81-7094-012-5. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  5. ^ "PM Modi Inaugurates Zojila Project in Leh: All you need to know about India's longest tunnel". 19 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Cabinet Approves Zojila Pass Tunnel Project". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Cabinet Nod for Rs 6,809-crore Zojila Tunnel Project Connecting Jammu and Kashmir with Ladakh". The Indian Express. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
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