Shipki La
| Shipki La | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 5,669 m (18,599 ft) |
| Traversed by | Indian National Highway 5 |
| Location | China–India border |
| Coordinates | 31°49′N 78°45′E / 31.817°N 78.750°ECoordinates: 31°49′N 78°45′E / 31.817°N 78.750°E |
Shipki La is a mountain pass and border post on the India-China border. The river Sutlej, which is called Langqên Zangbo in Tibet, enters India (from Tibet) through this pass. It is an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road.
It is located in Kinnaur district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India, and Tibet, China. The pass is India's second border post for trade with Tibet after Nathu La in Sikkim, and Lipulekh in Nepal. The pass is close to town of Khab.
Currently, the border is used only for small-scale local trade across the border.[1] Like other border passes along the India-Tibet border, the border is no longer open for non-residents. Most people travelling between India and Tibet by land travel via Nepal.
Sino-Indian trade
It was suggested NH 5 could be used as a route for land access to the Arabian Sea as the Karakoram Highway is much more treacherous for transport. This opening of the border at Shipki La is claimed to potentially increase trade on both sides of the border.[2]