Khyber Pass Khyber Pass "Khyber is a Hebrew word meaning a fort" The Khyber Pass is a 53-kilometer (33-miles) passage through the Hindu Kush mountain range. It connects the northern frontier of Pakistan with Afghanistan. At its narrowest point, the pass is only 3 meters wide. On the north side of the Khyber Pass rise the towering, snow-covered mountains of the Hindu Kush. The Khyber Pass is one of the most famous mountain passes in the World. It is one of the most important passes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is the best land route between India and Pakistan and has had a long and often violent history. Conquering armies have used the Khyber as an entry point for their invasions. It was also been a major trade route for centuries. Khyber Pass, mountain pass in western Asia, the most important pass connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan, controlled by Pakistan. The Khyber Pass winds northwest through the Sefid Koh Range near Peshawar, Pakistan to Kabul , Afghanistan, varying in width from 3 to 137 m. The mountains on either side can be climbed only in a few places.

The pass is walled by precipitous cliffs that vary in height from about 180 to 300 m. The pass reaches its highest elevation at the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The history of the Khyber Pass as a strategic gateway dates from 326 B.C., when Alexander the Great and his army marched through the Khyber to reach the plains of India. From their, he sailed down Indus River and led his army across the desert of Gedrosia. In the A.D. 900s, Persian, Mongol, and Tartar armies forced their way through the Khyber, bringing Islam to India. Centuries later, India became part of the British Empire, and British troops defended the Khyber Pass from the British Indian side. During the Afghan Wars the pass was the scene of numerous skirmishes between Anglo-Indian soldiers and native Afghans. Particularly well known is the battle of January 1842, in which about 16,000 British and Indian troops were killed. The British constructed a road through the pass in 1879 and converted it into a highway during the 1920s.

A railroad was also built here in the 1920s. The Khyber, in its chequered history, has seen countless invasions. It witnessed the march of Aryans and victorious advance of Persian and Greek armies. It also saw the Scythians, White Huns, Seljuks, Tartars, Mongols, Sassanians, Turks, Mughals and Durranis making successive inroads into the territories beyond Peshawar Valley and Indus. The very sight of the Khyber reminds one of the conquerors who forced their way through its dangerous defiles. It is this Pass through which the subcontinent was invaded time and again by conquerors like Timur, Babar, Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali. Again, it was through this Pass that the Russian invasion of the subcontinent was feared by the British in the 19th century. The story of Khyber Pass is composed of such colour and romance, such tragedy and glory that fact really looks stranger than fiction in this case. The Khyber Pass has been a silent witness to countless great events in the history of mankind. As one drives through the Pass at a leisurely pace, imagination unfolds pages of history.

The Aryans descending upon the fertile northern plains in 1500 BC subjugating the indigenous Dravidian population and settling down to open a glorious chapter in history of civilization. The Persian hordes under Darius (6 century B.C.) crossing into the Punjab to annex yet another province to the Archaemenian Empire. The armies of Alexander the Great (326 BC) marching through the rugged pass to fulfill the wishes of a young, ambitious conqueror. The terror of Ghenghis Khan enwraping the majestic hills and turning back towards the trophies of ancient Persia. The White house bringing fire and destruction in their wake, the Scythians and the Parthians, the Mughals and the Afghans, conquerors all, crossing over to leave their impact and add more chapters to the diverse history of this subcontinent. The Muslim armies first passed through in 997 AD under the command of Subuktagin and later his celebrated son, Mahmud of Ghaznawi, marched through with his army as many as seventeen times between 1001-1030 AD. Some of his campaigns were directed through the Khyber Pass.

Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghaur, a renowned ruler of Ghauri dynasty, crossed the Khyber Pass in 1175 AD to consolidate the gains of the Muslims in India. He used Khyber Pass again in 1193 to measure strength with Pirthvi Raj Chouhan and show his mettle on the field of Tarain. This battle helped Muslims carve out a Muslim Kingdom in India. In 1398 AD Amir Timur, the firebrand from Central Asia, invaded India through the Khyber Pass and his descendant Zahiruddin Babur made use of this pass first in 1505 and then in 1526 to establish a mighty Mughal empire.In 1672, it was the Khyber Pass where the Afridis under the able leadership of Ajmal Khan defeated Muhammad Amin Khan's army and besides inflicting losses, both in men and material, on the enemy, the Afridis captured about 10,000 Mughal soldiers. Nadir Shah Afshar of Iran used the Khyber Valley in 1739 AD to attach Delhi.

The famous Afghan King, Ahmad Shah Abdali, crossed the Khyber Pass in 1761 AD and crushed the Marattha confederacy on the field of Panipat (India). The Khyber Valley saw a great deal of fighting between 1839-1919. During the First Afghan War (1839-42) General Pollock used the Khyber Pass on his way to Afghanistan to retrieve the British honour. Again, in 1878, the British forces marched through the Khyber Pass to launch an offensive against the Afghans in the Second Afghan War (1878-79). In 1897 a revolt flared up on the frontier region and the valleys of Khyber started vibrating with the echoes of war. The year 1919 again saw the movement of British troops through the Khyber during the Third Afghan War. The valiant sons of Khyber converged upon Peshawar in 1930 to give vent to their feelings of resentment against the indiscriminate firing of the British troops on freedom lovers in the famous Qissa Khawani Bazaar.

The chapter of fighting in Khyber, however, came to a close with the dawn of Independence in August, 1957. Since the establishment of Pakistan, the situation has changed altogether and the sentinels of Khyber are now interested in the welfare of their country-Pakistan - with which is linked their own future. But one thing remains unchanged. The invasion of the Khyber Pass is still on. Conquerors no longer traverse it, tourist do. The Khyber Pass is attracting thousands of tourists every year, besides a large number of foreign dignitaries, including Heads of States and Government leaders. For hundreds of years, great camel caravans traveled through the Khyber Pass, bringing goods to trade. These ancient merchants and traders brought luxurious silks and fine porcelain objects from China to the Middle East. Often, they stopped at Herat, the great oasis in western Afghanistan. The traders traveled in caravans as a protection against the hazards of travel. Even so, they were often robbed by local tribesmen when traveling through the Khyber Pass. The Khyber Pass today........

Today, two highways thread their way through the Khyber Pass-one for motor traffic, and one for the traditional caravans. A railway line also travels to the head of the pass. Recently, the Khyber Pass has been used to transport refugees from the Afghan civil war into Pakistan, and transport arms into Afghanistan. The highway over the Khyber Pass links Kabul to Peshawar. Villages lie on each side of the Khyber Pass. The people of the Khyber Pass are mainly Pashtuns . Khyber Pass | mountain pass, Pakistan-Afghanistan | Britannica.com mountain pass, Pakistan-Afghanistan Alternative Titles: Khaibar Pass, Khaybar Pass Related Topics Afghanistan Khyber Pass, Khyber also spelled Khaybar, orKhaibar, most northerly and important of the passes between Afghanistan and Pakistan . The pass connects Kābul with Peshāwar . The pass has historically been the gateway for invasions of the Indian subcontinent from the northwest.

The name Khyber is also applied to the range of arid, broken hills through which the pass runs and which form the last spurs of the Spin Ghar (Safīd Kūh) Range. On either side of the connecting ridge are the sources of two small streams, the beds of which form the Khyber gorge. This narrow gorge forms the Khyber Pass; it winds between cliffs of shale and limestone, 600–1,000 feet (180–300 m) high, and enters the Khyber Hills from the Shadi Bagiār opening, a few miles beyond Jamrūd , Pak., and continues northwestward for about 33 miles (53 km). Just beyond the old Afghan fort of Haft Chāh, it opens onto the barren Lowyah Dakkah plain, which stretches to the Kābul River . Khyber Pass, Pakistan Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. After a steep ascent at its southern entrance, the pass rises gradually to Fort Ali Masjid (3,174 feet), where the Khyber River (Khyber Khwār) leaves the pass to the south.

For 5 miles from Ali Masjid the pass becomes a defile not more than 600 feet wide, flanked by imposing and precipitous walls. From Zīntara village on northward, the pass becomes a valley a mile or more wide, with forts, villages, and scattered cultivation plots. About 10 miles west of Ali Masjid lies Landi Kotal fort and cantonment (3,518 feet); this is the highest point in the pass and is also an important market centre with an alternate route back to Peshāwar. There the summit widens out northward for 2 miles. The main pass, however, descends from Landi Kotal through Shinwārī territory to Landi Khāna, where it runs through another gorge and enters Afghanistan territory at Towr Kham (Torkham; 2,300 feet), winding another 10 miles down the valley to Lowyah Dakkah. Similar Topics Jelep Pass The Khyber Pass is threaded by a caravan track and by a good hard-surface road.

The railway (opened 1925) through the pass connects Jamrūd with Landi Khāna, near the Afghan frontier; the line, with its 34 tunnels and 94 bridges and culverts, revolutionized transportation in the area. The pass may be skirted by a road fork that enters the hills about 9 miles north of Jamrūd and emerges at Lowyah Dakkah. Few passes have had such continuing strategic importance or so many historic associations as the Khyber Pass. Through it have passed Persians, Greeks, Mughals, Afghans, and the British, for whom it was the key point in control of the Afghan border. In the 5th century bc Darius I the Great of Persia conquered the country around Kābul and marched through the Khyber Pass to the Indus River . Two centuries later Hephaestion and Perdiccas, generals of Alexander the Great , probably used the pass.

Buddhism flourished in and around the Khyber when it was part of Aśoka’s kingdom (3rd century bc); Buddhist remains include Kāfir Kot (Citadel of the Kafirs), Shopla stūpa (also called the Khyber Top), and the stūpa near Ali Masjid. The pass was used by Maḥmūd of Ghazna , Bābur, Nāder Shāh , and Aḥmad Shāh Durrānī and his grandson Shāh Zamān in their invasions of India. Ranjit Singh , the Sikh ruler of the Punjab, extended his kingdom as far as Jamrūd in the early 19th century. The Pashtun Afrīdī people of the Khyber area always resisted foreign control, and numerous punitive expeditions were undertaken against them by the Mughals and the British. The first British advance northward into the Khyber took place in 1839, and during the First Anglo-Afghan War the pass was the scene of many skirmishes with the Afridis.

The Treaty of Gandamak , which was signed during the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1879, left the Khyber tribes under British control. In 1897 the Afridis seized the pass and held it for several months but were defeated in the Tīrāh expedition of 1897. The British became responsible for the safety of the pass, which is now controlled by the Pakistani Khyber Agency. Learn More in these related articles: Famous Mountain Passes Of The World Famous Mountain Passes Of The World Updated on October 22, 2011 A mountain pass is defined as a path between two mountain peaks. Geographically speaking a mountain pass is a saddle point between two areas of higher elevations and makes a path for crossing between the chains of mountains . The Significance Of Mountain Passes Mountains usually act as barriers between the borders of two countries or cities, the mountain passes between the mountain ranges allow an access for from part of the land to the other. Over the centuries the mountain passes have been used by the traders and various for travel and trade. Even today, these mountain passes are used for such purposes.

Many of the mountain passes break the barriers between two countries making the passage clear for the travelers. The Khyber Pass The top of the mountain pass is a flat top therefore usually roads and railway tracks are built on them. Some of the passes are broad and large enough for towns and small stations to be built on them as well. Following are some famous mountain passes of the world: The Khyber Pass Khyber Pass is the mountain pass that links the country Pakistan and Afghanistan. Not only does it connect the two countries but is also is a passage from the South Asia to the Central Asia. The altitude of the pass is almost 1070 m and stretches between the two countries at the length of 1027m. An old photo of The Khyber Pass Famous Himalayan Mountains Nature is full of beauty, there are countless things around the world which remind us about the beauty of the world we live in. Great St.Bernards Pass as viewed from South. History The Khyber Pass has played a significant role in the history of South Asia. For centuries it has been a trade route between the two parts of the continents, not only that, but this pass has also been the route for invaders towards India.

It was the Khyber Pass through which the Aryans entered India, using this pass the great Mahmud of Ghaznavid entered India. The first Mughal king Babar also invaded India through this pass. The Great St.Bernard’s Pass The great St Bernard’s pass is present in the western Alps located in Switzerland and Italy. It runs northeast south west through the Valais Alps and has an elevation of approximately 2469 m. The road on the pass joins the Martigny on the upper Rhone river present in the Canton of Valais in Switzerland to the Aosta, presnt in the Aosta valley in Italy, hence joining the two countries. Famous Mountains Of The World A Mountain Range is a collection of several high and low mountains, often termed as its peaks. It may consist of several valleys and river channels formed by water rushing down from melting glaciers. Army man at the Khardung La Pass The Khardung La Pass The Khardung la’s pass is located at the Ladakh range of the Himalayan ranges present in Jammu and Kashmir, India.

It is situated 35 km north to Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir and is a gateway to the valleys of Shyok and Nubra. The elevation of this pass is approximately 5359 m. There had been an error in the Guinness book of world which stated it as the highest pass of the world. However it was proved wrong and now based on various researches made, it stands at the elevation of 5359 m. Strategically the Khardung La’s pass is an important pass for India. Essential supplies are carried to Siachen which is located at the Nubra valley. The pass lies above the Caravan route from Leh to Kashgar in China. History The Khardung La’s pass was officially built in 1976 and was opened for motor vehicles in 1988. In past it has played a part in the trade between China and India. During the World War 2 an attempt was made to travel material to China through this route. The Stelvio Pass The Stelvio Pass The Stelvio pass is Located in the Eastern Alps at Italy.

Elevated at the height of 2757m it is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps and the second highest of the Alps. it is present north of Bormio in the province of Sondrio and south of Stilfs in the province of Bolzano-Bozen, Italy. Above the pass are the “three language peaks”. The peaks are so named because it is believed that it was where the Italian, Roman and German languages met. Greenery at The Stelvio Pass History The road on the Pass was built in 1820 by the Austrian Empire to connect a former province of Austria Lombardia to the rest of Austria. After 1919 due to the expansion of Italy the pass lost its strategic importance. During the First World War there were fierce battles on the areas of snow and ice of the pass. The Karakoram Pass The Karakoram Pass The Karakoram pass is located in the Karakoram Ranges between China and India. It is present on the Jammu and Kashmir border of India and the Xingjiang region of China. The elevation of the pass is approximately 5540m.

History This high altitude pass has been the ancient route of Caravans. It is considered to be a highly dangerous pass mainly due to its high altitude. Top Mountain Biking Trails Mountain biking is something which offers bicycle riding off the road, using specialized bicycles which are specially designed for this purpose. More by this Author Afghanistan - Mountains Mountains Afghanistan Table of Contents Mountains dominate the landscape, forming a terrigenous skeleton, traversing the center of the country, running generally in a northeast-southwest direction. More than 49 percent of the total land area lies above 2,000 meters. Although geographers differ on the division of these mountains into systems, they agree that the Hindukush system, the most important, is the westernmost extension of the Pamir Mountains, the Karakorum Mountains, and the Himalayas. The origin of the term Hindukush (which translates as Hindu Killer) is also a point of contention.

Three possibilities have been put forward: that the mountains memorialize the Indian slaves who perished in the mountains while being transported to Central Asian slave markets; that the name is merely a corruption of Hindu Koh, the pre-Islamic name of the mountains that divided Hindu southern Afghanistan from non-Hindu northern Afghanistan; or, that the name is a posited Avestan appellation meaning "water mountains." The mountain peaks in the eastern part of the country reach more than 7,000 meters. The highest of these is Nowshak at 7,485 meters. Mount Everest in Nepal stands 8,796 meters high. The Pamir mountains, which Afghans refer to as the 'Roof of the World," extend into Tajikistan, China and Kashmir. The mountains of the Hindukush system diminish in height as they stretch westward: toward the middle, near Kabul, they extend from 4,500 to 6,000 meters; in the west, they attain heights of 3,500 to 4,000 meters. The average altitude of the Hindukush is 4,500 meters.

The Hindukush system stretches about 966 kilometers laterally, and its median north-south measurement is about 240 kilometers. Only about 600 kilometers of the Hindukush system is called the Hindukush mountains. The rest of the system consists of numerous smaller mountain ranges including the Koh-e Baba; Salang; Koh-e Paghman; Spin Ghar (also called the eastern Safid Koh); Suleiman; Siah Koh; Koh-e Khwaja Mohammad; Selseleh-e Band-e Turkestan. The western Safid Koh, the Siah Band and Doshakh are commonly referred to as the Paropamisus by western scholars. Numerous high passes (kotal) transect the mountains, forming a strategically important network for the transit of caravans. The most important mountain pass is the Kotal-e Salang (3,878 meters); it links Kabul and points south to northern Afghanistan. The completion of a tunnel within this pass in 1964 reduced travel time between Kabul and the north to a few hours. Previously access to the north through the Kotal-e Shibar (3,260 meters) took three days.

The Salang Tunnel at 3363 meters and the extensive network of galleries on the approach roads were constructed with Soviet financial and technological assistance and involved drilling 1.7 miles through the heart of the Hindukush. Before the Salang road was constructed, the most famous passes in the Western historical perceptions of Afghanistan were those leading to the Indian subcontinent. They include the Khyber Pass (,1027 meters), in Pakistan, and the Kotal-e Lataband (2,499 meters) east of Kabul, which was superseded in 1960 by a road constructed within the Kabul River's most spectacular gorge, the Tang-e Gharu. This remarkable engineering feat completed in 1960 reduced travel time between Kabul and the Pakistan border from two days to a few hours. The roads through the Salang and Tang-e Gharu passes played critical strategic roles during the recent conflicts and were used extensively by heavy military vehicles. Consequently these roads are in very bad repair. Many bombed out bridges have been repaired, but numbers of the larger structures remain broken.

Periodic closures due to conflicts in the area seriously affect the economy and well-being of many regions, for these are major routes carrying commercial trade, emergency relief and reconstruction assistance supplies destined for all parts of the country. There are a number of other important passes in Afghanistan. Wakhjir (4,923 meters), proceeds from the Wakhan Corridor into Xinjiang, China, and into Kashmir. Passes which join Afghanistan to Chitral, Pakistan, include the Baroghil (3,798 meters) and the Kachin (5,639 meters), which also cross from the Wakhan. Important passes located farther west are the Shotorgardan (3,720 meters), linking Logar and Paktiya provinces; the Bazarak (2,713 meters), leading into Mazar-i-Sharif; the Khawak (3,550 meters)in the Panjsher Valley, and the Anjuman (3,858 meters) at the head of the Panjsher Valley giving entrance to the north.

The Hajigak (2,713 meters) and Unai (3,350 meters) lead into the eastern Hazarajat and Bamiyan Valley. The passes of the Paropamisus in the west are relatively low, averaging around 600 meters; the most well-known of these is the Sabzak between Herat and Badghis provinces, which links the western and northwestern parts of Afghanistan. These mountainous areas are mostly barren, or at the most sparsely sprinkled with trees and stunted bushes. True forests, found mainly in the eastern provinces of Nuristan and Paktiya, cover barely 2.9 of the country's area. Even these small reserves have been disastrously depleted by the war and through illegal exploitation. The forests are in fact in a crisis situation. A 1996 a FAO report estimated that of the 4.7 million acres of forests existing at the beginning of the war, in 1979, considerably less than one million acres survive today.

Custom Search Mountain Passes, Mountain Passes in India Mountain Passes Mountain passes are also known as notches, gaps, saddles, cols, hauses, bwlch (Welsh), bealach or brennig (Gaelic). It is a path through a mountain range or above a ridge. If you are going by the lowest possible itinerary, a mountain pass is locally the uppermost spot on that itinerary. As a number of the famous mountain ranges have offered alarming obstacles to tourists, mountain passes have been useful since earlier than documented history and have played an important role in business, warfare, and relocation. Mountain passes: An overview Mountain passes are similar to the geometric theory of a topological saddle plane where there is a saddle point indicating the tallest spot amid two basins and the lowest spot beside a ridge. On a topographical map, you will see that passes are typified by curve lines with the form of hourglasses, which signify a low point in the middle of two higher spots. Passes are frequently noticed just over the origin of a river, forming a type of bridge onto the origin of another river.

The length of passes may be small, comprising sharp inclines to the pinnacle of the pass, or basins of extensive length, whose tallest spot can only be recognized through investigation. Roads have been constructed, and in recent times railways, through passes. A number of tall and rocky passes may have passageways dug below to ensure quicker traffic movement round the year. In addition to providing comparatively effortless journey between basins, passes also offer a way connecting two mountain summits with a minimum of decline. Consequently, it is normal for trails to join at a pass; this frequently makes them suitable itineraries even while trekking between a pinnacle and the bottom of a basin. Some important Mountain Passes Given below are some of the important mountain passes in the world: Nathula Pass The Nathula Pass or Nathu La Pass is a mountain pass in the Himalayan Mountain Range. It links the state of Sikkim in India with the Tibetan Autonomous Region in China. The elevation of the pass is 4,310 meters (14,140 ft) above mean sea level. The Nathula Pass creates a portion of a branch of the old Silk Road.

The word “Nathu” refers to “listening ears” and La denotes “pass” in Tibetan language. The famous pass is also known as Natu La, Ntula, Natula or Nathula. The coordinates of the pass are 27°20′24″N and 88°51′0″E. The Nathula Pass is one of the three business check posts between India and China. The other two are Lipulech or Lipulekh in Uttaranchal and Shipki La in Himachal Pradesh. Closed by India following the Indo-China War in 1962, Nathula Pass was opened once more in 2006 after a slew of two-sided business pacts. The opening of the Nathula Pass once more is likely to strengthen the economy of the area and play an important role in the increasing trade between China and India. At present, pacts between the two countries restrict trade over the pass to 29 categories of commodities from India and 15 from China. In addition, the opening cuts down the length of journey to major Hindu and Buddhist religious hubs in the area. Khbar Pass The Khbar Pass or Khyber Pass connects Pakistan and Afghanistan.

This pass was an important segment of the old Silk Road. From time immemorial, the Khbar Pass has functioned as a business route amid South Asia and Central Asia. The Khyber Pass is also an important site for armed forces. The peak of the Khbar Pass is located at 5 km (3.1 miles) within Pakistan and the name of the place is Landi Kotal. The pass subsequently travels across the northeast portion of the Safed Koh Mountains. These mountains are a stretch of the Hindu Kush Mountain Range to the southeast. The elevation is 1,070 m or 3,510 ft. Karakoram Pass The Karakoram Pass is the tallest pass on the prehistoric caravan itinerary amid Leh in Ladakh and Yarkand in the Tarim Valley. The pass ascends to an altitude of 5,540 m (18,171 ft). In Turkish language, the word Karakoram stands for “Black Gravel”. The high elevation and absence of foodgrains were the main reasons for the casualties of innumerable pack animals. The itinerary through the pass was infamous for the trace of bones scattered beside the path.

There is nearly no foliage on the access ways to the pass. The southern portion of the pass is more desolate than the north. Going over the lower Suget Pass or Suget Dawan is comparatively simple. The Karakoram Pass is in a ridge amid two mountains and the breadth is around 45 meters (148 ft). There is no icecap or foliage and it is usually without snow because of the breezes. Temperatures are low, there are frequently strong breezes, snowstorms are regular, and the high elevation has an effect. Regardless of all these, the Karakoram Pass was regarded a comparatively unproblematic pass because of the steady climb on either sides and lack of summer snow and ice for the most part of the year. As a result, the pass was open for the most part of the year. There is no drivable way over the pass, and the pass presently stays sealed to all kinds of traffic movements. Gomal Pass The Gomal Pass is also known as the Gumal Pass. It is a mountain pass on the boundary of Afghanistan and southeast part of South Waziristan in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan. The name has been derived from the Gomal River.

It is situated in the middle of the Bolan Pass and Khyber Pass. Bolan Pass The Bolan Pass is a mountain pass across the Toba Kakar Mountain Range in Balochistan Province in West Pakistan. It is located at a distance of 120 km from the boundary of Afghanistan. Due to its important location, aggressors, merchants and migratory ethnic groups have also made use of the Bolan Pass as an entrance to and from Southern Asia. The pass has a lot of significance on the border of Baluchistan, linking Sibi and Jacobabad with Quetta, which has always held a significant position in the history of British Army operations in Afghanistan. Conventionally, the Brahul of the Kurd clan are in control of the law and order condition in the Bolan Pass Area. This clan is still surviving in the current Balochistan region in Pakistan. In 1837, intimidated by a probable Russian attack of South Asia through the Bolan and Khyber Passes, a diplomat was sent to Kabul to get the assistance of Dost Mohammed, the Emir.

The British Armed Forces under the leadership of Sir John Keane, guided 12,000 personnel via the Bolan Pass and moved into Kandahar in February 1839, which was deserted by the princes of Afghanistan. From this place, they would move on to invade and bring down Ghazni. In 1883, Sir Robert Groves Sandeman parleyed with Khudadad Khan, the Khan of Kalat and assured British dominance on the Bolan Pass in return of a yearly charge. Zojila Pass The Zozila or Zojila Pass is a tall mountain pass in India. It is situated on the Indian National Highway 1D in the middle of Leh in the west Himalayan Mountain Ranges and Srinagar . Although it is frequently denoted as Zojila Pass in the international press, the exact English version is Zoji Pass or just Zojila as the suffix “La” stands for pass in various languages spoken in the Himalayas. In contemporary languages of North India, 'Darra' and 'La' are both utilized interchangeably to denote pass.

Zoji La is 5.6 mi (9 km) from Sonamarg and offers an essential connection between Kashmir and Ladakh. It is located at an altitude of around 3,528 meters (11,575 ft), and is the second tallest pass following Fotu La pass on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway. The Zojila Pass frequently remains closed throughout the winter season, although the Border Roads Organization (BRO) is functioning to increase traffic for the most part of the year. The Beacon Force division of the BRO is in charge of cleaning and upkeep of the way during winter. During the India-Pakistani War of 1947, Zoji La pass was taken hold of by Pakistani invaders in 1948 in their operation to seize Ladakh. Indian military got hold of the pass on 1st November in a heroic infantry attack with the code name Operation Bison, which accomplished victory mainly because of the sudden use of protective covering, then the maximum height at which protective covering had worked in warfare in the world. Shipki Pass The Shipki pass or Shipki La Pass is a mountain pass and boundary check post on the border between India and China.

The Sutlej River moves into India from Tibet via this pass. The pass is situated in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh in India and Autonomous Region of Tibet in PRC (People's Republic of China). The Shipki Pass is the third boundary post of India for doing business with China following Nathula pass in Sikkim , and Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand. The pass is located nearby Khab town. Given below are the names of the major mountain passes in India with their elevations: Name PakistanPaedia - Mountains of Pakistan PakistanPaedia - Mountains of Pakistan PakistanPaedia - Mountains of Pakistan MEET ME IN THE MOUNTAINS [The spectacular view of Karakoram (56km long Batura Glacier above, with Passu Cones just on near right) courtesy ] Pakistan is a blessed country to have three of the major mountain ranges in the world, the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush. Thirteen of the world's 30 tallest peaks are in Pakistan (of eleven over 8,000 meters high mountains tops, five are located in Pakistan).

K-2, the world's biggest pyramid and second to Mt Everest and the Trango Towers are just the two examples of richness of our mountain treasure. The glory and the beauty of the mountain world all concentrated in here. Those who love natural beauty in awesome silence, should meet in our mountains and witness the wonders of the world in awesome silence. This site reveals the grandeur and glory of these mountain ranges and their pinnacles. Read and be spellbound!!! En route to Khunjrab, before Gilgit, there is a road sign inviting the attention of the tourists to stop and see the the Hindu Kush (left) mountains converge with the Karakoram Range (centre), a part of the Himalayan mountain system (right). (Photo courtesy The Sloths - Flickr) Mountain Ranges Aerial view of K2, Baltoro glacier , G4, G2 and G1 (Video Courtesy: SULEMANI / TARIQ " jeep rally 2009 26th February ) The Karakoram: The Karakoram mountain range is spread over some 400 kilometres and over 192 kilometres wide.

Protected on all sides by other mountain ranges, (Himalayas on south-east, Hindu-Kush on south-west, Kun-Lun chain of China on the north, the Pamirs on the west and high desolate Tibetan Plateau on the east) they form the greatest barrier on earth to the migration of the people. The junction point of the Karakorams and the Himalayas is shrouded by yet another mountain range, known as the Pir Panjal. The mighty Indus river, one of the fifteen longest rivers of the world, forces its way through the Karakorams and the Himalayas. The Karakorams are also known as the highest mountains range of the world since it houses seven peaks over 26,000 feet and thirty others over 25,000 feet. That is on an average the Karakoram tops are 25,000 feet and above. The Karakorams house some of the rare sights and wonders in natural beauty, like the K-2 and Trango Tower. Read on to find out more about these mighty natural giants.

And in the immediate vicinity of Gilgit alone there are more than 100 peaks higher than 18,000 feet. A local proverb about the Karakorams: "You go there of your own will - but will return only when allowed by the mountains". The Karakorams with their deep and steep gorges and vast lush green valleys remained unknown to the world till as late as 1860s when Captain Austen visited the area and surveyed the K-2 region. The Karakorams are not only the highest but the youngest mountains, still rising four centimetres every 10 years. Few wonder that someday K-2 may surpass the highest point on the earth - the Mt Everest. Young geologically, the Karakoram mountains emerged in the Cenozoic Era. Because of their steep slopes and alpine glaciers, the summits are almost inaccessible. The dry, harsh climate supports little vegetation or wildlife, but pastoral Tibetans inhabit the lower elevations. The Karakoram Range has the largest glaciers in the world outside of the polar regions.

Karakoram peaks have nicknames that evoke fear and passion: "Savage Mountain" for K2, "Killer Mountain" for Nanga Parbat (8,125 meters) "Shining Wall" for Gasherbrum IV (7,929 meters) and "Bride's Peak" for Chogolisa (7,665 meters), which is the feminine analogue for Chogori, K2, its neighbour and wife in local folklore. The Trango Tower (below left and centre) is the highest rock pinnacle of the world rising to 6,257 meters/ 20,857 feet. Rugged, un-scalable and challenging. Many climbers have returned unsuccessful owing to its almost vertical climb. Read Exclusive section on the Trangos. KKH : The famous Karakoram Highway is probably the most dramatic road in the world. Stretching 616 km from Thakot, not far from Islamabad, it climbs to 15,072 feet to the top of Khunjrab Pass (above right). The KKH is an engineering marvel of joint Chinese and Pakistan Army's efforts, this road is no doubt the Eight wonder of the world..

At places it seems to hang impossibly between sky and earth - a thin grey scar in the middle of sheer rock walls thousands of feet high. Khunjrab Top The Hindu Kush: Compared to the Karakorams and the Himalayas, is a smaller range spread over an area of 400 x 250 miles. It has several peaks over 25,000 feet and the highest is Trichmir 7690 m (25,230 ft)- also called Queen of Chitral. The range extends generally in a south-westerly direction for more than 800 km (500 mi), from the plateau region of the Pamirs on the borders of Afghanistan; North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan; and Tajikistan. These mountains, consisting of granites and schist, or crystalline rocks, were probably uplifted in the Tertiary period. The system is in part marked by over thrust of Cretaceous lime stones on Cenozoic shale and clays. In the first 160-km (about 100 mi) section west of the Pamirs, the Hindu Kush extends southward.

In this section the system has a comparatively wide, plateau like summit, dotted with small glacial lakes, and passes ranging in height from 3810 to 5335 Metres (about 12,500 to 17,500 ft) above sea level. The system then turns to the southwest and gains in elevation, and the plateau summit breaks into peaks. Many other peaks in this section rise more than 6096 m (20,000 ft). The Hindu Kush is also the source of many rivers; the most notable are the Kabul and Konar Rivers and several tributaries of the Indus River on the southern slopes. The Suleiman Range: The mountain range in central Pakistan, extends about 400 km (about 250 miles) in a northern and southern direction and generally parallel to the Indus River. The average elevation is about 1,520 Metres (about 5000 ft).

The highest points are the twin peaks of Kaisargarh (3,441 Metres /11,289 ft) and Takht-i-Sulaiman (3,379 Metres/11,085 ft). The latter peak takes its name ("throne of Solomon") from a throne-shaped hollow in the solid rock of the southern slope. The twin peaks of the range 3,443 Metres and 3,379 Metres high, at the northern end of the range, are the highest points. Khyber Pass The Mountain Passes: Many mountain passes connect Pakistan with Afghanistan and China which have been and still being used for trade. Those bordering Afghanistan include the Khyber, Bolan, Khojak, Kurram, Tochi, and Gomal passes. At 1,072 m (3,517 ft) Khyber Pass is the most well-known and well-travelled. It links Peshawar in Pakistan with Jalalabad in Afghanistan.

The Bolan Pass links Quetta in Balochistan Province with Kandahar in Afghanistan; it also serves as a vital link within Pakistan between Sind and Balochistan provinces. Beside trade, the Khyber and Bolan passes were also used by many invaders to enter India from Central Asia, including the armies of Alexander the Great. Karakoram Pass, on the border with China had been for centuries was part of the trading routes known as the Silk Road, which linked China and other parts of Asia with Europe. Famous Pinnacles of Pakistan The Nanga Parbat The Nanga Parbat, meaning the Naked Mountain in native language, a 8,125 Metres or 26,657 feet tall Himalayan peak. The summit is shaped like a reclining women, as remarked by some imaginative mountain and beauty lover. If flying to Skardu, one can see the Nanga from the right window of the aircraft. One can feel the grandeur of the height when flying almost to the level of its peak. Read More about Nanga Parbat.

Nanga Parbat, located at the western end of the Himalayas, was first conquered by Herman Buhl, of Germany, in 1953 after 31 people died attempting it. Since then more have died on its slopes and the toll is now 47, far fewer than Everest, but fewer people try to climb Nanga Parbat, which is regarded as technically one of the most difficult mountains to climb. Rakaposhi Dominating the Gilgit Valley is the massive bulk of famous climbing mountain, Rakaposhi, the summit of which is 25,550 feet is perennially snow clad. The peak resembles a huge and jagged shark's tooth. Tourists go to a place near Hunza, where one can see the mighty Rakaposhi rising from ground level to its pinnacle. A scene never to be forgotten. (Photo courtesy Khalid Bukhari ) Tirchmir The Hindu Kush mountain range in central Asia extends for 1,000 km (600 mi) in parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.

With about two dozen peaks surpassing 7,000 m (23,000 ft), the range reaches its highest point in Pakistan’s highlands, where the peak known as Tirchmir rises 7,690 m (25,230 ft) above sea level (ranks 33rd in the world of highest pinnacles). It was first climbed in 1950 by a Norwegian expedition which was lead by Arne Naess. the famous Norwegian philosopher, other expedition members were P. Kvern berg and H. Berg. The word TIRICH MIR has its origin in Wakhi language. In Wakhi TIRICH means shadow or darkness and MIR means king so Tirich Mir means king of darkness. Its got this name as it causes long shadows on the Wakhan side of its face. Related Links Introduction to Pakistan: Section 6: Mountain Ranges, Peaks and Passes Potowar Plateau and the Salt Ranges Mountainous North In the northern part of the country, the Hindu Kush mountains converge with the Karakoram Range, a part of the Himalayan mountain system.

These ranges have a large number of peaks ranging from 6000 to 8611 meters above the sea level. Pakistan has the densest concentration of high mountains in the world: five peaks over 8,000 meters (26,000 feet) and 101 peaks over 7,000 meters (23,000 feet) above sea level within a radius of 180 kilometers (112 miles). Thirteen of the worldï¿½s 30 tallest peaks are in Pakistan. The tallest include K2 (also known as Mount Godwin Austen), the second highest peak in the world at 8,611 m (28,251 ft), in the Karakoram Range; Nanga Parbat (8,125 m/26,657 ft) in the Himalayas; and Tirich Mir (7,690 m/25,230 ft) in the Hindu Kush. The Mountainous North covers the northern parts of Pakistan and comprises parallel mountain ranges intervened by narrow and deep river valleys. East of the Indus River, the mountain ranges in general run from east to west.

To its west - from north to south - run the following important mountain ranges: The Himalayas The Karakorams The Hindu Kush The western most parts of the Himalayas fall in Pakistan. The sub-Himalayas - the southern most ranges - do not rise to great heights (600 - 1200 masl). The Lesser Himalayas lie to the north of the sub-Himalayas and rise to 1,800 - 4,600 masl. The Great Himalayas are located north of the Lesser Himalayas. They attain snowy heights (of more than 4,600 m). The Karakoram Ranges in the extreme north rise to an average height of 6,100 m. Mount Goodwin Austin (K-2) - the second highest peak in the world - is 8,610 m and located in the Karakorams. The Hindu Kush Mountains take off the western side of the Pamir Plateau that is located to the west of the Karakorams. These mountains take a southerly turn and rise to snowy heights.

Some of the peaks rise to great heights like Noshaq (7,369 m), and Tirich Mir (7,690 m). Koh-e-Safaid and Waziristan Hills The Koh-e-Safaid Ranges have an east-west trend and rise to an average height of 3,600m. They are commonly covered with snow. Sikeram, the highest peak in Koh-e-Safaid Ranges rises to 4,760 m. Similarly, the elevation of Waziristan Hills ranges from 1,500 and 3,000 m. Sulaiman and Kirthar Mountains The Sulaiman-Kirthar Mountain Ranges extending from south of Gomal River, lie between Balochistan Plateau and the Indus Plains. On reaching the Murre-Bugti Hills, they turn northward and extend up to Quetta. Further south, they meet the Kirthar Mountains, which merge in to the Kohistan area of Sindh. The Sulaiman Mountains rise to an average height of 600 m that decreases southward.

Takht-e-Sulaiman (3,487 m) and Takatu (3,470m) are the highest peaks of the Sulaiman Ranges. Balochistan Plateau The Balochistan Plateau is located west of the Sulaiman-Kirthar Mountains. Its western part is dominated by a number of sub-parallel ranges: the Makran Coast Range (600 m), and the Central Makran Range (900 - 1200 m). The highest peak Ras Koh, attains a height of 3010 m. Potowar Plateau and the Salt Ranges The Potwar Plateau and the Salt Range region are located to the south of the mountainous north and lie between the Indus river on the west and the Jhelum river on the east. Its northern boundary is formed by the Kala Chitta Ranges and the Margalla Hills and the southern boundary by the Salt Ranges. The Kala Chitta Range rises to an average height of 450 - 900 m and extends for about 72 km. The main Potwar Plateau extends north of the Salt Range.

It is an undulating area 300 - 600 m high. The Salt Ranges have a steep face towards the south and slope gently in to the Potwar Plateau in the north. They extend from Jhelum River up to Kalabagh where they cross the Indus river and enter the Bannu district and rise to an average height of 750 - 900 m. Sakesar Peak (1,527 m) is the highest point of the Salt Ranges. Mountain Passes Many mountain passes cross Pakistanï¿½s borders with Afghanistan and China. Passes crossing over the mountains bordering Afghanistan include the Khyber, Bolan, Khojak, Kurram, Tochi, Gomal and Karakoram passes. The most well-known and well-traveled is the 56 kilometer long Khyber Pass in the northwest. It links Peshawar in Pakistan with Jalalabad in Afghanistan, where it connects to a route leading to the Afghan capital of Kabul. It is the widest and lowest of all the mountain passes, reaching a maximum elevation of 1,072 m (3,517 ft).

The route of the Bolan Pass links Quetta in Baluchistan Province with Kandahar in Afghanistan; it also serves as a vital link within Pakistan between Sind and Baluchistan provinces. Historically, the Khyber and Bolan passes were used as the primary routes for invaders to enter India from Central Asia, including the armies of Alexander the Great. The Tochi pass connects Ghazni in Afghanistan with Bannu in Pakistan and the Gomal pass provides an easy access from Afghanistan to Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan and the Punjab. Also historically significant is Karakoram Pass, on the border with China. For centuries it was part of the trading routes known as the Silk Road, which linked China and other parts of Asia with Europe. Map showing major mountain ranges of Pakistan Map Credit: UNEP Environment Assessment Programme for Asia and the Pacific (

Question: What famous mountain pass connects Pakistan and Afghanistan?
Answer: Khyber Pass