Kunzum Pass

Kunzum Pass (also known as Kunzum La) is one of the highest and most spiritually revered motorable mountain passes in Himachal Pradesh, standing at an altitude of 4,551 metres (14,931 feet) above sea level. Located at coordinates 32.4000° N and 77.6333° E, the pass commands a majestic gap in the Kunzum Range of the Great Himalayas, connecting the rugged Chandra River valley of Lahaul with the high, arid cold desert of Spiti.

The topography at Kunzum Pass is a sweeping, wind-scoured amphitheater surrounded by colossal snow peaks. Looking southwest from the summit, travelers are greeted by an awe-inspiring panorama of the Bara Shigri Glacier—the second-longest glacier in the Himalayas—along with the razor-sharp spires of the Chandrabhaga (CB) mountain group. The pass serves as the primary gateway into the unique cultural world of Tibetan Buddhism in Spiti.

The journey to Kunzum Pass along National Highway 505 is one of the most adventurous road trips in India. Approaching from Manali via the Atal Tunnel and Gramphu, the road transforms into an unpaved boulder track that follows the roaring Chandra River past Chhota Dhara to Batal (3,960 m). From Batal, the road climbs aggressively across 15 unpaved switchbacks carved into loose shale.

Cresting the pass at 4,551 metres, the road circles the sacred Kunzum Mata Temple before descending gently through the wide, golden-brown alluvial valley of the Spiti River past the border village of Losar (4,080 m) toward Kaza.

Maintained by the Border Roads Organisation under Project Deepak, the road over Kunzum Pass is one of the most challenging in the BRO's portfolio. Massive winter snow accumulation of up to 30 feet, combined with spring rockfalls and glacial torrents at Chhota Dhara and Batal, makes snow clearing a monumental task.

Every spring, BRO dozer detachments fight freezing blizzards to reopen the pass by early June, keeping it operational until the heavy winter freezes of late October.

The approach road between Gramphu, Chhota Dhara, and Batal is notorious for deep, unbridged water crossings (pagal nullahs) and boulder-strewn riverbeds. Vehicles must cross these nullahs early in the morning before afternoon snowmelt swells the currents.

Loose scree and sharp stones can puncture tires easily. Ensure your vehicle is equipped with a high-capacity 12V air inflator and a functional spare tire.

A high-ground-clearance vehicle (at least 200 mm) or a 4x4 SUV is strongly recommended for Kunzum Pass. Standard low-clearance hatchbacks and sedans risk severe underbody and oil pan damage on the rough boulder sections near Batal.

For adventure motorcyclists, the ride across Kunzum Pass is an absolute bucket-list challenge. Ensure your motorcycle has heavy-duty engine bash plates, knuckle guards, and off-road knobby tires.

No Inner Line Permit is required for domestic Indian tourists to travel across Kunzum Pass or visit Spiti Valley.

Foreign nationals do not require a Protected Area Permit for the direct Manali-Kaza route over Kunzum Pass, though a PAP is required if continuing eastward from Kaza past Tabo toward Kinnaur.

Kunzum Pass is strictly seasonal, typically opening in early to mid-June and closing in mid to late October. July, August, and September provide the best driving conditions.

From November to May, the pass is completely buried under snow and impassable, leaving Spiti accessible only via the longer, all-weather southern road from Shimla through Kinnaur.

At the summit stands the revered Kunzum Mata Temple (dedicated to Goddess Durga). By local tradition and religious custom, every passing vehicle, bus, and motorcycle must complete a full clockwise circumambulation (parikrama) of the temple to receive blessings for a safe journey.

Kunzum Pass is also the world-famous trailhead for the high-altitude trek to Chandratal (The Moon Lake), located 14 kilometres away at 4,300 metres, accessible via a breathtaking ridge trail overlooking the Chandra River.

Kunzum Pass is the essential link of the iconic Spiti Circuit, enabling travelers to complete the grand trans-Himalayan loop from Shimla to Kinnaur, Spiti, Kunzum Pass, Lahaul, and Manali.