Pensi La

Pensi La
Drang Drung glacier seen from the Pensi La pass
Elevation	4,400 m (14,436 ft)
Location	Jammu and Kashmir, India
Range	Himalaya
Coordinates	33°52′18″N 76°20′57″E / 33.871554°N 76.34907°E / 33.871554; 76.34907

Pensi-la (Pensi Pass) is a mountain pass in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, which is known as the Gateway to Zanskar. Pensi La is 4,400 m (14,436 ft) above sea level and connects the Suru Valley region to the Zanskar Valley region. The summit at this end of the Suru Valley, the only peak which can be seen, is 7,012 m (23,005 ft) high, while the mountain to the north is 6,873 m (22,549 ft). The pass is about 25 km from Rangdum Monastery.^[1]

Buddhist prayer flags flutter at the highest point of the road pass

To the west of Pensi La watershed flows the Suru River, an important tributary of the Indus which meets at Kargil. The Drang Drung Glacier to the eastern flank of Pensi La is the source of Stod or Doda River which flows into the Padum Valley, and joins with Tsarap Chu to form the mighty Zanskar River.

"The descent from the Pensi La into the Stod Valley [in Zanskar] is steeper than the climb up from Rangdum Gompa, but not too difficult. The road winds about with many hairpin turns, which can be cut across on foot, to the river below. Wild rhubarb can be seen growing on the slopes. The generally used trekking route follows the road on the left bank of the Stod (or Doda). . . . The grass at the foot of the Pensi La furnishes a good pasturage and this is a fine camping spot."^[2]

. Pensi-La is also the gateway to the Padum, the headquarters of Zanskar sub-division of Kargil district. A 240 km metalled road connecting Kargil town to Padum, through the Pensi La remains open for a brief 5 months, between May and October.

Before the modern road was built, the pass, apparently, used to be open only three months of the year because of heavy snows.^[3]

View of Glacial lake and the Drang Drung Glacier, as seen from Pensi La, Zanskar, Ladakh, India.
Pensi La Peak - Source of Stod River

Coordinates: 33°51′N 76°22′E / 33.850°N 76.367°E / 33.850; 76.367

Footnotes

↑ Schettler, Margaret & Rolf (1981), pp. 150-151.
↑ Schettler, Margaret & Rolf (1981), p. 151.
↑ Rizvi. (1996), p. 118.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pensi La.

Janet Rizvi. (1996). Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia. Second Edition. Oxford University Press, Delhi. ISBN 0-19-564546-4.
Schettler, Margaret & Rolf (1981). Kashmir, Ladakh & Zanskar. Lonely Planet Publications. South Yarra, Victoria, Australia. ISBN 0-908086-21-0.

Ladakh

Passes	Khardung La Sasser Pass Karakoram Pass Lachulung La Tanglang La Chang la Marsimik La Rezang La Zoji La Pensi La Shingo La Spangur Gap Kongka La Lanak La Dehra Compass

Valleys	Leh Rupshu Salt Valley Padum Shyok Suru Valley Nubra Zanskar

Cities and Towns	Leh Kargil Upshi Padum Rangdum Dras Hemis Hanle Nyoma Sankoo Likir Khalatse Thiksey Chemrey Shey Zangla Daulat Beg Oldi Thoise Turtuk Chalunka Fukche Ukdungle Demchok Diskit Chushul Nimu

Rivers, glaciers and lakes	Sutlej Beas Ravi Shyok Chenab Indus Zanskar Tsarap Doda Yapola Suru River Markha Galwan Chip Chap Siachen Glacier Drang-drung Rimo Tso Moriri Pangong Tso Spanggur Tso

Monasteries	Alchi Bardan Basgo Chemrey Diskit Hanle Hemis Hundur Korzok Karsha Lamayuru Likir Lingshed Mashro Matho Mulbekh Namgyal Tsemo Phugtal Phyang Rangdum Rizong Sani Sankar Saspul Shey Monastery Spituk Stakna Stok Stongdey Takthok Thikse Tserkarmo Tonde Wanla Zangla Zongkul

See also	History of Ladakh Shanti Stupa Baltistan Leh–Manali Highway Bilaspur–Mandi–Leh railway Lahaul and Spiti Tourism in Ladakh Ladakhi language Wildlife of Ladakh Curious BRO roadsigns Geography of Ladakh Saltoro Kangri More plains Depsang Plains Khurnak Fort Sirijap Gurung Hill Ladakh Marathon

Mountain passes of India

Rail

Road

Himalaya	Banihal Pass Bara-lacha la Bilafond La Bum La Pass Borasu Pass Chang La Chanshal Pass Cho La Debsa Pass Dehra Compass Diphu Pass Dongkha La Fotu La Goecha La Gyong La Indrahar Pass Jelep La Karakoram Pass Khardung La Kongka Pass Kunzum Pass Lanak La Lipulekh Pass Lungalacha La Mana Pass Marsimik La Nama Pass Namika La Nathu La Pangsau Pass Pensi La Pin Parvati Pass Rohtang Pass Rupin Pass Saach Pass Sasser Pass Sela Pass Shendurjana Ghat Shingo La Shipki La Sia La Sin La Spangur Gap Tanglang La Zoji La

Western Ghats	Amba Ghat Bhor Ghat Chorla Ghat Goa Gap Kasara Ghat Kumbharli Ghat Malshej Ghat Naneghat Palakkad Gap Varandha Ghat

Others	Asirgarh Haldighati Pass

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