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Mana Pass Uttarakhand
A few locations in India offer a varied taste in terms of exploration, natural beauty, and historical relevance. The Mana Pass is one such location in India. Suppose you are wondering about Mana Pass in which state, then it is located in the beautiful state of Uttarakhand. This is a mountainous pass, also one of the highest motorable passes in the country. However, this is different from any other location. Visiting this location would require a lot of zeal, enthusiasm and hard work. The region is not something that you can access very easily. From high elevation to weather to permit issues, many hurdles come in between. However, if you are passionate enough, you can achieve it all.
The beauty of Mana Pass makes it a one-of-a-kind location. The whole journey will be a thrilling ride in itself. If you are ready to embark on that exciting journey, keep reading this article. In it, I will mention everything that you probably need to know before planning your journey to this Pass. This will be a helpful read for you if you are determined to visit this jaw-dropping location in Uttarakhand.
Mana Pass is located in which state?
The Mana Pass is an ancient route located in the state of Uttarakhand.
Overview of Mana Pass
The Mana Pass is one of the highest motorable passes in the world. Mana Pass’s height is 5632 meters above sea level, and there are other names for this Pass, such as Mana La, Dungri La, and Chirbit La. This Pass is Located in the Himalayas in the charming Mana village close to the holy town of Badrinath. Mana Pass’s elevation of 18, 458 feet makes it an alluring spot on the India-China border. The Mana Pass connects Tibet in China with Uttarakhand in India. One of the highest roads in the country, it is located within the Nanda Devi Biosphere of the Zanskar Mountain Range.
The Mana Village is the last Indian village located on the border of Tibet. What makes it special is its very close proximity to Badrinath, which is only 4.4 km away. It would hardly take around 10 minutes to reach Badrinath from the Mana Village. The distance from Mana village to Mana Pass is 47.5 km, and via the Mana Pass Road, it would take around 1 and a half hours to reach the Mana Pass from the village.
This highest motorable Pass, unlike many other passes, is fully paved. While most other passes have a rocky road with pebbles across this roadway, it is comparatively easier to take a drive. The Border Roads Organization (BRO) constructed this road in India during the period of 2005- 2010 for the access of the Indian military. Everyone will not be allowed to visit this location because of its close proximity to the border. You will need an Inner Line Permit to visit this location. At one point in time, this Pass was an important trade route between India and China. However, after the war of 1962, this Pass remained closed.
Mana is a quaint village with a sparse population. Located at an altitude of 3219 meters above sea level, the Mana Village is picturesque. The ambience of this spot is tranquil, with a clear sky. What makes this location even more remarkable is that this is the region of origin of the Saraswati River. There is a lake here, Deo Tal, on top of the Mana Pass. According to beliefs, this is the origin of the mythical river Saraswati, and therefore, this is a sacred spot. You can also spot Rajas Tal and Nag Tal on either side of the road before Deo Tal. Deo Tal is located only 3 km away from the Mana Pass Zero Point.
Icy peaks surround this lake, which remains frozen most of the year. Only during the month of September does it flow. In Sanskrit, this lake literally translates to the Lake of the Gods. It is also popular as Dev Tal or the Lake of Lords.
History of Mana Pass
At one point in history, the Mana Pass was one of the ancient essential trade routes between Tibet and India that went through Uttarakhand. It leads from Badrinath to the Guge town in Tibet. In 1624, two Portuguese Jesuits, Antonio de Andrade and Manuel Marques, entered Tibet through the Mana Pass. Until 1951, this trade route was functional, brimming to its full glory. But later, the Chinese government shut it down. Both India and China authorities signed an agreement allowing pilgrims and travelers to access the Mana Pass in 1954.
How to reach Mana Pass
- By air
If you are travelling by air, the nearest airport to the Pass is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. The distance from Dehradun to Mana Village is 309 km, and it takes around 9 hours to reach there by road.
- By train
The nearest railway station to reach the Pass is Haridwar Railway Station. From there, you can quickly get cabs to reach the Mana Village. Haridwar to the distance of the Pass is about 316 km.
From Badrinath to Mana Pass, there is a road that goes through the Mana Village. However, to reach the Mana Pass, a permit is required. There is an ITBP checkpoint where the licenses will be verified. Only then will you get access to the Mana Pass. The route map looks like this.
From Badrinath to Mana Village, Gastoli is 3692 meters, Rattakona is 4817 meters, Jagraon is 5019 meters, Deo Tal is 5471 meters, and finally, Mana Pass is 5545 meters. After Mana Village, all the other locations are Check posts.
Mana Pass Permit
The Mana Pass is not open to civilians, and beyond Gastoli, no one is allowed to enter. However, if you can obtain an Inner Line Permit only, then it would be possible for you to visit here. You can get the Inner Line Permit from the SDM Joshimath, and along with that, an NOC Certificate is also required that you should get from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Army to reach Deo Tal and the Mana Pass. Please note that the army may not allow you to enter the area even after you have the permit. It depends on their discretions. Only some people will get this permit. Especially for tourists, permits are only given to some. Only with some exceptions will they hand it over.
