Bum La Pass
{{Short description|Border pass between Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox Mountain Pass
| name = Bum La Pass
| photo = Bumla-Pass.jpg
| photo_width = 250px
| photo_caption = Border Personnel Meeting point at the Bumla Pass
| elevation = {{convert|15200|ft}}
| traversed =
| location = Tsona County, Tibet, China -
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India
| range = Himalaya
| map = India Arunachal Pradesh#China Tibet
| label_position = top
| coordinates = {{coord|27.7236979|91.8916106|type:pass|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| topo =
|native_name=邦拉山口}}
The Bum La Pass is a border pass between China's Tsona County in Tibet and India's Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh.{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/india/this-arunachal-waterfall-near-lac-is-being-developed-for-tourism-but-china-keeping-an-eye/526953/|title=This Arunachal waterfall near LAC is being developed for tourism. But China ‘keeping an eye’}} It is 37 km away from the town of Tawang in India's Tawang district and 43 km from the town of Tsona Dzong in China's Tsona County. The pass currently serves as a trading point between Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet.[http://aruntrade.gov.in/html/indo_china_trade.htm Indo-China Border Trade], Department of Trade & Commerce, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, retrieved 13 July 2020. It is also an agreed Border Personnel Meeting point for the security forces of China and India.
Location
An old traders road went from Tawang via Milakatong La Pass ("La" in the Tibetan Language means "pass") to Bum La Pass and finally to Tsona Dzong in Tibet.
History
=1962 Sino-Indian War=
The road to Bum La is also a historical route, the People's Liberation Army of China invaded India during the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Here in Bum La Pass one of the fiercest battles, the Battle of Bum La Pass, took place in the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
=Opening of Trade Route in 2006=
In 2006, Bumla pass was re-opened to traders for the first time in 44 years. Traders from both sides of the pass were permitted to enter each other's territories, in addition to postal workers from each country.{{cite web | url=http://sevendiary.com/bumla-pass/ | title=BUMLA PASS | publisher=sevendiary.com | work=sevendiary.com | date=8 November 2012 | accessdate=2013-04-19 | archive-date=25 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025031314/https://www.sevendiary.com/bumla-pass/ | url-status=dead }}
Climate
It is often covered with heavy snow throughout the year. It is one of the most off-beat passes in the world.{{cite web | title=Bum La Pass mountain pass | publisher=travelomy.com | url=http://www.travelomy.com/bum-la-pass |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813192619/http://www.travelomy.com/bum-la-pass |archive-date=13 August 2012}}
Tourism
Visit by civilian tourist of India is permissible with permission from the Indian Army. The track is very treacherous, only SUVs advisable, and that too only on clear weather day with no snowfall or rainfall.
Bum La is part of the Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan initiative of the Indian Military which will boost border tourism, patriotism, local infrastructure and economy while reversing civilian outward migration from these remote locations, it entails 77 battleground war memorials in border area including the ''Longewala War Memorial, Sadhewala War Memorial,[https://www.indiatimes.com/news/here-is-the-story-of-tanot-mata-the-diety-who-protected-indian-soldiers-from-pakistani-bombs-at-longewala-in-1971-war-259867.html The Story Of Tanot Mata, The Deity Who Protected Our Soldiers From Pakistani Bombs In 1971 War], India Times, 16 Dec 2020. Siachen base camp, Kargil, Galwan, Pangong Tso, Rezang La, Doklam, Cho La, Kibithu, etc.[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/battleground-tourism-india-indian-army-ministry-of-tourism-galwan-siachel-kargil-longewala-battle-2665110-2025-01-15. Add Galwan, Siachen to holiday plan. India is opening battle tourism bunker], India Today, 15 Jan 2025.
=[[Sangestar Tso]]=
File:Lake Shungtser at Tawang-3.jpg]]
Created by falling rocks, boulders and trees in an earthquake, there is a Sangestar Tso lake (lake is called Tso in Tibetan) that featured Madhuri Dixit (Bollywood actress) in the movie Koyla, as a result this lake is sometimes also called Madhuri lake. The lake is about 20 km from Tawang town, about 7 km beyond the bifurcation of road leading to Bum La Pass.
=''Heap of Stones'' Monument=
File:India Chinese Meeting @ Tawang Border.jpg
There is a Heap of Stones here where visitors place pebbles as gratitude to the mighty Himalayas and the guardians of our northern frontiers. There is a Sino-India friendship sign here.{{Cite web|date=2006-11-01|title=Heap of stones: A testimony to peace on Sino-India border|url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/heap-of-stones-a-testimony-to-peace-on-sino-india-border_332898.html|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Zee News|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Krishnan M|first=Anantha|date=6 February 2018|title=Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan inspires soldiers guarding Bumla Pass on China border|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/feb/06/major-sandeep-unnikrishnan-inspires-soldiers-guarding-bumla-pass-on-china-border-1769257.html|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-17|website=The New Indian Express|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209121612/http://www.newindianexpress.com:80/nation/2018/feb/06/major-sandeep-unnikrishnan-inspires-soldiers-guarding-bumla-pass-on-china-border-1769257.html |archive-date=9 February 2018 }}{{Cite web|title=Bum La Pass At The India-China Border|url=https://thedaytraveller.com/bum-la-pass-at-the-india-china-border/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=The Day Traveller|language=en-US|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117140504/https://thedaytraveller.com/bum-la-pass-at-the-india-china-border/|url-status=dead}}
=Indo-China Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) point=
It is one of the five officially agreed Border Personnel Meeting points between the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army of China for regular consultations and interactions between the two armies to improve relations.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indian-soldiers-prevent-Chinese-troops-from-constructing-road-in-Arunachal/articleshow/44953671.cms|title=Indian soldiers prevent Chinese troops from constructing road in Arunachal|date=28 October 2014|accessdate=11 November 2017|newspaper=The Times of India}}
Here, there is a hut on the India side where border meetings are held by the rival armies.
Permit
A special permit is required to visit Bum La Pass.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} The Permits can be requested at the Office of the Deputy Commissioner in Tawang District, and the same has to be stamped in the Indian army cantonment of Tawang. Without the army stamp, visitors will not be allowed through the numerous check posts on the way.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web | url=http://www.mustseeindia.com/Tawang-Bumla-Pass/attraction/21829 | title=Bumla Pass, Tawang | publisher=Roam Space Travel Solutions Pvt Ltd. | work=mustseeindia.com | accessdate=2013-04-19 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704220456/http://www.mustseeindia.com/Tawang-Bumla-Pass/attraction/21829 | archivedate=4 July 2012 }}
{{Mountain passes of China}}
{{Mountain passes of India}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:China–India border crossings
Category:Mountain passes of Arunachal Pradesh
Category:Mountain passes of Tibet
Category:Mountain passes of China
Category:Mountain passes of India