Chang La

{{Short description|Mountain pass in Ladakh, India}}

{{About|the mountain pass in India|the mountain on the China–Nepal border|Changla}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}

{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}

{{Infobox mountain pass

| name = Chang La

| photo = ChanglaPass.jpg

| photo_caption =

| map = India Ladakh#India

| map_caption = Location of Chang La in Ladakh

| elevation_m = 5360

| elevation_ref =

| traversed = Road from Indus Valley to Pangong Lake

| location = Ladakh, India

| range = Himalaya

| coordinates = {{coord|34.04704|77.93054|region:IN_type:pass|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| topo =

}}

Chang La is a high mountain pass in Ladakh at an elevation of {{convert|5391.3024|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the Greater Himalaya between Leh and the Shyok River valley.{{cite web |url= http://www.geonames.org/1274656/chang-la.html |title= Chang La Pass |author=GeoNames |author-link=GeoNames |access-date=2009-06-17}}{{cite book |last = Jina |first = Prem Singh |location = India |title = Ladakh: The Land & The People |publisher = Indus Publishing |pages = 25–26 |date = 31 August 1998 |url = https://www.holidaymoods.in/leh-ladakh-tour-package |isbn = 978-81-7387-057-6 }} The Chang La, on Leh to Pangong Lake road, lies on the Leh-Karu-Sakti-Zingral-Chang La-Durbuk-Tangtse-Pangong Lake motorable road. Karu, which lies on Leh-Manali NH-3, connects Chang La and Pangong Lake to Leh and the rest of India. In September 2021, BRO opened another alternate motorable asphalt road between Zingral and Tangtse via Ke La pass ({{convert|5669.28|m|ft|disp=or|abbr=on}}) and Taruk (also spelled Tharuk).[https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/worlds-highest-motorable-road-18600-ft-inaugurated-ladakh-154665 World's highest motorable road at 18600 ft inaugurated in Ladakh], The News Minute, 21 SEPTEMBER 2021.[https://ladakh.nic.in/mp-ladakh-inaugurates-road-connecting-zingral-to-tharuk-tangtse/ MP Ladakh inaugurates road connecting Zingral to Tharuk, Tangtse], Govt of Ladakh, accessed Sept 2021.

Chang La is approached from Zingral village by a steeply climbing asphalt road which requires a careful drive. The stretch of 10–15 km road on either side of Chang la becomes loose dirt and slush after the winter and requires regular maintenance. During the summer months specifically the tourist season, small streams appear across the road, making the climb a challenge for the bikers. The descent from Chang La towards Tangtse or Darbuk is again very steep. Doctors advise that staying at the top for more than 20-25 minutes can cause altitude sickness.