Bara-lacha La which is also known as Bara-lacha Pass is a popular place of attraction for the tourists who love adventure.
Elevation of Bara-lacha La
Bara-lacha La has the natural elevation of 4,890 meters. It is a high mountain pass in Zanskar range, connecting Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. It is closely connected with the Leh-Manali Highway.
View of Bara-lacha La
Bara-lacha La offers the picturesque view of entire Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. The Bhaga river, a tributary of the Chandrabhaga River or Chenab river, originates from Surya taal lake, which is situated a few kilometers from the pass towards Manali. The other major tributary of the Chandrabhaga, the Chandra River also originates from glacier in this region. The pass also acts as a water-divide between the Bhaga River and the Yunam River.
Mythological History of Bara-lacha La
According to the local folklore, there were two lovers, Chandra being the daughter of the Moon and Bhaga the son of the Sun god. To perform their eternal marriage, they decided to climb to the Bara-lacha-La and from there they ran in opposite directions. Chandra, being active and smart, easily found her way and reached Tandi after covering a distance of 115 km. Soon Bhaga was found coming with great struggle through the narrow gorges to Tandi, where consequently both met and the celestial marriage was performed. Bhaga covered about 60 km distance, which was very difficult.
Geography of Bara-lacha La
Bara-lacha La is extended from Spiti, Ladakh, Zanskar and Lahaul. In ancient times it was part of a trade route to enter India and China. On the North West portion of Bara-lacha La lies the Bhaga River while the Chandra flows south-east. Near the Baralacha-la is a beautiful emerald lake the Suraj tal, the source of the river Bhaga.
Bara-lacha La in Literature
In Rudyard Kipling`s novel Kim, there is a reference to Bara-lacha La pass the source of the Suraj Tal been used by Kim`s Lama to enter India from Tibet.
Trekking to Bara-lacha La
There is a difficult trekking route that leads from Bara-lacha la to Chandra Taal, situated by the bank of Chandra River in the Spiti Valley.
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Chenab River
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