Chang La, at over 5,300 metres, is one of the world's highest motorable passes and the main route connecting Leh to Pangong Tso, its stark, snow-streaked landscape and thin air making the crossing itself a memorable part of the wider journey to the lake. A small shrine and cafe at the summit offer a brief stop, though most visitors, given the altitude, don't linger long before continuing their journey.
The pass's significance is as much practical as scenic — as the primary gateway between Leh and Pangong, virtually every visitor heading to the famous lake crosses Chang La, making it one of the most-traversed high-altitude passes in the region despite its extreme elevation.
Named after a local saint, Changla Baba, whose shrine sits at the summit, the pass has long served as a key crossing point on routes connecting Leh to the Changthang plateau and its lakes further east.
May to September; snowbound and often closed the rest of the year.
About 70km from Leh, roughly 2.5-3 hours by road en route to Pangong Tso.
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