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Home Leh Ladakh Places to Visit Tanglang La Pass
Tanglang La (Taglang La) Pass sits at 5,328 meters (17,480 ft) on Leh-Manali Highway in Ladakh, often signposted as 17,582 ft and claimed as second highest motorable pass after Khardung La, though now ranked around 12th globally
Meadow • Nature • Pahalgam

Tanglang La Pass: High-Altitude Mountain Pass on Manali-Leh Highway, Ladakh, India

Tanglang La is a high-altitude mountain pass situated at an elevation of approximately 5,328 meters (17,480 feet) in the Ladakh region, often cited as the second-highest motorable pass on the Manali-Leh Highway.

Best Season April to October
Suggested Visit Half-day excursion
Access Pony ride or trek
Experience Meadows • Forests • Views

Tanglang La Pass at a glance

Tanglang La is a high mountain pass on the Leh–Manali highway in Ladakh, situated on the route between Leh and the More Plains. Rising to around 5,328 metres, it crosses a stark Trans-Himalayan landscape of barren ridges, rocky slopes, and expansive high-altitude terrain, making it one of the highest motorable passes on the route.

A visit to Tanglang La is generally a brief stop during a long mountain-road journey rather than a standalone sightseeing excursion. Travellers can view the surrounding peaks, wide valleys, and winding highway before continuing across the high-altitude plateau. It may be encountered on extended routes connecting Leh with the Tso Moriri and Manali-side regions.

Good to know: Tanglang La is at very high altitude, where cold, strong winds, and reduced oxygen can make even short stops uncomfortable. Avoid strenuous activity, stay warm, and follow local travel advice. Road access can also change with snowfall and adverse weather.

History of Tanglang La Pass

Tanglang La is a high mountain pass on the Manali–Leh highway in Ladakh, connecting the Indus Valley with the high-altitude plains of the Morey Plains. Its history is linked with the traditional movement routes across the Rupshu and central Ladakh region.

Historic Period — Traditional Mountain Route

The Tanglang La region formed part of the wider network of high-altitude routes used by pastoral communities and travellers moving across the mountains and plateau of Ladakh. Seasonal movement between grazing areas was an important part of life in this region.

20th Century — Road Development

Modern road construction transformed the mountain route through Tanglang La into an important road connection between Manali and Leh. The pass became a key crossing on the highway through the high-altitude landscape of Ladakh.

Modern Period — Manali–Leh Highway Pass

Tanglang La remains one of the major high-altitude passes on the Manali–Leh highway. Its route provides access towards the Morey Plains and onward to Leh, while heavy snowfall can restrict travel during winter.

Best time to visit

May to October

May to October is generally the more suitable period to travel through Tanglang La Pass towards Tso Moriri, when high-altitude roads are more likely to be accessible. Weather and road conditions can change quickly, so travellers should check current route conditions before beginning the journey.

Daylight hours

Daylight hours are preferable for crossing Tanglang La Pass, providing better visibility on the high-altitude road and surrounding terrain. An early start allows more flexibility for the long journey towards Tso Moriri, while travellers should remain prepared for changing weather and road conditions.

How to reach Tanglang La Pass

  • By Air: Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh is the practical airport for reaching Tanglang La Pass, followed by road travel towards the Manali–Leh Highway.
  • By Road: From Leh, travel south-east along the Manali–Leh Highway through Upshi and Debring. Tanglang La is located on this highway before the More Plains.
  • Local Approach: Tanglang La Pass is crossed directly by the Manali–Leh Highway. Access is subject to weather, road conditions and official traffic restrictions.

What to expect on your visit

High Mountain Pass

Tanglang La is a high-altitude mountain pass on the Manali-Leh highway, surrounded by the rugged terrain of Ladakh. Visitors can expect barren slopes, winding roads and expansive views across the Trans-Himalayan landscape.

Cold Altitude Conditions

The pass has a cold, dry and thin-air environment because of its high elevation. Snow can occur around the pass during colder periods, while strong sunlight is common, making warm layers and sun protection useful.

Panoramic Mountain Views

The elevated location provides broad views of rocky ridges, open valleys and surrounding mountain terrain. Clear conditions are best for distant landscape photography, while clouds and changing light can create different views during the journey.

Road Journey Stop

Tanglang La is mainly experienced as a stop during a high-altitude road journey toward destinations such as Tso Moriri. Visitors should remain aware of road conditions and traffic while stopping for photographs or short breaks.

Photography & viewpoint guide

Tanglang La Pass is worth photographing for its high-altitude barren mountains, rocky ridges, winding road and broad Ladakh landscape along the Leh–Manali route. Wide-angle compositions can show the road crossing the rugged terrain, while clear morning or late-afternoon light can emphasize mountain textures and shadows. Strong winds, cold and changing weather are common at this elevation, so visitors should keep roadside stops brief. Use safe areas away from moving traffic and avoid unstable slopes. Visitors should follow current on-site photography instructions.

Frequently asked questions

Planning your Tanglang La Pass visit

Tanglang La Pass is a high-altitude mountain pass on the Leh–Manali Highway. It is known for its dramatic mountain scenery and for being one of the highest major passes crossed on the highway. The pass is also relevant to travellers taking the road route toward the Tso Moriri region.

Tanglang La Pass is located in Ladakh on the Leh–Manali Highway, in the high-altitude landscape between Rumtse and Debring. It lies on the route that can be used to travel onward toward Tso Kar and the Tso Moriri area.

Tanglang La Pass is approximately 5,358 metres above sea level according to Incredible India. At this elevation, it is a significant high-altitude crossing and travellers should take acclimatisation seriously.

Tanglang La can be included on the route from Leh toward Tso Moriri through the Tso Kar and Puga side. The route continues from the Tanglang La–Debring area toward Tso Kar, Puga and Sumdo before reaching Tso Moriri.

Tanglang La is reached by road from Leh along the Leh–Manali Highway. The route passes through the Indus Valley and Rumtse before climbing toward the pass and descending toward Debring. Current road conditions should be checked before travelling.

The main attraction at Tanglang La is the expansive high-altitude mountain scenery. The pass offers a stark landscape of rugged mountains and open terrain, making the road crossing itself an important part of the experience.

Yes. Tanglang La can form part of a road itinerary from Leh toward Tso Moriri via Tso Kar, Puga and Sumdo. This route allows travellers to combine a major high mountain pass with the high-altitude lakes and landscapes of Changthang.

Yes. Tso Kar can be included after crossing Tanglang La when travelling through the Debring and More Plains side toward the Tso Moriri region. This combination is suitable for travellers interested in high-altitude lakes and the open landscapes of eastern Ladakh.

No dedicated trek is required because Tanglang La is crossed by road. Travellers can experience the pass as part of a road journey, although getting out of the vehicle may involve walking over exposed and uneven high-altitude terrain.

The practical travel period depends on road accessibility and weather conditions on the Leh–Manali Highway. Ladakh Tourism identifies May to October as the main period for outdoor landscape travel, but travellers should check current road information before planning the crossing.

Tanglang La is primarily a scenic roadside stop, so an extended stay is generally unnecessary. Travellers should keep the stop reasonably brief because of the high altitude and continue to a lower elevation if they develop symptoms of altitude sickness.

Wear warm layered clothing and carry protection from cold and wind because Tanglang La is above 5,000 metres. Comfortable footwear is useful for a short walk around the pass, where conditions can be exposed and change quickly.

The main challenge is the extreme altitude rather than technical trekking. Ladakh Tourism currently requires visitors arriving in Leh to complete at least 48 hours of acclimatisation before travelling to higher-altitude areas, which is particularly relevant before crossing a pass above 5,000 metres.

Tanglang La is worth including if your Tso Moriri journey follows the Leh–Manali Highway and Tso Kar route. Its high-altitude setting and dramatic mountain scenery add a memorable road-crossing experience before the journey continues toward the Changthang lakes.

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