Bara-lacha la
Bara-lacha la also known as Bara-lacha Pass, or Bārā Lācha La, (el. 4,850 m or 15,910 ft) is a high mountain pass in the Zanskar range of Northern-India, connecting Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Leh district in Ladakh. Rail-cum-road tunnels are being constructed under the Bara-lacha la, at 4,750 metres (15,580 ft) high Lungalacha La (84 km north of Bara-lacha la) and 5,184 metres (17,008 ft) high Taglang La (171 km north of Bara-lacha la) to cater to the traffic on the existing NH3 Leh–Manali Highway and the under-construction Bhanupli–Leh line.
| Bara-lacha la | |
|---|---|
Bara-lacha la | |
| Elevation | 4,850 m (15,912 ft) |
| Traversed by | Leh–Manali Highway |
| Location | India |
| Range | Himalaya |
| Coordinates | 32°45′31″N 77°25′13″E |
The two headwaters of the Chenab River, Chandra and Bhaga, originate near the Baralacha Pass. The Bhaga river originates from Surya taal lake, which is situated a few of kilometres from the pass towards Manali. The Chandra originates from a glacier in this region. The native name of Chenab, "Chandrabhaga", represents the union of Chandra and Bhaga rivers downstream.
The pass also acts as a water-divide between the Bhaga river and the Yunam river.