Banihal Pass

Roadway pass connecting Kashmir

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Banihal Pass (Hindi: बनिहाल दर्रा, Urdu: بانہال درا) is a mountain pass across the Pir Panjal Range in India at a maximum elevation of 2,832 m (9,291 ft). It connects the Kashmir Valley in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir to the outer Himalaya and the plains to the south. In the Kashmiri language, "Banihāl" means blizzard.^[1]

The road from Jammu to Srinagar transversed Banihal Pass until 1956 when the Jawahar Tunnel was constructed under the pass. The road now passes through the tunnel and the Banihal Pass is no longer used for road transport.

As from the Banihal Pass a sharp change in nature and mountains can be seen. The natural surroundings of Kashmir reveal themselves through the Banihal and Jehlum valley roads.

Zaban Glacier is a famous hill station located in the Sanglaab Valley, close to the Banihal Pass. This glacier is situated to the west of the village of Khairkoot. The glacier is almost 2 km long in the lap of Sundur Top (3,660 m above sea level) Zaban Glacier is also the origin of Bachliri Nallaha, the main tributary of the Chenab River. Local tourists visit this glacier from April to mid-August. The glacier is connected by road to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, en route from Nowgam. It is almost 3 km from Nowgam and 2 km from Sanglaab colony.

References

^ Encyclopædia Britannica Online. "Banihāl Pass". Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-17.

Kashmir Valley

Passes

Banihal Pass
Zojila
Burzil Pass
Sinthan top
Margan Top

Valleys

Cities

Towns

Rivers

Glaciers

Lakes

Mountains

Hill stations
and
Mughal gardens

Protected Areas

See also

Mountain passes of India

Rail

Mountain Railways	Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Kalka–Shimla railway Kangra Valley Railway Matheran Hill Railway Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Rail Mountain Pass	Bhor Ghat Braganza Ghats Budhni-Barkhera Ghat Palakkad Gap Shindawane Ghat Thal Ghat

Road

Ladakh	Bilafond La Chang La Fotu La Gyong La Indira Col Jianan Pass Karakoram Pass Khardung La Kongka Pass Marsimik La Sasser Pass Sia La Spanggur Gap Tanglang La Umling La Zojila Pass
Himalaya	Auden's Col Banihal Pass Bara-lacha la Bhaba Pass Bum La Pass Borasu Pass Chanshal Pass Cho La Debsa Pass Diphu Pass Dongkha La Goecha La Indrahar Pass Jelep La Kepang La Kunzum Pass Lipulekh Pass Lungalacha La Mana Pass Nama Pass Namika La Nathu La Pangsau Pass Pensi La Pin Parbati Pass Rezang La Rohtang Pass Rupin Pass Saach Pass Sela Pass Shingo La Shipki La Sin La Sinthan Pass Traill's Pass Tulung La
Western Ghats	Agumbe Ghat Amboli Ghat Amba Ghat Ambenali ghat Balebare Ghat Bisle Ghat Bopdev Ghat Bhor Ghat Bhoste Ghat Chandanapuri Ghat Charmadi Ghat Chorla Ghat Dive Ghat Ganesh Ghat Goa Gap Thal Ghat (Kasara Ghat) Kashedi Ghat Kamthe Ghat Katraj Ghat Khambatki Ghat Kumbharli Ghat Mahur Ghat Malshej Ghat Naneghat Palakkad Gap Parshuram Ghat Pasarni Ghat Phonda Ghat Sampaje Ghat Shiradi Ghat Tamhini Ghat Varandha Ghat
Vindhya	Bheru Ghat Budhni Ghat Manpur Ghat
Others	Asirgarh Ghat Goran Ghat Haldighati Pass