Umling La - The highest motorable road in the world

[BoneCollector]

Khardungla has been replaced by Umling La as the highest motorable pass in the world. It's situated at a height of 19300 feet above mean sea level and managed by of course, the BRO. Few articles about it.

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/Ypo...h-at-1930.html

https://m.timesofindia.com/india/bro...w/61457883.cms

Image courtesy https://twitter.com/ashraf_wani/stat...64742136930306

I would request others to chip in with more information regarding this. It's going to be another challenge for adventure enthusiasts.

[yogesh.8984]

In another bewildering triumph, BRO (Border Roads Organization) has completed the construction of the world’s highest mototable road passing through Umlingla Top in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.



It is at a height of over 19300 feet and 86 KMs in length. This road assumes great strategic significance in consideration with recent disputes with Chinese military and advances being made by them along Indo-Chinese border.



Constructing a road under highly challenging conditions made this achievement even greater.

• The temperature hovers around minus 10-20 degrees and dips to minus 40 degrees during peak winters in the area.
• 50% less oxygen at that altitude.
• Less efficiency for both men and machines due to unforgiving weather conditions (special training needed for personnel working on project).
• Even after special trainings and acclimatization, people working on the project faced health issues like high blood pressure, partial loss of hearing, eyesight.
• Carrying equipment’s at such heights first and then maintenance and upkeep of equipment’s during the entire duration of project was herculean task.

Salute to the brave men of BRO and Team Project Himank on this stupendous accomplishment.



Image courtesy: respective source

[smartcat]

Somebody needs to update Google Maps!

Location of Umlingla Pass (according to Rushlane):
https://www.rushlane.com/bikers-umli...-12251639.html

[vinit.merchant]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Somebody needs to update Google Maps!

Location of Umlingla Pass (according to Rushlane):

I believe this is not going to be open to public, considering the strategic significance of the stretch.
I also personally feel it should be closed to public, considering how important it is to the Border forces and how difficult it will be to maintain. Hordes of people will ultimately reach there just to ride the "highest motorable road" and click selfies at the sign board "umlinga pass".

[Shreyans_Jain]

Where is this pass exactly? Is this a new route connecting Indian border villages, or is it something which has China on the other side like Mirsimik La?

The location as depicted on the map by Rushlane seems a bit off. That area is supposedly under Chinese control.

[sgiitk]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

Where is this pass exactly? Is this a new route connecting Indian border villages, or is it something which has China on the other side like Mirsimik La?

It is extreme border area and higher than KhardungLa. So this will be the world's highest road henceforth.

[Shreyans_Jain]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

It is extreme border area and higher than KhardungLa. So this will be the world's highest road henceforth.

KhardungLa being the highest was always a marketing scam. It barely even cracked the top 10! Mirsimik La was the highest in India, and perhaps in the world. This one seems higher still.

[WhiteFang]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

KhardungLa being the highest was always a marketing scam. It barely even cracked the top 10! Mirsimik La was the highest in India, and perhaps in the world. This one seems higher still.

Exactly what flashed on my mind when I read this for the first time. As per GPS coordinates and various research agencies, KhardungLa peak stood at 17,582 ft AMSL whereas all local hoardings claim 18,379 ft.
Authenticity of this claim 19,300 ft above MSL is yet to be proven.
Neverthless things BRO does in these areas are nothing short of pure magic.

[//M]

Umling La is between Ukdungle and Demchok, so I am guessing it would be somewhere here :

[ruzbehxyz]

Khardungla was never the highest road. 18380 feet which is mentioned is wrong. It's around 17500 feet. Secondly Mana pass and Marsimik la is much higher but they are dirt tracks and no tar roads.
Umling la is now the highest however the height of 19300 needs to be confirmed.
Demchok is a very sensitive area as there are frequent incursions by Chinese as both countries have different claims.

[smartcat]

Originally Posted by ruzbehxyz

Demchok is a very sensitive area as there are frequent incursions by Chinese as both countries have different claims.

You are right. China calls this area a disputed territory.



Map Source: https://cofda.wordpress.com

[anurag.somani]

Another feather in the cap for BRO!
This one deserves a big round of applause

I've been to both the high-altitude deserts of India:
Spiti: Local government builds the roads, mostly dirk-tracks. The occasional landslides and subsequent road blockages often takes days, if not weeks to clear-up.

Ladakh: roads maintained by BRO due to the border sensitivity, most stretches are fantastically well-maintained. Crew is always on standby to clear-up any blockages.

I hope they do not open to public yet, 19,300 feet is no joke and; even after proper acclimatization; there is a real risk of AMS (altitude-mountain-sickness) and death due to Pulmonary Edema and Cerebral Edema (essentially water filling up your lungs/brain).

Only avid trekkers (with good experience in high-altitude climbing) would fathom climbing that high only after months of training.

Now that we've a road going all that high, I hope that avid bikers do not queue up unaware of the dangers that lurk at such extreme altitudes.

[Dry Ice]

Many have already done this pass. FB is bustling with photos/videos.

https://www.rushlane.com/bikers-umli...-12251639.html

http://www.amarujala.com/photo-galle...creates-record

https://www.facebook.com/Biren.c.pat...56564548665830

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUecSUHXOr0

[SJM1214]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Many have already done this pass. FB is bustling with photos/videos.

https://www.rushlane.com/bikers-umli...-12251639.html

https://www.facebook.com/Biren.c.pat...56564548665830

Yes! Many have already covered this pass. Sharing some images of newspaper cuttings of my friends Swaroop Srinivasan and Biren Patel's (Ahmedabad) achievement.