Shipki-La

Context: Trade through Shipki-La(Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh), suspended in 2020 due to COVID-19, is likely to resume after China’s in-principle agreement during Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to India.

Positive response also received for resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Shipki-La.

About Shipki-La

• Location: Shipki La is a motorable mountain pass located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. 
• Altitude: It sits at an elevation of 3,930 metres and connects India with Tibet (now part of China).
• The old name of Shipki La was Pema La, or Shared Gate, also known as Shared Pass.
• Historic Significance of Shipki-La: 
  • Once part of the Silk Route, Shipki-La was formalised as a trade point under the 1994 India-China bilateral agreement.
  • The route historically enabled trans-Himalayan economic and cultural exchanges.
• Key Commodities Traded:
  • Imports from Tibet: Wool, yaks, turquoise, gold, religious items.
  • Exports from India: Grains, spices, copper tools, timber.

Advantages of this route for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

• Shorter Distance: Reduced travel on the Tibetan side via Gartok → Darchen → Mansarovar.
• Road Connectivity: Existing roads up to Shipki-La through Rampur Bushahr and Pooh (Himachal Pradesh).
• Infrastructure Feasibility: Suitable for base camps and other supporting facilities.

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