Umling La
| Umling La | |
|---|---|
| Umlung La | |
 Summit, with two auto rickshaws | |
| Elevation | 19,024 feet (5,799 m) |
| Location | Ladakh, India |
| Range | Himalaya, Ladakh Range |
| Coordinates | 32°41′35″N79°16′17″E / 32.6931°N 79.2715°E / 32.6931; 79.2715 (Umling La) |
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 Interactive map of Umling La | |
Umling La or Umlung La, elevation 19,024 feet (5,799 m), is a mountain pass in the Changthang area of Ladakh, India near the village of Demchok. It is on the ridgeline that divides Koyul Lungpa and the Indus River at an elevation of 19,024 feet (5,799 m). It forms the source for the Umlung stream that drains into the Indus River and a tributary of the Kiungdul river that drains into Koyul Lungpa.
The Umling La pass is traversed by a road between Chisumle and Demchok, called the Umling La Road, which previously held the title for the world's highest motorable road from 2017 to 2025,[1] when it was surpassed by another higher motorable road over the Mig La 19,400 feet (5,900 m) also in India.[2]
Transport
Chismule-Umling La-Demchok Road (CUD Road), Chisumle to Umling La and Demchok paved motorable road was constructed in 2017 by the Border Roads Organisation of India.[3] Umling La is 25 km east of Chismule.
World records
2017-2025: world's highest motorable road
From 2017 to 2025, the Chisumle–Umling La-Demchok road was world's highest motorable road as the elevation of Umling La 19,024 feet (5,799 m) surpassed the record previously held by the 18,953-foot (5,777 m) Uturuncu volcano road in Bolivia, making it the world's highest motorable road, however CUDR was surpassed in 2025 by Mig La Road.[3][a] CUDR road is higher than Mount Everest's South Base Camp, which is at 17,598 feet (5,364 m), and over half the cruising altitude of commercial jet airlines. The environment posed severe challenges for construction, with winter temperatures falling to −40 °C (−40 °F), and oxygen levels 50% lower than at sea level.
2022: Autorickshaw world record
On September 16, 2022, at 11:04 a.m. (Indian Standard Time), a Canadian team (Greg Harris and Priya Singh) and a Swiss team (Michele Daryanani & Nevena Lazarevic) set the world record for the highest altitude at which an auto rickshaw has ever been driven. The two teams set the record by driving to the summit of Umling La Pass at an altitude of 5,799 meters (19,024 feet).[5] The two teams were participating in the Rickshaw Run (Himalayan Edition), an event promoted by The Adventurists, where teams drive auto rickshaws from the Thar desert town of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan to the Himalayan town of Leh in Ladakh. Rickshaw Run teams are given the start and finish lines, but are otherwise unsupported and left to their own navigational choices in completing the approximately 2,300 km journey.
See also
Notes
References
- ^"Highest altitude road". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- ^BRO opens the world’s highest motorable road in Ladakh, an engineering marvel that promises all-weather access and boosts tourism., travelandleisureasia.com, 10 October 2025.
- ^ ab"Umling La now the highest motorable road: New benchmark for motoring adventure junkies". The Financial Express. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^India Builds World's Highest Motorable Road At 19,400 Ft In Ladakh, NDTV News, 6 October 2025.
- ^Auto rickshaws take world's highest road to set world record, upi.com, 25 October 2022.
