Bara-Lacha La is a mountain pass on the legendary Leh-Manali Highway

Bara-lacha la is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.890m (16,043ft) above the sea level, located in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, in India.

Located in Zanskar range, Baralacha means 'pass with cross roads on summit'. The pass, also known as Bara-lacha Pass or Bārā Lācha La, connects Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. It is traversed by the infamous Leh-Manali highway. The road has unpaved and asphalt sections but the surface over the pass is paved. It is open for only about six months in a year in summer. Tourists are advised to visit the pass during the months of April to October. The pass is 161 km (100 miles) long, running from Jispa to Pang.

Remember this is a mountainous area, climbing up a high mountain, with a notorius absence of oxygen. Altitude and extreme weather are always a factor. When the snow melts and the road is open for travel, the peculiar shaped snow hiding between cliffs is a sight to watch. As you reach the Baralacha La, you come across the cool blue waters of the Suraj Tal that is usually marked by an outline of snow at its banks. There is a sharp contrast to the surrounding gray and off white coloured rocks that are scattered around the road and the lake.
Pic: Yuji Kimura