One of the first things that comes in the mind of travelers when talking about tour and travel in India is the mighty Himalayas. The highest mountain ranges are divided into three parts. The upper, middle and lower. Jelep la in northern India is one such place that is situated in the high mountains.
It is a high mountain pass between India and Tibet in the district of East Sikkim in the state of Sikkim. The famous lake of Menmecho lies just below the pass. The pass gets its name from the Tibetan language and means the €lovely level pass' as it is the easiest and most traversed path to Tibet.
The pass which is a part of silk route to Lhasa has been in use since ages. This 151 ft long pass that transcends geographical boundary is a trade route for a very long time. After India came under the British rule the invaders started to build roads that lead to Sikkim, the quaint place in the north east of the country. The road that was being built in 1884 was apprehended by the Tibetans and two years later after work commenced they formed a small military outfit that attacked and occupied the area around the pass so that the project does not see the light of the day. Two more years later they attacked the Imperials but were shooed off in return. Then in September, the same year the British army regained their lost seat around the pass and resumed their work.
As the influence of the Russians increased over Russia, a British expedition was sent via Jelep La to Lhasa in 1904 under the supervision of Colonel Francis Younghusband. This too faced hostile Tibetan forces on its way but emerged victorious because of its sound battle plan and modern fighting machineries. After this the Tibetans were forced by the Imperial rule to sign a trade agreement in the absence of the 13th Dalai Lama who had by then fled to Mongolia.
After August 1947, Sikkim which was then a monarchy agreed to a special protectorate status. After China invaded Tibet the pass became a way for the refugees to reach India and settle there. Finally they were closed by the Chinese government. The two passes of Nathu La and Jelep La were permanently closed down after border skirmishes between India and China in the Sino - Indian War and Indian tour and travel in this region was paused for the time being.
In 1975 a popular voting brought Sikkim under the control of sovereign India. After the Nathu La pass was opened in the year 2006, then hopes of Jelep La getting opened for renewed trade relations fluttered in the air.
The pass can be reached by two routes, one through Gangtok and the other through Kalimpong. According to history of Indian tour and travel the Kalimpong route is an ancient route and was responsible for the boom in trade in the north east. It passes through Pedong in West Bengal and Rhenok and Kupup in Sikkim. The Gangtok route passes through Sherathang town close to Changu Lake and parallel to Nathu La.
It is a high mountain pass between India and Tibet in the district of East Sikkim in the state of Sikkim. The famous lake of Menmecho lies just below the pass. The pass gets its name from the Tibetan language and means the €lovely level pass' as it is the easiest and most traversed path to Tibet.
The pass which is a part of silk route to Lhasa has been in use since ages. This 151 ft long pass that transcends geographical boundary is a trade route for a very long time. After India came under the British rule the invaders started to build roads that lead to Sikkim, the quaint place in the north east of the country. The road that was being built in 1884 was apprehended by the Tibetans and two years later after work commenced they formed a small military outfit that attacked and occupied the area around the pass so that the project does not see the light of the day. Two more years later they attacked the Imperials but were shooed off in return. Then in September, the same year the British army regained their lost seat around the pass and resumed their work.
As the influence of the Russians increased over Russia, a British expedition was sent via Jelep La to Lhasa in 1904 under the supervision of Colonel Francis Younghusband. This too faced hostile Tibetan forces on its way but emerged victorious because of its sound battle plan and modern fighting machineries. After this the Tibetans were forced by the Imperial rule to sign a trade agreement in the absence of the 13th Dalai Lama who had by then fled to Mongolia.
After August 1947, Sikkim which was then a monarchy agreed to a special protectorate status. After China invaded Tibet the pass became a way for the refugees to reach India and settle there. Finally they were closed by the Chinese government. The two passes of Nathu La and Jelep La were permanently closed down after border skirmishes between India and China in the Sino - Indian War and Indian tour and travel in this region was paused for the time being.
In 1975 a popular voting brought Sikkim under the control of sovereign India. After the Nathu La pass was opened in the year 2006, then hopes of Jelep La getting opened for renewed trade relations fluttered in the air.
The pass can be reached by two routes, one through Gangtok and the other through Kalimpong. According to history of Indian tour and travel the Kalimpong route is an ancient route and was responsible for the boom in trade in the north east. It passes through Pedong in West Bengal and Rhenok and Kupup in Sikkim. The Gangtok route passes through Sherathang town close to Changu Lake and parallel to Nathu La.