Kunzum Pass

Kunzum Pass (Kunzum La), at about 4,551 m, crosses the Kunzum range and connects the Lahaul and Spiti valleys on NH505. It is about 122 km from Manali and 79 km from Kaza. The Chandratal approach road turns off nearby. A small temple and stupa mark the top. Drivers traditionally circle the shrine clockwise for a safe journey, and prayer flags flutter in the wind. Views take in the glaciers and peaks of the Chandra and Bhaga basins. The pass usually opens in late May or June. It closes with the first heavy snow in October or early November, and the exact dates change each year. Altitude sickness is possible, the wind is strong and weather can change quickly. Keep the stop short and carry warm clothing. Fuel on this route is only at Tandi near Keylong and at Kaza, and mobile coverage is poor. Kunzum is a high point of the Manali to Spiti drive, not a place to stay.