The Highest Road on the Planet....

Rob_The_Pom

Now, I've generally understood that this was the Khardung La. I believe the sign on the pass says 5602m. Most of the searches I'v done on the interwebby generally say that it is the highest motorable road on the planet.

I've also read reports that the Xinjiang - Lhasa Highway is the highest on the planet.

Other people have told me it's a road in South America (although this seems unlikely).

Now a couple of days ago somebody mentioned the Marsimik La being higher still. How high is this? (In metres please). Was this opened recently? Is it motorable all year round? And, most importantly - where does it go and can tourists use the road? (I had a search around the web and struggled to find anything about destination and use).

So, what's the story gang? What is the highest road?

__________________
The solution to your troubles is at the bottom of a glass

MeCasa

I only have time to go to Khardung La and I want to think I've been on the highest road in the world

So would everybody do me a favor and say Khardung La, even if it technicaly may not be so, if you don't, I will be forced to do a second trip or die a man whose only been to the second or third highest road in the world

-m2-

According to Guinness it is:

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/...recordid=43819

Rob_The_Pom

Good link that.
According to Guinness it's 80m higher than I thought it was!

Hippie at Heart

Rob what you have asked is actually a bit of riddle wrapped in mystery.
Officially till 2 years ago Khardung La was highest motor able road in world, till that time pakis were issuing a rejoinder that karakoram high liking chains have highest pass and motorway in world, a friend in army confirmed the claim of Pakis to be right by aprox 80 feet higher then khardungala but he said theirs was a deliberate attempt to shade khardungla, now since 2002 Indians are claiming Marsimik La to be highest and surpassing Khardunga by well over 350 feel above.

However BRO still continue to paint khardunga la as highest and marsimik la have a similar plaque too; there is no proper road to simik la just a rough track that army 10 tonners use and not many sane tourist ride to simik la for the heck of it since riding to khardung is a very breezy affair.

Rob_The_Pom

Very interesting!
So, it's all a game of international oneupmanship!
I'm sure the Chinese will get in on the act and try to find/build a road to beat them both sometime soon as well!

Rob_The_Pom

Although I suppose if The Guinness Book of Records still says Khardung La, then officially that's still the highest...

iwanttogoback

mecasa should be relieved.

MeCasa

It's sad but I really am

How do they measure these peaks and how accurate can it be when yout talking less than 30m.

And it's not like these countries don't tell fibs

wandering_kat

Guiness also says its one of the passes on the Leh-Manali route.......

__________________
Sorry, but my karma just ran over your dogma

Nick-H

Take your GPS with you...

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Rob_The_Pom

I took my altimetre watch up the Khardung La, but it never went above 5500m - probably something to do with the watch though.
I'm pretty sure the pass on the Leh-Manali Rd is lower than the Khardung La though.
The Chang La to Pangong Tso is only a couple of metres lower as well at 5599m (I think).

MeCasa

Is there GPS maps available, I think it would be a good investment especially if you wandered off road

A quick google and the answer is yes, yes there are maps, but they seem expensive and there seems to be a lot to learn

Rob_The_Pom

If my memory of the Khardung La serves me well, it'd be pretty difficult to wander off the road, and in some parts slightly, errr, fatal.

-m2-

You might find this link from the India Tribune describing the route from Manali to Leh interesting:

The Way to Leh -- Grandeur and Garbage
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/200...trum/main2.htm