Question

What is the importance of Banihal Pass in the Jammu & Kashmir state?

Answer 1

Hint: Banihal Pass is a mountainous pass across the Pir Panjal Range at an elevation of 2,832m. It connects the Kashmir Valley in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir to the outer Himalaya and several southern plains.

Complete answer:
Banihal Pass is of great importance to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and it literally means blizzard in the Kashmiri language.
A road from Jammu used to cross Banihal Pass until 1956 when the Jawahar Tunnel was constructed under the pass. The same road now passes through the tunnel and Banihal Pass is not used for transport anymore.
At Banihal Pass, we can witness a sharp change in nature and mountains and the scenes keep on changing continuously. The natural surroundings of Kashmir unfold themselves on the journey through the Banihal road.
There’s a famous hill station called ‘Zaban Glacier’ located in the Sangla Valley which is very close to the Banihal Pass. It is situated west to the village of Khair Kot and is almost 2km long in the lap of Sundur Top. This Glacier is also the origin of Bachelor Innallaha which is the main tributary of the Chenab River.
It played an important role in trade, war and migration and has been created by the Indus River. National Highway No. 1 A linking Srinagar and Jammu goes through this Pass.

Note: The local tourists visit this glacier usually from March to May and it is connected to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. It is approximately 3km from Nowgam and 2km from Sanglaab colony.