Question

The Gujjar Bakarwals entered the valleys of Kashmir through the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
A. Debsa pass
B. Jelep La Pass
C. Namika La
D. Pir Panjal pass

Answer 1

Hint: In India Gujjars-Bakarwals live in the Himalayan Ranges of Uttarakhand, Jammu Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and northern region of Punjab. This pass has the lowest elevation above the mean sea level from the given four passes.

Complete Answer:
Gujjar Bakarwals are nomadic tribes settled in South Asia's Pir Panjal and Himalayan mountains. Gujjars are called Bakerwals, who rear goats and cattle. The same history, tradition, vocabulary, sub-castes and racial identity are shared by Gujjars and Bakerwals. Also, both anthropological and genetic research undertaken on Gujjars-Bakarwals says that they are in no way different identities. In 1991, after conducting a report, the Gujjars-Bakarwals were given Tribal status in Jammu and Kashmir.

A. Debsa pass- This pass is located between Spiti valley (Spiti district) and Parvati Valley(Kullu district) and is a bypass route of Pin-Parvati Pass. It is on the height of about 5360 meters above sea level.

B. Jelep La - It is a high mountain pass between the East Sikkim District of Sikkim, India and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, at an altitude of 4,267 m or 13,999 feet. It connects India with Lhasa. It passes through the Chumbi valley of Tibet and the Teesta River has created this pass.

C. Namika La - This pass is located at the elevation of 12,139 feet in Ladakh, in the Zanskar ranges of Trans Himalayas and it connects Kargil to Leh.

D. Pir Panjal pass - It is a traditional pass from Jammu to Srinagar and was closed after the partition. It provided shortest roadway access to Kashmir valley from Jammu. It is also known as Peer ki Gali and has a great historical significance. Gujjars-Bakarwals, a tribe which is nomadic, entered the valley of Kashmir by Pir Panjal Pass.

Thus the correct answer is option D.

Note: - Kalindi Pass, between Gangotri and Gastoli and having an elevation of about 5,950 metres and Indira Col West in Karakoram range, with an elevation of 5,764 metres are the highest mountain passes of India.
- The Karakoram Pass lies on the frontier between Ladakh's Indian territories and the Xinjiang autonomous region of China. In the conflict between Pakistan and India over ownership of the Siachen Glacier area immediately southwest of the pass, it also plays a significant geographical role.