Sasser Pass


Saser Pass, Saser La, or Sasser Pass is a high mountain pass in the Indian union territory of Ladakh on the ancient summer caravan route from Leh to Yarkand, in the Tarim Basin of Xinjiang. It leads from the head of the Nubra Valley into the upper Shyok Valley, on the way to the even higher, but easier, Karakoram Pass.

History

The Saser Pass could not be avoided on the caravan route in summer and took a huge toll on caravan pack animals, such as ponies and mules. It was too icy for the Bactrian camels, which were the usual pack animals to the north of the Saser Pass.
Saser Pass lies 37 km southeast of the Siachen Glacier area that the 1972 Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan failed to define clearly.