Context: For the first time, Shipki La, a high-altitude 3,930 metres motorable mountain pass bordering India and China in Himachal’s tribal district of Kinnaur, has been opened for tourists who can now visit simply by carrying an Aadhar card and token.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Shipki La pass.
Shipki La reopened for Tourism:
- The border tourism initiative, launched in coordination with the Union government, will enable regulated tourist access to strategically important yet culturally vibrant locations such as Lepcha-La, Shipki-La, Gue Monastery, Khana, Dumti, the Rani area of Sangla, and Chitkul in Kinnaur district, along with selected areas in Lahaul-Spiti.
- The move is aimed to boost the local economy and promote tourism in border areas in the hill state.
Historical Importance of Shipki La:
- Shipki La was a vital trade corridor between India and Tibet, especially between the Bushahr State (Rampur) in India and Guge Kingdom in Tibet.
- Imports from Tibet included- wool (the most profitable item), pack and saddle horses, goats, sheep, mutton, yak and goatskins, yak hair (used for ropes and saddlebags), devotional items such as prayer wheels, thangkas, rosaries, and bowls, as well as borax, turquoise, and gold.
- Exports to Tibet from India included- grains such as barley, wheat, rice, millet, lentils, chickpeas, and oil, dried fruits, vegetables, spices, tobacco, timber, copper and brass utensils, and iron tools.
Why was the Trade Route closed?
- Shipki La's trade route was disrupted after the 1962 Sino-India War. Border tensions made cross-border movement highly restricted. Further strains, like the Doklam standoff in 2017, and the COVID-19 pandemic, shut down even the limited traditional exchanges.
- The centuries-old Trade route between India and Tibet, Shipki-La, was closed for trade in the year 2020.
Significance of Reopening Shipki La Pass
- Cultural Revival: The people of Kinnaur and western Tibet share Buddhist traditions, similar customs, and even common surnames like Namgyal. Opening the pass reconnects a shared civilization.
- Religious Tourism Boost: Shipki La can cut down the Delhi to Mansarovar pilgrimage by 14 days, offering an alternative route for the sacred journey to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.
- Livelihood & Local Economy: Reopening Shipki La offers livelihood opportunities to Kinnaur's tribal communities through tourism-related jobs like homestays, guiding, handicrafts, and potential revival of traditional trade and artisan markets.
- Strategic & Soft Diplomacy: Reopening Shipki La, even for tourism, can act as a community-led model of trust-building with China.