Chanshal Pass

Also called the Chanshal Valley, the Chanshal Pass joins Rohru (Chirgaon) with Dodra Kwar in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It sits on Chanshal Peak, which at 4,520 metres is the highest in the district. The surrounding range separates Rohru from the Dodra Kawar Valley, with peaks reaching 5,200 metres that can be accessed from the pass.

The road is open only from May to November, and snow covers the pass for the rest of the year. Two routes lead here from Shimla: one through Theog, Kotkhai, Kharapathar, Hatkoti, Rohru and Larot, the other through Theog, Narkanda, Sungri, Rohru and Larot. As of June 2012 a single bus ran between Rohru and Dodra Kwar. The valley gives views of the Himalayas and ice-covered hills, and trekking to the hilltops is fairly strenuous. Saru Tal, a lake, lies on top of one of the hills.