Umling La

Umling La, or Umlung La, is a mountain pass at 5,799 m in the Changthang area of Ladakh, near the village of Demchok, on the ridge between the Koyul Lungpa and the Indus. Streams draining from it feed both. The Border Roads Organisation paved a road over it in 2017, running from Chisumle, 25 km to the west, to Demchok.

From 2017 until 2025, when the road over Mig La overtook it, this was the highest motorable road in the world, higher than Everest's South Base Camp. Builders worked in winter temperatures of minus 40 degrees and with half the oxygen found at sea level. The pass lies about 230 to 250 km from Leh by way of Upshi, Nyoma, Hanle and Photi La, a drive of 8 to 10 hours. In 2022 two teams set a record here for the highest drive ever made in an auto rickshaw.