BANIHAL PASS

pass in the Pir Panjal Range in the Indian-held sector of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. Banihala name that in Kashmiri means blizzardlies at an altitude of 9,290 ft (2,832 m) in the Doda district. It forms the main gateway to the Vale of Kashmir from the Indian plains. The JammuSrinagar road enters the pass through the Jawahar Tunnel, which is occasionally blocked by snow in winter. Goods formerly crossed the pass on the backs of porters, who made the journey in a day.