Culture · Cho La
Escorted visit to the Cho La battlefield
Drive up from your Silk Route homestay with an escort from Kupup to Cho La at about 4,593 m, the site of the 1 October 1967 clash between Indian and Chinese troops. A short, controlled visit to one of India's least-seen border battlefields.
Photo: Anjan Kumar Kundu · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
On the morning of the visit, your operator's vehicle joins the escort at Kupup, where Sikkim Police and Army personnel accompany tourist vehicles up the fair-weather road to the pass. The road is rough and high, with snow possible in any month except high summer. Expect checks of permits and ID along the way.
At Cho La you stand on the watershed between Sikkim and Tibet. On 1 October 1967, weeks after the fighting at Nathu La, Indian and Chinese troops clashed here for a day, and Chinese forces withdrew about three kilometres. Figures for casualties differ widely between Indian and Chinese accounts. Memorials and briefings tell the Indian Army's story.
Visits are short for safety and security. Photography is controlled; follow instructions exactly. At about 4,593 m, walk slowly and keep warm. Medical consultation with the Army was offered when the scheme opened, but carry your own medicines. Rules are new and may change; check current status before you travel.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
What happened at Cho La in 1967?
On 1 October 1967, a few weeks after clashes at Nathu La, Indian and Chinese troops fought a one-day engagement at Cho La after a confrontation on the border. Chinese forces withdrew about three kilometres. Casualty figures differ widely between Indian and Chinese sources.
Can foreigners visit Cho La?
No. When Cho La opened in 2025 it was for Indian domestic tourists only. Foreigners, including OCI cardholders, cannot visit. They can see Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir on a protected-area permit instead. Check current status before you travel.
Is Cho La open every day?
Cho La opened in autumn 2025 with a daily cap of 25 vehicles and 25 motorbikes, subject to weather and security. Open days and closures can change at short notice, especially in winter. Confirm with your operator shortly before travel, and check current status before you travel.
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