Thrumshing La

{{Short description|Mountain pass in Bhutan}} {{Infobox mountain pass | name = Thrumshing La | other_name = | photo = Thrumshing La, view of road, Nov 2012.jpg | photo_caption = View of the road at Thrumshing La | photo_alt = | map_image = {{Location map | Bhutan | border = infobox | width = 285 | float = center | caption = Location of Thrumshing La within Thrumshingla National Park, Bhutan | AlternativeMap =Thrumshingla protected area location map.png | mark = Black triangle2.svg | coordinates= {{coord|27|24|06|N|90|59|47|E}} }} | map_caption = {{Location map | Bhutan | border = infobox | width = 285 | float = center | caption = Thrumshing La on the Lateral Road | AlternativeMap =Bhutan highways blank location map.png | mark = Black triangle2.svg | coordinates= {{coord|27|24|06|N|90|59|47|E}} }} | label = | label_position = | elevation_m = 3780 | elevation_ref = | location = Ura Gewog, Bumthang District; Saling Gewog, Mongar District, Bhutan | range = Donga range | topo = | coords = {{coord|27|24|06|N|90|59|47|E|type:pass_region:BT|display=inline,title}} | traversed = }} '''Thrumshing La''', also called Thrumshingla Pass and Donga Pass, (Dzongkha: ཁྲུམས་ཤིང་ལ་; Wylie: ''khrums-shing la''; "Thrumshing Pass"), is the second-highest mountain pass in Bhutan,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XWblUfYqGK4C&dq |title=International Encyclopaedia Of Himalayas (5 Vols.) |first=Ramesh Chandra |last=Bisht |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=81-8324-265-0 |page=49 |chapter=Geographic Features |accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref> connecting its central and eastern regions across the otherwise impregnable Donga range that has separated populations for centuries.<ref name=BWK/><ref name=LP1>{{cite book|title=Bhutan |series=Country Guides |publisher=Lonely Planet |first1=Lindsay |last1=Brown |first2=Stan |last2=Armington |edition=3 |year=2007 |isbn=1-74059-529-7 |pages=84, 91 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s-L8NUlW_QgC |accessdate=2011-08-24}}</ref><ref name=LP2>{{cite book |title=Bhutan |series=Country Guides |publisher=Lonely Planet |first1=Lindsay |last1=Brown |first2=Stan |last2=Armington |edition=3 |year=2007 |isbn=1-74059-529-7 |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/shop_pickandmix/previews/bhutan-3-eastern-bhutan-preview.pdf |format=PDF |pages=182–183 |accessdate=2011-08-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607073544/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/shop_pickandmix/previews/bhutan-3-eastern-bhutan-preview.pdf |archivedate=2011-06-07 }}</ref> It is located on a bend of the Lateral Road at the border of Bumthang District (Ura Gewog, leaving Ura southbound) and Mongar District (Saling Gewog, toward Sengor), along the border with Lhuntse District to the east. The Lateral Road bisects Thrumshingla National Park, named after the pass.<ref name=BTF1>{{cite web |url=http://www.bhutantrustfund.bt/parks-of-bhutan |title=Parks of Bhutan |work=Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation online |publisher=Bhutan Trust Fund |accessdate=2011-03-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702041330/http://www.bhutantrustfund.bt/parks-of-bhutan |archivedate=2011-07-02 }}</ref> The World Wildlife Fund also maintains operations in the park.<ref name=WWF>{{cite web|url=http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/bhutan/index.cfm?uProjectID=BT0873 |title=Forest protection in Thrumshingla National Park, Bhutan |publisher=WWF |accessdate=2011-04-02}}</ref>

==Closures and hazards== The pass is often closed during winter due to heavy snowfall, shutting off land communication along the Lateral Road.<ref name=AP1>{{cite web|url=http://www.asia-planet.net/bhutan/eastern.htm |title=Eastern of Bhutan |publisher=Asia-Planet.net |date=2010-06-21 |accessdate=2011-08-24}}</ref> During road closures, commercial and public vehicles are prohibited from attempting Thrumshing La, however private vehicles may proceed at their own risk. Blockages at this high altitude must be cleared by both heavy equipment and manual labor.<ref name=Kuensel1>{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/2010/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=18111 |title=Passes Snowed Under |first=Samten |last=Yeshi |publisher=Kuensel online |date=2011-01-18 |accessdate=2011-08-27}}</ref> At times, clearing crews have considerable difficulty even reaching the pass.<ref name=Kuensel2>{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/2010/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=18435 |title=Passes Snowed Under |first=Chimi |last=Om |publisher=Kuensel online |date=2011-02-17 |accessdate=2011-08-27}}</ref><ref name=BO1>{{cite web |url=http://www.bhutanobserver.bt/lo-and-behold-snow-and-cold/ |first=Sonam |last=Pelden |title=Lo and Behold Snow and Cold |publisher=Bhutan Observer online |date=2008-01-25 |accessdate=2011-08-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023190809/http://www.bhutanobserver.bt/lo-and-behold-snow-and-cold/ |archivedate=2011-10-23 }}</ref>

Along the pass, there are many sheer drops at the roadside.<ref name=AP1/> The terrain at the pass is barren and icy. At the highest point, travelers leave prayer flags in thanks for safe arrival to the pass.<ref name=BWK>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sHAnAtNrUQoC |title=Bhutan: Ways of Knowing |first1=Frank |last1=Rennie |first2=Robin |last2=Mason |publisher=IAP |page=58 |year=2008 |isbn=1-59311-734-5 |accessdate=2011-08-10}}</ref> In a matter of hours, eastbound travelers descend the pass southward along the Lateral Road from elevations of nearly {{convert|3,800|m|ft}} to just {{convert|650|m|ft}}, transitioning from alpine forests into semi-tropical orange producing valleys.<ref name=AP1/> thumb|Thrumshingla Pass with snow

Because of the many nearby hazards and frequently dangerous conditions at Thrumshing La itself, the Government of Bhutan has approved and begun constructing a bypass to the Lateral Road as part of its Tenth Five Year Plan. The bypass will cut travel time, distance, and danger by avoiding Thrumshing La. The new route is expected to shorten travel time between Shingkhar village (Ura Gewog, Bumthang) and Gorgan (Menbi Gewog, Lhuntse) by 100 km and 3 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/2010/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=18626 |title=Realignment to Start in 10th Plan |first=Tshering |last=Palden |publisher=Kuensel online |date=2011-03-07 |accessdate=2011-08-26}}</ref> The new road construction met with fierce opposition by environmentalists; the government has chosen to proceed with construction nonetheless.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/2010/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=20558 |title=Government to Go Ahead |first=Tshering |last=Palden |publisher=Kuensel online |date=2011-08-25 |accessdate=2011-08-26}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|2}}

Category:Mountain passes of Bhutan Category:Bumthang District Category:Mongar District Category:Lhuntse District