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Banihal Pass
Banihal Pass, (pic: Shoaib Tantray)
Elevation	2,832 m (9,291 ft)
Location	India
Range	Pir Panjal, Himalayas
Coordinates	33°31′N 75°16′E / 33.517°N 75.267°E / 33.517; 75.267
Show map of Jammu and KashmirShow map of India

Banihal Pass (Hindi: बनिहाल दर्रा, Urdu: بانہال درا) is a mountain pass across the Pir Panjal Range in India at a maximum elevation of 2,832 m (9,291 ft). It connects the Kashmir Valley in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir to the outer Himalaya and the plains to the south. In the Kashmiri language, "Banihāl" means blizzard.

The road from Jammu to Srinagar transversed Banihal Pass until 1956 when the Jawahar Tunnel was constructed under the pass. The road now passes through the tunnel and the Banihal Pass is no longer used for road transport.

As from the Banihal Pass a sharp change in nature and mountains can be seen. The natural surroundings of Kashmir reveal themselves through the Banihal and Jehlum valley roads. 

Zaban Glacier is a famous hill station located in the Sanglaab Valley, close to the Banihal Pass. This glacier is situated to the west of the village of Khairkoot. The glacier is almost 2 km long in the lap of Sundur Top (3,660 m above sea level) Zaban Glacier is also the origin of Bachliri Nallaha, the main tributary of the Chenab River. Local tourists visit this glacier from April to mid-August. The glacier is connected by road to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, en route from Nowgam. It is almost 3 km from Nowgam and 2 km from Sanglaab colony.

References

1. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. "Banihāl Pass". Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-17.

v t e Kashmir Valley
Passes	Banihal Pass Zojila Burzil Pass Sinthan top Margan Top
Valleys	Sind Valley Lidder Valley Lolab Valley Betaab Valley
Cities	Srinagar Anantnag Baramulla
Towns	Akingam Achabal Pulwama Budgam Ganderbal Shopian Bandipore Kulgam Downtown Nowshera Gurez Pattan Kangan Hazratbal Awantipora Tral Qazigund Kokernag Shangus Bijbehara Doru Pahalgam Pattan Uri Kreeri Boniyar Tangmarg Sopore Rafaiabad Karnah Kupwara Lolab Handwara Langate Charari Sharief Beerwah Chadoora Bagh e Mehtab Sumbal Sonawari Quimoh Pahloo D.H.Pora Soura Buchpora Jawahar Nagar Srinagar Rajbagh Bemina Maisuma Karan Nagar Indira Nagar, Srinagar Hazratbal Lal Chowk Sonwar Bagh Nowhatta Hazratbal Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar Lal Bazar Zukura Munawar Abad Badami Bagh Nowshera, Srinagar Singhpora Magam Kokernag Daksum
Rivers	Jehlum Sind Lidder Kishanganga Veshaw Rambi Ara
Glaciers	Kolhoi Glacier Machoi Glacier
Lakes	Anchar Lake Dal Lake Nigeen Lake Manasbal Lake Wular Lake Vishansar Lake Krishansar Lake Gangabal Lake Gadsar Lake Sheshnag Lake Tarsar Lake Nundkol Lake Satsar Lake Kausar Nag Brari Nambal Khushal Sar Gil Sar Khanpursar
Mountains	Harmukh Kolhoi Peak Machoi Peak Amarnath Peak Sirbal Peak Tatakooti Peak Sunset Peak Mahadev
Hill stations and Mughal gardens	Pahalgam Sonamarg Yusmarg Gulmarg Aharbal Nishat Bagh Shalimar Bagh Chashme Shahi Verinag Kokernag Naseem Bagh Pari Mahal Achabal
Protected areas	Dachigam Hokersar Hirpora Overa-Aru Rajparian Gulmarg
See also	History of Kashmir Kashmir conflict The Valley Of Kashmir (1895 book) Line of Control Jammu–Baramulla line Kashmiri language

• Mountain passes of Jammu and Kashmir