Sikkim’s Nathu La Pass, which has remained shut for the past six years, is set to reopen on August 1. With the reopening, cross-border trade between India and China through the pass is expected to resume.
The route was closed in 2020 following the Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh, which led to casualties on both sides and strained bilateral ties. The report notes that subsequent talks and steps to ease tensions have helped restore a measure of normalcy in relations.
Located in the eastern Himalayas at an altitude of about 14,140 feet, Nathu La is one of the oldest mountain routes linking Sikkim with Tibet’s Chumbi Valley. Around 54 km from Gangtok, it was once an important branch of the ancient Silk Route and historically facilitated movement of traders, pilgrims and business groups.
After the 1962 India–China war, trade through Nathu La was halted and the pass was shut, before being reopened on July 6, 2006. Sikkim officials are now making arrangements for the August 1 reopening, with traders and local businesses hoping for an economic boost in border areas.
Unlike regular international commerce, trade via Nathu La operates under a mutually agreed list of permitted items. India has exported goods such as agricultural tools, blankets, textiles, tea, coffee, cooking oil, bicycles and household items, while imports from Tibet include raw wool, goat skins, medicinal herbs, carpets and other traditional products.
