Which of the following Himalayan passes is located in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh?

Introduction / Context:
Mountain passes are important low points in high ranges that allow routes for trade, travel, and strategic movement. The Himalayas contain many such passes, each associated with particular states and international borders. General knowledge questions often ask which pass lies in which Indian state. Shipkila (also written Shipki La) is an important pass on the India China border located in Himachal Pradesh.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks which pass is located in Himachal Pradesh.
• The options are Shipkila, Zojila, Nathula, and Jelepla.
• We assume school level knowledge of the locations of major Himalayan passes.
• Each of the other options is associated with different Himalayan states.

Concept / Approach:
The concept is to match each pass with its correct state and border segment. Shipkila lies in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh and connects to the Tibetan region of China. Zojila connects Kashmir valley with Ladakh and lies in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Nathula and Jelepla are passes in the eastern Himalayas, located in Sikkim on the India China border. Therefore, among the four, only Shipkila is correctly associated with Himachal Pradesh.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Shipkila is a high altitude pass on the Indo Chinese border situated in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.Step 2: Remember that Zojila is a pass on the Srinagar Leh highway in the western Himalayas, located in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.Step 3: Note that Nathula is a famous pass in the eastern Himalayas in Sikkim, used historically as a trade route to Tibet.Step 4: Recognise that Jelepla (Jelep La) is another pass in Sikkim, close to Nathula, again in the eastern Himalayas.Step 5: From these associations, conclude that Shipkila is the only pass among the options that lies in Himachal Pradesh.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard geography textbooks often include a table listing important Himalayan passes with their locations. Such tables usually show Shipki La (Shipkila) with Himachal Pradesh, Zojila with Jammu and Kashmir, and Nathula and Jelep La with Sikkim. Maps marking Indo Chinese border trade routes similarly label Shipkila near Kinnaur. This repeated mapping confirms the link between Shipkila and Himachal Pradesh.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Zojila: This pass is part of the road connection between Srinagar and Leh and lies in Jammu and Kashmir, not Himachal Pradesh.
Nathula: Nathula pass is in Sikkim on the route to the Chumbi Valley and is not located in Himachal Pradesh.
Jelepla: Jelep La is also in Sikkim, near Kalimpong and the eastern border region, and is not a Himachal Pradesh pass.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may mix up passes because many of them are related to the India China border and may assume that all such passes are in the same region. Others may be confused by the similarity between Nathula and Jelepla, both in Sikkim. A helpful memory aid is to group passes by state: Shipkila with Himachal Pradesh, Zojila with Jammu and Kashmir, and Nathula and Jelepla with Sikkim, which makes this question straightforward.

Final Answer:
The Himalayan pass located in Himachal Pradesh among the options given is Shipkila (Shipki La) in Kinnaur district.