Luxury Supercars Conquer 14,672-Foot Cho La Pass in Historic Sikkim Rally

The Super Car Rally under the Ranbhoomi Darshan initiative, titled "Sikkim - The Silk Route Drive," achieved a historic milestone by reaching the strategically significant Cho La Pass, situated at an impressive altitude of 14,672 feet along the Indo-China border on Sunday evening.

This remarkable event represented the first major tourism activity at the recently opened mountain pass, marking a significant development for the region.

The impressive convoy consisted of 15 luxury supercars with over 40 drivers participating in this groundbreaking journey to Cho La Pass. This location holds considerable historical significance due to the 1967 Indo-China conflict, during which India secured a territorial advantage on October 1, 1967.

The spectacular rally showcased some of the world's most prestigious high-performance vehicles, including Lamborghinis and Porsches, navigating the challenging mountain terrain.

Earlier this year, on January 15, the Ministry of Defence had officially announced the opening of Cho La Pass and Dokala (Doklam), alongside the existing Nathula Pass, as part of the Ranbhoomi Darshan initiative. While tourists have long had access to Nathula, both Cho La and Dokala were newly accessible forward border destinations.

Initial plans to inaugurate Cho La Pass in October faced delays due to logistical challenges. Circulating rumors suggesting China's reluctance to approve the opening of these border areas were effectively dispelled following the successful completion of the rally. Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay is scheduled to flag off 30 additional tourist vehicles from Gangtok today.

Although Cho La Pass was successfully opened, Dokala was not included in the itinerary for this two-day rally. The convoy reached Nathula on December 13, traveling as far as the Gnathang Valley. A planned drive along the challenging 32 hairpin bends of Dzuluk had to be cancelled after two supercars experienced technical difficulties.