Bara-lacha la, Mountain pass in Lahaul and Spiti district, India.

Bara-lacha la is a mountain pass located at approximately 4,900 meters elevation in the Lahaul and Spiti region. The pass connects the valleys of Himachal Pradesh with the plateau of Ladakh and serves as a key junction point on the Leh-Manali Highway.

The pass functioned as a major trade route for centuries, where merchants from Spiti, Ladakh, Zanskar, and Lahaul exchanged goods. This historical role as a commerce junction continues to define its importance today.

Local legend tells of Chandramukhi, daughter of the Moon god, and Surya Bhaga, son of the Sun god, who married at the pass and then raced in opposite directions. Chandra reached Tandi after 115 km; Bhaga struggled 60 km through narrow gorges before they met. The rivers Chandra and Bhaga, whose union gives the Chenab its name Chandrabhaga, are named for them.

The pass is open for travel only about six months per year, typically from April through October when snow melts. Road conditions remain variable even during this season, so travelers should prepare for possible delays and route changes.

The pass is a water-divide: the Bhaga flows northwest from Surya Taal lake a few kilometres toward Manali, while the Chandra runs south-east from a glacier here. Their union downstream gives the Chenab its native name, Chandrabhaga. Crossroads from Spiti, Ladakh, Zanskar and Lahaul meet at the pass.