Dangerous curves: Five most scenic and treacherous roads in India

The roads are the only thing that lie between you and your destination. These roads can be charming and deadly at the same time. Newsgram brings to you a list of the five most dangerous (and beautiful) roads in India.

Zoji La Pass: Located at an altitude of 3,528 meters above sea level, the pass acts as a connecting route between a valley of Kashmir and Ladakh. The pass goes through the important Srinagar-Leh highway, located in the western section of the Himalayan mountain range. Heavy snowfall leads to blockage of the pass for more than half a year. Melting snow makes the road slippery and lack of barricades makes it even riskier for the vehicles.

Rohtang Pass: Literally meaning "pile of corpses", the pass acts as a link between the Kullu valley and the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys (Himachal Pradesh). Rohtang Pass is situated at an elevation of around 3,978 meters above the sea level. The beauty of nature turns deceptive here, owing to the risky road. The pass is generally open from May to November.

Leh Manali Highway: A long spread of 479 kilometers; the highway connects Leh (J&K) to Manali (Himachal Pradesh). Major snowfall around the years results in its closure for more than six months. The highest elevation of the highway is as high as 17,000 feet (5,328 m). Damaged portions and fear of landslides make it one of the most dangerous highways in India.

Kinnaur Road: Bordering Tibet on its eastern side, National Highway-22 was severely damaged in the floods of 2013. The road was constructed by cutting into hard rocks. The adventure and risk goes up in the winter and rainy season. The district Kinnaur has three mountain ranges (Zanskar, Greater Himalayas and Dhauladhar) and produces apples, chilgoza and other dry fruits majorly.

Khardung La: Located at a distance of 39 kilometers from Leh, Khardung La (J&K) is believed to be one of the highest motorable roads in the world. The pass has an elevation of 5,359 meters above the sea level. Narrow one-lane sections and snow lead to traffic jams. Rainfall and washouts often heighten the risk of accidents and landslides.