Dehra Compass Explained
| Dehra Compass |
| Location: | Xinjiang, China |
| Elevation M: | 5450 |
| Map: | China Xinjiang Southern |
| Label Position: | top |
| Embedded: | |
Dehra Compass or Dehra Kompas (Chinese: 迪拉村) is the location of a historical caravan campsite in Aksai Chin. It is under Chinese control and claimed by India. Historically, the camp was used by caravans journeying between the Indian subcontinent and Tarim Basin. It was traversed by European explorers during the 1800s.[1] At one point, there were stone shelters constructed at this location to facilitate camping.
Etymology
'Dehra' is derived from the Punjabi and Seraiki language word 'dera', meaning camp, while 'Compass' comes from the name of a survey officer, Kompas Walla.[2]
Sino-Indian border dispute
In the events leading to the Sino-Indian War, Indian patrols used Kompas La and Dehra Compass to monitor the area.[3] Chinese troops gained control of this area after May 1961.[4] [5] [6]
Kompas La
Kompas La or Dehra La is the pass through a nearby mountain spur. Historically the pass was to the south reached an elevation of 18160feet.[1] Present day, the vehicle accessible gravel road routed to the east, while still one of the highest in the world, only reaches elevation of 5476m (17,966feet),[7] serving the Chinese border outpost of Heweitan to the west.
See also
Notes and References
- Trotter on the Geographical Results of the Mission to Kashgar in 1873-4. John Murray. William Clowes and Sons. The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society. 1878. 48. 1 January 2020. (p182) and then goes over a spur (Kompás La) 18,160 feet in height and descends into the bed of Kárákásh River (p189) The highest elevation at which our tents were pitched was at Dehra Kompás camp, 17,890 feet above sea-level.
- Book: Bates, Charles Ellison . Central Asia: A contribution towards the better knowledge of the topography, ethnology, resources, & history of Ladak . 1878 .
- Book: Karkra, Bal Krishan. The Police Warriors on The Indo-Chinese Border in Ladakh. October 23, 2019. Walnut Publication. 978-81-943486-1-0. 85–86. ... to look for further evidence of the P.L.A. penetration in the Region. After crossing a mountain pass, Dehra La, Karam reached Dehra Compass (Lat. 34 degrees 56 minutes N, Long. 78 degrees 41 minutes E, Elevation 5450 metres) well before the last light. The place had quite a few stone huts suitable for stay. There were again unmistakable signs of some people having halted there not long ago..
- Book: Col Y Udaya Chandar (Retd). Independent India's All the Seven Wars. January 2, 2018. Notion Press. 978-1-948473-22-4. 191–. After May 1961 Chinese troops occupied Dehra Compass.
- Book: Smith, Chris . India's Ad Hoc Arsenal . 1994 . Oxford University Press . 75. 978-0-19-829168-8 .
- Book: India's Quest for Security: Defence Policies, 1947-1965. Kavic. Lorne J.. 1967. University of California Press. 169. Shortly thereafter Chinese troops occupied Dehra Compass.
- Web site: Kompas La. dangerousroads.org. 1 January 2020. Kompas La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.476m (17,965ft) ... The road to the summit, also known as Dehra Compass, is gravel, rocky, tippy and bumpy at times. .
