Shipki La is the famous mountain pass of

Mountain passes along India's Himalayan frontier are fixed geographic features, each located within one specific frontier state or union territory; naming the correct one is a matter of locating it precisely, not general knowledge of 'Himalayan passes' as a category.

Shipki La sits in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, along the Sutlej river valley, marking a historic trade route into Tibet and now forming part of the India-China frontier in that state.

• Sikkim's own high-altitude trade route into Tibet is Nathu La, a distinct pass in a different state.

• Uttarakhand's recognised Himalayan frontier passes are Lipulekh and Mana, not Shipki La.

• Jammu and Kashmir's well-known passes are Zoji La and the Pir Panjal Pass — a different part of the Himalayan frontier from Shipki La.

Since Shipki La's actual location matches only the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, that state is the correct answer.