Hi Nanda there is more evidence that this geographical feature has nothing to do with the imperial cholas simple reason- la in tibetean means pass there are a 100 passes in india nepal and tibet ending with the word LA. I list a few here
Tanggu la has the world's highest railway station
Bara-lacha-la- connecting himachal and ladakh
Chang la Pass is on the route to Pangong Lake from Leh.
Jelep La is derived from jelep meaning lonely and la meaning pass in Tibetan. The pass is in Sikkim and the route connects Lhasa to India.
Khardung La a high mountain pass located in the Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India.is widely, but incorrectly, believed to be the world's highest motorable pass. There are higher motorable passes at Suge La, west of Lhasa, 5,430 m (17,815 feet), and Semo La 5,565 m (18,258 feet), between Raka and Coqen in Central Tibet.
Nathu la is a mountain pass in the Himalayas. recently in the news being opened again after the sino- indo war of 1962.It is located on the Indo–China border connecting the Indian state of Sikkim with the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. The pass, at 4,310 m (14,140 ft) above mean sea level, forms part of an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road. Nathu means "listening ears" and La means "pass" in Tibetan.
other passes include Lungalacha La Dongkha la Fatu La Goecha La
also Cho la is not considered an important pass because it literally is on a one way street. only those who wish to climb the everest need to cross it.
I seriously doubt if any historian has mentioned the CHOlA pass as evidence in any history book. it must have come to the notice of some traveller to nepal who must have noticed the name and word spread on strength of the co incidence venketesh