Historically, the camp was used by caravans journeying between the Indian subcontinent and Tarim Basin.

[1] At one point, there were stone shelters constructed at this location to facilitate camping.

[2] '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.

[3] In the events leading to the Sino-Indian War, Indian patrols used Kompas La and Dehra Compass to monitor the area.

[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 5,476 metres (17,966 ft),[7] serving the Chinese border outpost of Heweitan to the west.