Sela Pass

The Sela Pass at 4,170 metres is the dramatic gateway to Tawang, crossed on the road from Tezpur and Dirang. The summit of the pass is flanked by a small military cantonment and a cluster of stalls selling Maggi noodles and hot tea — a welcome stop after the climb through hairpin bends above the snowline.

A short walk from the road leads to Sela Lake, a glacial pool that sits just below the pass in a bowl of tundra. In winter the lake freezes solid and the pass is frequently closed by snow, sometimes for weeks at a time. The views across to the Himalayan ridges and down into the valleys on both sides are spectacular on a clear day. Allow at least an hour at the pass, and more if you want to walk along the lake shore.

things to do sight
A story
During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the Sela Pass was the last defensive line before Tawang. When Chinese forces broke through, it was the only route of retreat for Indian soldiers and civilians fleeing south. The road is now a vital military supply line; the Indian Army has been attempting to tunnel through the mountain below the pass for years to reduce the closure months when the pass is snowbound.