Trail access · Arunachal Pradesh

Tawang & the Sela High Country

Can you drive here right now — which routes are open, which need a permit, and what's private or closed.

Restricted· Verified 18 Aug 2026

Before you rely on a trail listing

Watch out: Part of this route is Forest-Department / protected land — a permit is legally required. Confirm with the local Divisional Forest Officer before you go. The access status, permits and open/closed details shown here are our reading of public and official information as of the last-checked date — not verified live by us and not a guarantee the route is open, legal or safe today. Rules, zones and fees change without notice, so always confirm current access with the Forest Department / landowner / local authority before you travel.
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Current access

Restricted

Last verified 18 Aug 2026

Part of this route is Forest-Department / protected land — a permit is legally required.

Verification

Official sources · high confidence

Permit

Forest / protected-area permit required — confirm with the Divisional Forest Officer.

Inside this area

1 open · 4 restricted · 1 closure

⚠ Forest Department / protected area — permit legally required. Part or all of this route appears to cross Reserved or Protected Forest, a Wildlife Sanctuary, or a protected/eco-sensitive area. Under Indian law (Indian Forest Act 1927, Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act 1980), driving here without written permission from the Forest Department is illegal. It can lead to your vehicle being seized, and to fines or prosecution. You must obtain permission from the local Forest Department (the Divisional Forest Officer) before you go. 4x4trails.in does not grant any permission and is not responsible if you enter without one. Permit info: Inner Line Permit required for Indian non-natives (Arunachal Pradesh e-ILP / DC offices); foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit — including individual/single foreign tourists for Tawang, West Kameng & Lower Subansiri (via an approved Arunachal operator; the 2-person group minimum does not apply here); Pakistan/China/Afghanistan nationals need prior MHA approval. Bumla Pass and the India–China border zone need a SEPARATE special permit from the Office of the DC Tawang AND the Indian Army, and are off-limits to foreign nationals. Sela Pass ~4,170 m; high passes stay snow-covered much of the year.

Closure reported — Sela Pass (winter snow closure). Status as of 18 Aug 2026. Conditions change — reconfirm the current status with the Forest Department / authority before you travel.

Routes, drives & experiences here

Restricted
Tezpur/Guwahati → Tawang via Sela Pass (NH-13)
Scenic drive
320 km well-surfaced mountain highway with rough stretches; ~4,170 m pass
The classic climb on National Highway 13 out of Assam (about 320 km / a full day from Tezpur, ~555 km from Guwahati), entering at the Bhalukpong checkpost where permits are inspected, rising to Sela Pass at 4,170 m before dropping into the Tawang Chu valley. Mostly well-surfaced up to the pass with some rough stretches beyond; small cars and motorcycles both make it, though 4WD is welcome. Break the climb at Bomdila or Dirang to acclimatise. The 2024 Sela Tunnel gives all-weather passage below the pass. Requires the Arunachal entry permit above.
Source: compiled from public information
Closure: Sela Pass (4,170 m) sits snow-dusted much of the year and can shut temporarily after heavy snow or landslides in deep winter — though the Border Roads Organisation works to keep it open year-round and the all-weather Sela Tunnel (2024) has greatly improved winter reliability. Check road status before you set out and don't push a high pass in bad weather; confirm current winter tunnel/road status before assuming year-round passage.
Restricted
Bum La Pass border drive
Off-road trail
37 km treacherous, SUV-only high track; ~4,600 m border pass
The 4,600 m India–China border pass about 37 km from Tawang needs a SEPARATE special permit issued at the Office of the Deputy Commissioner in Tawang and stamped at the Tawang army cantonment — without the army stamp you are turned back at the check posts. Bum La is NOT granted to foreign nationals. Attempt it only by SUV and only on a clear day with no snow or rain — the track is treacherous. This is an active border zone with frequent military check posts; do not enter closed or restricted military areas.
Source: compiled from public information
Restricted
Sangetsar (Madhuri) & P.T. Tso glacier-lake drive
Off-road trail
20 km rough, largely unpaved high-altitude 4WD/SUV-only mountain track
High glacier lakes above Tawang — Sangetsar Tso sits about 20 km out near the Bum La road and is reached by hired local vehicle; P.T. Tso freezes for four to five months a year. Being on the Bum La / border road, access is permit-controlled and weather-dependent — reconfirm current rules and road status locally.
Source: compiled from public information
Open
Nuranang (Jang) Falls stop & Tawang town roads
Viewpoint drive
sealed roadside stop
Once inside Arunachal on the entry permit, town roads and roadside sights are freely driven — the dramatic Nuranang (Jang) Falls, about a kilometre from Jang town on the Tawang–Sela road, is a classic photo stop, and Tawang town holds the 17th-century Tawang Monastery and the 1962-war memorials. No separate special permit for these (unlike Bum La), just the standard ILP/PAP to be in the district.
Source: compiled from public information

RestrictedArunachal Pradesh entry — Inner Line / Protected Area Permit— Every visitor needs a permit to enter Arunachal Pradesh: Indian nationals require an Inner Line Permit (ILP), applied for online through the official Arunachal eILP portal before travelling; foreign nationals require a Protected Area Permit (PAP) obtained in person (independent travellers via the Arunachal Bhawan in Guwahati), under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958. Permits are checked at the Bhalukpong state-border checkpost — carry copies. Fees are set by the authorities and change; see the live rate on the official portal and confirm the current channel before travel.

Not every access detail here is officially confirmed — some are compiled from public information. Always verify current permits and closures with the Forest Department / governing authority before you go.

Data & verification

Access info verified from official sources · last checked 18 Aug 2026

Official resources — verify access & permits here

Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department — find the local DFO / Range Office / Wildlife Warden contact
Search: “Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department DFO office contact” for the range office nearest the trail.
Emergency: 112 (India’s national emergency number). Find the local forest control-room / DFO number on the department site above.

Rules, permits and closures change and vary by exact location. Always confirm access with the Forest Department / government department that governs this trail before you drive — the resources above are guidance, not permission.

Sources & attribution4 sources

This page was prepared using public and official sources. Sources are provided for transparency and verification. Attribution is provided where required by the applicable source licence. Source attribution does not imply affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement.