Sela Pass — the 4,170 m pass and its sacred lake on the road to Tawang
What it is
Sela Pass is the high gateway to Tawang: about 4,170 m on the road from Dirang, bare and rocky, and snow-covered to some degree for much of the year. Just below the top lies Sela Lake, often frozen, one of roughly 101 lakes around here that Tibetan Buddhists hold holy, by Wikipedia's count.
Photos: Mike Prince from Bangalore, India (CC BY 2.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
The name
The pass, the lake and the tunnel beneath them are named after Sela, a Monpa girl remembered with her friend Nura for helping Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat in 1962; Nuranang Falls carries Nura's name. The Jaswant Garh War Memorial stands on the road below.
The road and the tunnel
Wikipedia says Sela gets heavy snow in winter but is usually open through the year, unless snow or slips shut it for a time; the new Sela tunnel now gives Tawang all-weather access below the pass. The pass is about 71 km and 137 minutes from Tawang on our routing.
Combine it with
The two days with the Sela road puts the pass, Jaswant Garh and the falls in order. Read how to reach Tawang.
Plans that include this
All 1 plans that stop here →
Nearby places
All of Tawang →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
How high is Sela Pass?
About 4,170 m, or 13,700 feet, by Wikipedia's figure. It is the high point of the road between Dirang and Tawang, about 71 km and 137 minutes from Tawang on our routing. The air is thin at this height, so stop only briefly if you have come up fast, and turn back if you feel unwell.
Is Sela Pass open in winter?
Wikipedia says it gets heavy snow in winter but is usually open all year, unless landslides or snow force a temporary closure. The Sela tunnel below the pass now gives Tawang access in all weather. Wikivoyage warns that heavy snow can hold travellers on either side, so check the road before you set out.
What is the lake at Sela Pass?
Sela Lake, just below the top of the pass, which is often frozen. Wikipedia counts it among roughly 101 lakes around here that Tibetan Buddhists hold holy. The pass, the lake and the tunnel are named after Sela, a Monpa girl remembered for helping Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat in 1962.