Sela Pass & Madhuri Lake
A high Himalayan gateway of lakes and snow
At around 4,170 metres, the Sela pass is the great gateway to Tawang, a wind-scoured saddle where a sacred high-altitude lake sits beside the road and prayer flags snap in the thin air. For much of the year it is flanked by snow, and crossing it — or driving through the new all-weather Sela Tunnel that now keeps the route open in winter — is one of the most dramatic stretches of road in India.
Below the pass towards Tawang lies Sangetsar Lake, popularly called Madhuri Lake after a Bollywood film shot here, a serene body of water dotted with the ghostly trunks of trees drowned by an old earthquake. This is a high, cold, exhilarating landscape of yaks, army posts and enormous mountain silence.
What to see & do
- The sacred Sela Lake beside the pass at 4,170 m
- The Sela Tunnel, the engineering marvel that keeps Tawang open all year
- Sangetsar (Madhuri) Lake with its drowned trees
- The Jaswant Garh war memorial on the descent
Getting to Sela Pass & Madhuri Lake
| How to reach | On the Bomdila–Tawang road, roughly a day and a half from the Assam plains; part of the classic Tawang drive. |
| Best time | March to May and October to November; winter brings heavy snow, though the tunnel keeps the road open. |
| Permit | An Inner Line Permit (Indians) or Protected Area Permit (foreigners) is required. |
| Good to know | Acclimatise before crossing, carry serious warm layers year-round, and don't linger too long at altitude if you feel unwell. |
More to explore
Ziro Valley
Apatani plateau, Lower Subansiri
The Apatani rice-and-fish valley, and India's finest music festival.
Dirang & Bomdila
West Kameng
Apple orchards, hot springs and gompas on the Tawang road.
Namdapha National Park
Changlang, the far east
India's wildest rainforest, home to four big cats.