Sela Pass

Sela Pass is a high-altitude mountain pass at about 4,170 metres on National Highway 13 between Dirang and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Located on the border of West Kameng and Tawang districts, it is known for its snow-covered landscape, prayer flags, and the sacred Sela Lake (Paradise Lake) beside the road. The pass offers panoramic Himalayan views and is a key transit point for visitors travelling to Tawang.

Visitors can expect a high-altitude Himalayan pass with snow-covered slopes for much of the year, prayer flags strung across the road, and the turquoise Sela Lake (Paradise Lake) adjacent to the highway. The area offers wide panoramic views of the eastern Himalayas, small tea stalls and parking areas by the lake, and a cold, windy environment. Most visitors stop briefly for sightseeing and photography while travelling between Dirang and Tawang.

Sela Pass has historically served as the principal mountain route connecting Tawang and West Kameng with the Assam plains, facilitating trade, pilgrimage and administrative connectivity across the eastern Himalayas.

The pass and its adjacent Sela Lake are considered sacred in local Buddhist tradition and are revered by the Monpa community; the lake and pass are adorned with prayer flags reflecting the spiritual landscape of the region.