How many passes in Arunachal Pradesh? Permits and mountain passes
The question can mean a permit or a mountain pass. Both answers are here.
When people ask how many pass in Arunachal Pradesh, they mean one of two things: permits, which travellers call passes, or mountain passes. For permits the answer is usually one, sometimes two. For mountain passes there is no official count, but a few matter on a tour.
If you mean permits: how many do you need?
For an Indian tourist, the entry document is a single Inner Line Permit. It is what people also call a travel pass or a tour permit, and there is no separate tourist pass. The permit names guide explains why.
| Trip | Permits you need |
|---|---|
| Dirang, Bomdila, Ziro, Itanagar | 1 — the Inner Line Permit |
| Tawang with Bum La and Madhuri Lake | 2 — ILP plus a local permit from Tawang |
| Namdapha National Park | 2 — ILP plus forest entry permission at Miao |
| Far eastern border areas | ILP plus extra clearance depending on how far you go |
| Foreign nationals | A Protected Area Permit in place of the ILP |
Local permits are applied for locally, usually a day ahead. If you book with us, we arrange them. Read do we need permission to enter Arunachal Pradesh for how the ILP works.
If you mean mountain passes: which ones matter?
Arunachal has many passes and no single official number is quoted for tourists. These are the ones you may meet on a tour:
- Sela Pass (13,700 ft): the high point on the road to Tawang. The Sela Tunnel now lets traffic pass underneath in bad weather.
- Bum La Pass (about 15,200 ft): on the border above Tawang, open with an extra permit and not for foreign nationals.
- Mayudia Pass: near Roing in the east, a snow alternative in winter.
- Pangsau Pass: on the Myanmar border in the far south-east, where access needs special permission.
Most first trips cross one pass: Sela. See the Tawang tour package for the route, and the places guide for the others.
Which meaning is right for you?
If you are planning a trip, you want the permit answer: get an ILP before you travel and ask your operator about any local permit. If you are curious about geography, the passes above are the well-known ones.
Related guides
- Do we need permission to enter Arunachal Pradesh?
- Where is Tawang? Location, distance and how to reach
- Arunachal Pradesh travel guidelines: rules and safety
Further reading
Independent sources, if you want a second opinion before you book:
- Sela Pass on Wikipedia — the pass every Tawang trip crosses
- Inner Line Permit on Wikipedia — background on the ILP system
- Arunachal Pradesh Tourism — the state's official tourism site, which also notes the ILP and PAP requirements
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Frequently asked questions
How many pass in Arunachal Pradesh do tourists need?
Usually one, the Inner Line Permit. Places such as Bum La Pass and Madhuri Lake need a second, local permit.
What is the tourist pass for Arunachal Pradesh called?
It is the Inner Line Permit for Indian citizens and the Protected Area Permit for foreign nationals.
How many mountain passes are there in Arunachal Pradesh?
There is no single official figure quoted for travellers. The best known on tour routes are Sela, Bum La and Mayudia.
What is the highest pass on the Tawang route?
Sela Pass at 13,700 ft is the highest you cross on the road. Bum La, at about 15,200 ft, is higher and needs a separate permit.