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Snow patches and a small lake among jagged peaks near Bum La Pass on the India–China borderSaptaparnipal.32 · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
ArunachalTawang

Bum La Pass

The 4,600 m India–China border pass, 37 km from Tawang

Altitude
4,600 m
Best time
Apr–May, Oct–Nov
From Tezpur
357 km · 12 hrs
Permit
Needed
Stay
A full day trip from Tawang, combined with PT Tso and Madhuri Lake
Bum La Pass in brief

Bum La is a 4,600 m pass on the India–China border, 37 km north of Tawang. Only Indian citizens may visit, with a special permit issued in Tawang a day ahead on top of the eILP. Only Tawang-registered SUVs are allowed. Snow and security conditions often close it, so treat any date as provisional.

Bum La is where the road runs out. From Tawang an army road climbs past PT Tso and a string of frozen tarns to a windswept saddle at about 4,600 m, where an Indian Army post, a small memorial and a line of stones mark the border with Tibet. It is one of the official meeting points where Indian and Chinese officers hold scheduled talks.

The pass also carries the weight of 1962, when Chinese troops came through here and one of the hardest battles of that war was fought on these slopes. Soldiers at the post usually give visitors a short talk about the border and the war, and it is the part of the trip most people remember.

Getting there takes paperwork and patience. The permit is issued only in Tawang, only Indian citizens are allowed, and the army can stop visits for weather or security at short notice. We plan every Tawang trip with a spare day for Bum La.

What makes it worth the trip

The border post

A short, guided stop with the army at the pass, where soldiers explain the border and the 1962 war.

Pankang Teng Tso (PT Tso)

A high lake on the way up, about 17 km from Tawang, usually frozen from December to March.

Madhuri (Sangetsar Tso) Lake

On a branch road off the Bum La route; most people visit it on the way back the same day.

High-altitude tarns

Dozens of small lakes line the road above 4,000 m, frozen white in winter and blue in May.

1962 history

Memorials along the route record the Battle of Bum La, one of the fiercest actions of the Sino-Indian war.

Snow patches and a small lake among jagged peaks near Bum La Pass on the India–China borderSaptaparnipal.32 · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
A road winding across a snow-dusted plateau below sharp peaks on the way to Bum LaRohit Sharma · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Snow-streaked mountains reflected in still Shree Swayambhu Lake near Bum La PassRohit Sharma · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Wide high-altitude valley with brown grass and a road leading to Bum La Pass, TawangItrajib · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Things to do

  1. Hand your eILP copies and ID to your hotel or driver on arrival so the permit can be filed a day ahead
  2. Leave Tawang by 7 am to reach the pass before cloud builds up
  3. Stop at PT Tso on the way up for photographs
  4. Listen to the army briefing at the pass and follow every instruction about photography
  5. Visit Madhuri Lake on the way back and have tea at the army-run cafe
  6. Carry snacks and water; there is almost nothing to buy on the route
  7. Keep a buffer day in case the pass is closed on your chosen date

Getting there

Bum La is 37 km from Tawang by army road, but it takes 2 to 2.5 hours each way because the surface is broken and steep. Only local Tawang-registered SUVs are allowed, and the vehicle's details go on your permit, so your Guwahati or Tezpur car stays in town. A Bum La, PT Tso and Madhuri Lake day costs roughly Rs 5,500 to 6,000 per vehicle in recent seasons. To reach Tawang itself, drive from Tezpur (about 320 km) or Guwahati (about 500 km) over two days via Dirang. Permit days, timings and fees change; check current status before you travel.

Where to stay

Stay in Tawang town; there is nowhere to stay on the Bum La road. Choose a hotel or homestay whose owner regularly arranges Bum La permits and local SUVs, which saves you a trip to the DC office. Being in the upper part of town, towards the monastery road, puts you on the right side for an early start. From October to April, ask for a heater and an early packed breakfast, because you want to be on the road by 7 am.

Local tips

  • Apply for the permit on a working day as soon as you arrive in Tawang; it is stamped at the army cantonment before use
  • Carry original photo ID plus two photocopies of your eILP and ID
  • Photography of army installations is forbidden; ask the soldiers before taking any picture
  • Wear everything warm you have; wind at the pass is bitter even in May
  • Do not go on your first day at altitude; spend at least one night in Tawang first
  • Heavy snow from late December to March can close the road for weeks; check current status before you travel

Rain and weather

Rain meter: Tawang (indicative)About 2,980 mm a year · approximate monthly averages
56J−9–4°
102F−7–4°
195M−3–6°
249A0–10°
231M3–13°
526J7–15°
643J9–16°
466A9–16°
305S7–15°
121O2–12°
45N−2–8°
41D−5–5°

Source: modelled climate data

April–May and October–November, when the army road is most often open; winter snow and monsoon cloud close it regularly.

Go with a plan

Packages that include Bum La Pass

Good to know

Bum La Pass: questions travellers ask

01Can foreigners visit Bum La Pass?

No. Bum La is open only to Indian citizens. Foreign nationals can visit Tawang, the monastery and Sela Pass with a Protected Area Permit, but they are not allowed on the road to Bum La. Mixed groups usually split for the day, with international travellers staying in Tawang for the monastery and town sights.

02How do I get a Bum La permit?

The permit is issued in Tawang by the Deputy Commissioner's office and endorsed by the Indian Army. It cannot be applied for online. Most hotels and local drivers file it for you a day ahead with copies of your eILP and photo ID. A fee of about Rs 100 per person has been reported since 2025. Check current status before you travel.

03On which days is Bum La closed?

There is no fixed timetable we can promise. Bum La runs on army permission day by day, permits are processed only on working days at the DC office in Tawang, and visits can be suspended for weather, snow or security at short notice. Closures after snow are common from December to March. Keep a spare day in Tawang and check current status before you travel.

04What is the altitude of Bum La Pass?

Bum La is at about 4,600 m (15,200 ft), much higher than Tawang at around 3,050 m and higher than Sela Pass at about 4,170 m. Most visitors feel breathless and some get headaches. Spend at least one night in Tawang before going, move slowly at the top and limit your stay there.

05When is Bum La closed due to snow?

Snow can block the road from late December to March, and even in April or November a fresh fall can stop vehicles. April–May and October–November are the most reliable windows. Monsoon cloud from June to September also cuts visibility. Treat any winter Bum La plan as provisional and check current status before you travel.

06How long does the Tawang to Bum La trip take?

Plan a full day. The 37 km road takes about 2 to 2.5 hours each way in a local SUV, plus time at PT Tso, the pass itself and Madhuri Lake on the way back. Leaving Tawang around 7 am usually gets you back by mid to late afternoon.

07Is there mobile network or an ATM on the Bum La road?

No ATMs exist beyond Tawang town, so withdraw cash there for the SUV hire and any fees. Mobile signal fades soon after leaving town and is mostly absent on the route, though towers are being added near the border. Tell your hotel your plan and carry offline maps.

08Is Bum La suitable for children and senior citizens?

It is hard going. The road is rough, the day is long and the altitude of 4,600 m is serious. Fit teenagers and healthy seniors usually manage well with warm clothing. We advise against taking infants and toddlers, and anyone with heart, lung or blood pressure conditions should check with a doctor first.

09Do I need my own car for Bum La?

No, you cannot use it. Only Tawang-registered local SUVs are allowed on the route, and their details are written on the permit. Your hotel or tour operator books the vehicle along with the permit. Recent prices for the Bum La, PT Tso and Madhuri Lake circuit have been around Rs 5,500 to 6,000 per vehicle.

Still wondering? Ask a trip planner

Close by

Nearby places

Dead tree trunks standing in the blue water of Madhuri (Shonga-tser) Lake between steep cliffs near Tawang Arunachal3,708 m Madhuri (Shonga-tser) Lake A 3,708 m army-guarded lake with drowned tree trunks, near Bum La Tawang town and its hilltop monastery under towering white clouds, Arunachal Pradesh Arunachal3,050 m Tawang A 3,000 m Monpa town, India's largest monastery and the road to Bum La Tawang Monastery's white buildings and gold roofs spread along a ridge below a blue peak Arunachal3,050 m Tawang Monastery India's largest Buddhist monastery, founded in 1680–81 above Tawang A boardwalk leading along blue Sela Lake below rocky peaks at Sela Pass, 4,170 m, Arunachal Arunachal4,170 m Sela Pass A 4,170 m pass with a frozen lake, now bypassed by the Sela Tunnel
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Snow patches and a small lake among jagged peaks near Bum La Pass on the India–China border
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