How do I get a permit for Bum La Pass?

From the Deputy Commissioner's office in Tawang, in person, with copies of your Inner Line Permit and photo ID. It is cleared by the Army and usually lists the vehicle you will use.

Can I take my own car or a Guwahati cab to Bum La Pass?

No. Bum La and other sensitive areas allow only locally registered vehicles, so you hire a local Tawang taxi for that day.

Is Bum La Pass open all year?

It can close after heavy snow or at short notice for operational reasons. Keep a spare day in Tawang and check locally the day before.

Bum La Pass and Tawang's restricted spots: permits and local vehicles

Arunachal18 October 20265 min read

A whitewashed Buddhist monastery with golden roofs on a snow-dusted Himalayan ridge

The short answer

Bum La Pass and Sangetsar (Madhuri) Lake need a separate permit from the Deputy Commissioner's office in Tawang, cleared by the Army, on top of your Inner Line Permit. It is issued in person, not online, and only locally registered vehicles are allowed on these roads, so plan on a local taxi for the day while your own car waits in Tawang.

What needs the extra permit

Around Tawang, the roads towards the border are controlled. Bum La Pass, on the India–China border at about 4,600 m, and Sangetsar Lake, better known as Madhuri Lake, need clearance from the DC's office and the Army. Pankang Teng Tso (PT Tso) lake lies on the same road.

How to get it

Visit the Deputy Commissioner's office in Tawang the day before, with copies of every traveller's Inner Line Permit and photo ID. The permit is countersigned by the Army and usually lists the vehicle that will take you, so arrange the local taxi first. Travellers report it cannot be applied for online.

Only local vehicles are allowed

Arunachal Pradesh has many sensitive areas, such as Bum La Pass, where only locally registered vehicles are allowed. Outstation cars, including ours, cannot go there. Book a local Tawang taxi for the day; your own car and driver wait for you in town.

Plan the day well

Start early: the road is rough and the weather turns in the afternoon.
The Army can close the road at short notice after snow or for operational reasons. Keep a spare day.
Bum La is very high. Spend at least two nights at Tawang's altitude first, and turn back if anyone feels unwell.
Carry warm layers, water and snacks; there is little on the way.

Last updated 18 October 2026. Roads, permits and opening dates change; check official sources before you travel.