How to reach Tawang

From the airport

Tezpur's Salonibari Airport (TEZ) is only about 330 km from Tawang, but it has had no civilian flights since October 2024, when they were suspended for runway reconstruction, and by mid-2026 no date had been set for them to restart, so check before planning around it. For now, fly into Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU), which has flights from across India. It is about 480 to 500 km from Tawang by road via Tezpur, Bhalukpong, Bomdila and Dirang, a 14 to 16 hour drive best split over two days with a night in Bomdila or Dirang. Itanagar's Donyi Polo Airport (HGI) at Hollongi is a little nearer, about 440 km by road via Gohpur and Bhalukpong, but has far fewer flights.

A state-run helicopter also flies from Guwahati airport to Tawang on set days, in about an hour; baggage is limited to 10 kg per person and it flies only in clear weather, so keep a road plan ready.

From the railway station

The most useful railhead is Rangapara North Junction (RPAN), about 315 km from Tawang on the line from Guwahati towards Naharlagun. Many trains a day link it with Guwahati in about 2 to 4 hours, and a few long-distance trains from Delhi stop here, including a Rajdhani and the Arunachal AC Superfast Express. Arrange a taxi from the station in advance: it is 10 to 12 hours of driving to Tawang. Shared Sumos for Tawang leave from Tezpur, so without a taxi you would go there first.

Guwahati (GHY) has by far the most trains; from there go on by bus or taxi to Tezpur (4 to 5 hours) and continue next morning. Bhalukpong (BHNG), on the Arunachal border, has only one local passenger train from Rangapara North on most days, so it saves little over a taxi. A railway on to Tawang has been proposed, but nothing runs beyond Bhalukpong.

By road

The road to Tawang is NH-13, known locally as the BCT (Balipara–Charduar–Tawang) road. From Guwahati, cross the Assam plains to Tezpur (about 160 to 180 km depending on the route, 4 to 5 hours), then head north through Balipara to Bhalukpong on the Arunachal border (about 55 to 60 km, 1 to 1.5 hours), where Inner Line Permits are checked.

From Bhalukpong the road climbs past Tipi and through the Nechiphu Tunnel, opened in 2023 to bypass a notoriously foggy pass, to Bomdila at about 2,400 m (about 100 to 110 km, 4 to 5 hours). It then drops 42 km to Dirang (1 to 1.5 hours), the usual overnight stop. From Dirang it climbs steeply to the Sela Tunnel, opened in March 2024 a few hundred metres below the 4,170 m Sela Pass, then descends on the Nuranang side to Jang before the final climb to Tawang: about 125 to 130 km, 4 to 5 hours. The tunnel saves about 10 km and an hour. Sela Pass and its lake are still a popular stop on the old road over the top, which heavy snow can close in winter.

Plan on two days from Guwahati or Tezpur: the hill section is slow and winding.

By bus

Buses on the Tawang road are run by Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Services (APSTS) and private operators, but services are few and most travellers use shared Sumos. APSTS lists routes from Tawang to Guwahati, Tezpur and Itanagar, running through Dirang and Bomdila, and seats can be booked online or at its counters. From Guwahati an early-morning public bus runs to Bomdila, taking most of the day. From Tezpur's ASTC bus station one bus a day leaves around 6 am for Bomdila. From Bomdila an early bus, around 5:30 am, reaches Tawang later the same day. Timings change, so check a day ahead.

Local transfers

Shared Sumos to Tawang leave early, between about 5 and 7 am, from the ASTC bus station area in Tezpur; book your seat the day before at the counters there, as they can fill up. Going straight through, you reach Tawang late in the evening. If you break the journey, early Sumos also leave Bomdila and Dirang for Tawang. They usually drop you in Tawang's main bazaar. In town, small local taxis handle short trips, while Sumos or Boleros are hired by the day for places further out.

Distances from major points

• Guwahati to Tezpur: about 160 to 180 km, depending on the route
• Tezpur to Bhalukpong: about 55 to 60 km
• Bhalukpong to Bomdila: about 100 to 110 km
• Bomdila to Dirang: about 42 km
• Dirang to Tawang (through the Sela Tunnel, via Jang): about 125 to 130 km
• Tezpur to Tawang: about 320 to 330 km
• Rangapara North station to Tawang: about 315 km
• Guwahati to Tawang (via Tezpur and Bhalukpong): about 480 to 510 km
• Itanagar to Tawang (via Gohpur, Tezpur and Bhalukpong): about 440 km

Good to know

Tawang, in the north-western corner of Arunachal Pradesh, is a town of monasteries, mountain lakes and Monpa culture at the end of a long mountain road.

Permits: Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit, available online through the Arunachal Pradesh eILP portal (the tourist eILP covers stays of up to 14 days) or from Arunachal government offices in Guwahati and Tezpur; it is checked at Bhalukpong. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit, applied for only through an approved Arunachal tour operator. Bum La and Sangetsar (Madhuri) Lake need extra clearance from the Deputy Commissioner's office in Tawang and the Army.

Night before: Dirang (about 1,500 m) or Bomdila (about 2,400 m) are the best last stops and help you acclimatise. Leave Bum La, above 4,600 m, until you have had a day or two in Tawang.

Money: State Bank of India, HDFC, ICICI and several other banks have branches in Tawang's market area.

Safety

Keep a couple of spare days in hand. Monsoon rain, mainly June to September but sometimes late May, brings landslides: in 2025 the road was blocked near Jamiri in May and between Dirang and Tawang in August. Snow can fall from mid-November to February, and from December to February it can slow or briefly block the high section around Sela; self-drivers should carry snow chains. The road crosses the Sela range close to 4,000 m and Tawang is at about 3,000 m, so take your first day there gently. Check the road ahead in Bomdila or Dirang, and cross Sela before midday, when cloud and wind build.

Travel tips

• Plan buffer time for road delays, especially in monsoon and winter.
• Start early for long drives to avoid night stretches on mountain roads.
• Keep offline maps and cash as backup in low-network zones.
• If you are continuing to high altitude areas, acclimatize and hydrate well.