Day 7 – Kitpi to Shergaon: Tunnels, Monasteries & Cultural Treasures
Overview: Day 7 began early as we departed from the quaint village of Kitpi, embarking on a long drive towards Shergaon. Unlike Day 3 when we crossed the snow-laden Sela Pass, this time we opted for a more modern route—the recently inaugurated Sela Tunnel. At an elevation of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft), the Sela Tunnel is a marvel of engineering and a game-changer for the region. It holds the distinction of being the world’s longest twin-lane tunnel at this altitude and forms a critical link between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, ensuring year-round connectivity to Tawang. The twin tunnels—Tunnel 1 (980 m) and Tunnel 2 (1,555 m)—are connected by a 1.2 km link road and significantly reduce travel time while avoiding the treacherous winter conditions of the Sela Pass, located 400 metres higher. This strategic infrastructure project, executed under BRO’s Project Vartak, not only supports civilian mobility but also strengthens defence logistics along the Indo-China border. One can’t help but m...