A rare and unusual moment of cross-border movement was witnessed in eastern Arunachal Pradesh during the recent Pangsau Pass International Festival, where Indian visitors were allowed to walk a short distance into neighbouring Myanmar without passports or visas. The temporary arrangement drew wide attention and highlighted the long-standing cultural links between communities living along the India–Myanmar border.
The three-day festival was held at Nampong in Changlang district and attracted thousands of visitors from different parts of Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring states. The main attraction of the event was Pangsau Pass, a high-altitude mountain corridor located along the international boundary. During the festival, special local permissions allowed visitors to cross the border briefly, under supervision, without formal travel documents.
Officials said the arrangement was symbolic in nature and was meant to showcase people-to-people ties that have existed in the region for generations. Communities on both sides of the border share common traditions, food habits and cultural practices, much older than modern political boundaries.
Addressing the gathering, PD Sona, the Tourism Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, said tourism does not grow only through buildings and roads. He said the behaviour and warmth of local people play the biggest role in attracting visitors. “Tourism grows with people, not just infrastructure. If hospitality fails, everything collapses,” he said, comparing tourism to a balloon that bursts with a single pin.
Sona also pointed out that personal experience and word-of-mouth publicity are more powerful than advertisements. He added that the region has strong potential to become a major tourism destination. According to him, the government has already approved an eastern circuit guest house to support future visitors.
The festival was also attended by local MLA Laisam Simai, who is the chief patron of the event. Several speakers credited him for keeping the festival alive and expanding its scale over the years, despite logistical challenges in the remote border area.
Pangsau Pass lies in the Patkai hill range and carries deep historical importance. During the Second World War, it formed a key part of the Stilwell or Ledo Road, which was used by Allied forces to supply China. Because of its steep slopes, dense forests and harsh weather, the pass earned the nickname “Hell Gate.” The nearby Lake of No Return also adds to the region’s wartime history and mystery.
