The pass carries the National Highway 13 (previously NH 229), connecting Tawang with the rest of India.

Sela Pass crosses a subrange of the Himalayas that separates Tawang District from the rest of India.

[6] While the Border Roads Organization (BRO) of India works to keep the pass open throughout the year, it may shut down temporarily after landslides and during heavy snow.

Summers at Sela Pass are not very cold, but temperature in winter can dip down to -10 degree Celsius.

The Chinese PLA infiltrated into the south of the ridge through other routes and the Indian position was withdrawn.

A sepoy of the Indian Army named Jaswant Singh Rawat remained at the pass fighting rearguard action, and is said to have held off the Chinese for 72 hours.