Pangsau Pass International Festival (PPIF) 2025:
- Celebrates Arunachal Pradesh’s cultural heritage and World War II history.
- Coincides with the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II.
- Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced initiatives to boost tourism by restoring World War II relics in Nampong.
- Aims to promote economic growth and cultural exchange.
Pangsau Pass Winter Festival:
- Held annually since 2007 in Nampong, Arunachal Pradesh, during the 3rd week of January.
- Facilitates cultural exchange between Northeast India and Myanmar.
- Highlights include:
- Folk dances (Bihu, Bamboo dance, Tangsa Rongrand War dance).
- Arts, crafts, ethnic foods, and traditional sports.
- Showcases the culture of the Tangsa Naga tribe and other local communities.
Key Facts about Pangsau Pass:
Location and Altitude:
- Situated on the India-Myanmar border at an altitude of 3,727 feet (1,136 meters).
- Located on the crest of the Patkai Hills, part of the famous Ledo Road (Stilwell Road).
- Named after the Myanmar village Pangsau, 2 km east of the pass.
Geographical Importance:
- One of the easiest routes into Myanmar from the Assam plains.
- India’s easternmost point (undisputed), Chaukan Pass, lies northeast of Pangsau Pass in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district.
Historical Significance:
- 13th Century: Used by the Ahoms, a Shan tribe, to enter Assam.
- British Era:
- Surveyed for a potential railway route connecting India to Myitkyina in north Burma through the Hukawng Valley (not constructed).
- British engineers prospected the Patkai Range for a road connecting Assam to northern Burma.
- World War II:
- The Stilwell Road (Ledo Road) was built to connect British India to Nationalist China, aiding the fight against Japanese forces.
- Pangsau Pass, known as “Hell Pass,” was a significant obstacle due to steep gradients and muddy terrain.
- The Stilwell Road connected Ledo (Assam) to Pangsau Pass over a 61 km distance.
