Diphu Pass

Diphu Pass
Diphu Pass
Elevation	4,587 m (15,049 ft)
Location	China–India–Myanmar tripoint
Range	Baxoila Ling (Hengduan Mountains)
Coordinates	28°9′0″N 97°20′0″E / 28.15000°N 97.33333°E / 28.15000; 97.33333

Diphu Pass
Traditional Chinese	底富山口
Simplified Chinese	底富山口
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Dǐfù Shānkǒu

Diphu Pass is a mountain pass on the border between India and Myanmar, close to their trijunction with China. The provinces on the two sides of the border are the Arunachal Pradesh state of India and the Kachin State of Myanmar. The Burma part of the 1914 McMahon Line, which demarcated the border between British India and Tibet, runs from Diphu Pass to the Isu Razi Pass.^[1]

History

In October 1960, China and Burma (now Myanmar) demarcated their border to Diphu Pass, which is 8 kilometres (5.0 miles) south of the watershed of the mountain ranges. However, this caused a diplomatic row with India, which expected the tri-point to be at the watershed.^[2][3] The dispute has become part of the ongoing border disagreement between China and India regarding Arunachal Pradesh.

Geography

See also: Geography of Vijaynagar

Diphu Pass is located in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh, 120 km northeast of district headquarter at Hawai via Hawai-Walong-Dong-Kibithu-Kaho-Dhipu Pass route. Kaho on LAC is 40 km west of Diphu Pass.

Other features in the area are:

Madwe Lake (approx. 2,900 m), near border pillar number 188 and south of Diphu Pass and north of Kumjawang Pass, is a remote alpine lake in Anjaw district, situated around 20 km east of Dong. Located near the India-China-Myanmar trijunction, it lies in the Mishmi Hills and within the basin of the Lohit River on the Indian side, and the Chindwin River system on the Myanmar side. The nearest major peak is 'Mount Saramati (3,826 m). The area around Madwe Lake is also significant for its ecological value, supporting various species of flora and fauna. Madwe Lake also holds cultural importance for the indigenous communities residing in the region.^[4][5]

Kumjawang Pass (approx. 3,000 m), near border pillar number 187 and south of Diphu Pass and Mudwe Lake, lies around 35 km east of Hawai in Anjaw district. It connects Arunachal Pradesh to Myanmar, and lies in the Mishmi Hills. This watershed saddle, on the Indian side is flanked by the Lohit River, while the Myanmar side connects to the Chindwin River basin. The nearest high peak is Mount Saramati (3,826 m).^[6]

Transport

Road

It is approximately 30km away from Dong, Arunachal Pradesh.

Airway

Nearest air connectivity is 60 km away at Walong airstrip.

See also

• Sino-Indian border dispute
• Diphu

References

1. Tzou, Byron N (1990). China and International Law: The Boundary Disputes. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 128. ISBN 9780275934620. the so-called McMahon Line (that is, from Diphu Pass to Izrazi Pass)
2. Eekelen, Willem van (6 November 2015). Indian Foreign Policy and the Border Dispute with China: A New Look at Asian Relationships. BRILL. p. 121. ISBN 9789004304314.
3. The Geographer, Office of the Geographer (30 November 1964). "Burma - China Boundary" (PDF). International Boundary Study. Bureau of Intelligence and Research. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
4. "Anjaw District - Arunachal Pradesh". Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
5. "Department of Fisheries, Anjaw District". Retrieved 23 April 2025.
6. "Kumjawng pass is located in - Testbook.com". Retrieved 23 April 2025.