Chelela Pass Bhutan, located between Paro and Haa Valley, serves as the highest motorable point at an elevation of 3,988 meters (13,083 ft). Spanning 39.8 km from Paro and 26 km from Haa Valley, it was constructed in the 1990s to establish a connection between Haa Valley and Paro. However, it is not recommended to visit during the winter months of January and February, when the road conditions can become hazardous due to heavy snow and ice. Chele La Pass Bhutan lies between Paro and Haa Valley. The mountain divides the two districts. It is the highest motorable point with an elevation of 3,988 meters (13,083 ft). The pass is 39.8 km from Paro and 26 km from Haa Valley. It is built in the 1990s to connect Haa Valley to Paro. It is not advisable to visit during the extreme winter season due to snow and icy road condition, especially during January and February months.
CheleLa Pass, Bhutan is a One hour and forty-five minutes car drive from Paro. The place is good for picnicking and watching spectacular views of the snow-clad of Jomulhari Mount, Tsherimgang mountains, and Jichu Drake as well as views of both the valleys, Paro and Haa. And also to see flora & fauna. It is good for hiking and biking trails. Chunzom to Haa Valley mountain biking is conducted every year by the Tourism Council of Bhutan during the Haa Summer Festival.
The pass is famous for getting picturesque stunning Himalayan snow-capped views of Mount Jhomolari(7314m/23 996ft). Bhutanese consider mountains as sacred peaks. Others you can see are Tsherimgang Mount, (Jichu Drake (6 794m/22 290ft)as well as views of both the valleys, Paro and Haa.
The mountain slopes of the Pass are covered with white poppy during the Summer seasons (June and July). It is the rarest of the rare plant species in the world. White Poppy, botanically known as “Meconopsis superb”. It is found very scarcely in a small stretch of area in Haa, Haala, Jula, Chala, Dophu and Rubtasho, and Chelela pass. Many environmentalists and conservationists around the world state consider it to be exclusive to Bhutan. It is four feet tall and 6″ in width. It has 4–6 petals.
Moreover, along the highway of the main road along the pass is a good site for bird watching. Early morning is the best time to do bird watching nearby the Pass. It is a well-known area to check out blood pheasants. The beauty of the bird is the echo sound around the valley. Other birds include long-crested monal, white-winged grosbeak, White-bowed rose finch, laughing thrushes, mountain finches, nutcrackers, and many more.
All passes in Bhutan are considered sacred and are marked with colorful prayer flags fluttering against the strong wind. Depending on the season of travel, tourists may also see yak herds grazing around the place.
A spot is a beautiful place if your tour agency provides you with hot lunch on the way to Haa Valley or during hiking, visiting the nearby places like Kila Goenpa nunnery, and visiting the place for viewing snow-capped mountains. Locals come here to hang colorful flags and carry lunch with them for a dry picnic.
Mountain biking to Chelela will be awesome. The road is good enough to bike 39.8 km from Paro Town to the pass. The biking trail is uphill from the Bondey area. After reaching Pass, the downhill start with 26km of distance to Haa Valley. Traffic is very light, and you can enjoy the mountain either one way downhill or uphill. If you are not fit, you can ride downhill, feeling the freshness of the air. The route takes you through a spectacular, lovely forest of pine, oak, and rhododendrons. The floor blooms in April and May. The best season to do mountain biking is during spring and autumn season.
The Haa Summer Festival is a festival of Haa to promote the Tourism Industry in the region. Showcasing the traditional living culture of the region, nomadic lifestyles, Bhutanese cuisine, traditional sports, and religious performances.
Tourists can also experience a halt in village homestays and enjoy the hospitality of the local people. Anyone can participate in mountain biking races from Chunzom to Haa.
The most popular activity at the pass is hiking trails nearby. Many people choose to do the one-day Chele La Ridge hike. The duration is one full day from Paro to Chelela Pass. The duration of the trek is 9 hr 44 mins by walk
The nine-hour trek involves an elevation walk surrounded by Himalayan blue poppies and many other flowers, while the steep descent through meadows leads you to Kila Gompa Nunnery.
Chelela -Gangarpo -2 hours- 3900m-4100m.
Gangarpo- Kalela-1 hour 30 minutes-4100-3700m.
Kalela- Nigula campsite- 4 HOURS – 3800m
Nigula – Sagala-6 hours -3800-3700m.
Sagala to Talung- 3 hours – 3700 meters.
It is 27 KM to reach Haa Valley. The duration of the trek is 8 hours. The trek from Haa Valley to Chelela Pass takes you through rhododendrons and meadows, forests of juniper and hemlock, yak herders, and grazing lands. You will also be crossing two high passes of Ningula and Kungkarpo.
May to September is the best time to best pass. June and July will be the worst season to visit the place but for flower lovers, you can see a wide range of flowers. Haa Summer Festival takes place during summer. It involves the tourism activities like mountain biking rides from Paro Chunzum to Haa Valley. From October to November, you can get a vision of the sacred mountains of Jomulhari, Tshringma, and Jitchu Drake.
It takes nearly 1 hour and 20 minutes from Paro Town, which is a 40 km drive uphill. From Haa, it is 27 km and takes 45 minutes car drive. From Thimphu, it takes 2 hours 20 minutes car drive with nearly 105km.
You can see Drubchu (spring) with rock paintings of Guru Rinpoche and his two consorts. Dzongdrakha Goemba- white Nepali-style chorten perched stunningly on a cliff ledge. The site is where Guru Rinpoche suppressed local demons and is definitely worth a detour. While driving from Paro to Chelela you can see a Hot stone bath around 10-12 km above Bondey. If you are interested to visit Kila Goenpa’s nunnery. It is better to visit after your visit to pass.
Sightseeing Places in Haa and Paro.
Nagpo and Karpo Lhakhang