Tawang
About the city
"Tawang, A Hidden Paradise Beyond Imagination" that enables visitors to quench their all wishes for nature and its pure scenic beauty. In the lap of high mountains and lasting of green pine trees, it is an apple of a unique color for visitors not to taste but to inhale and feel through eyes. Mountains full of wild flowers in different colors present an incomparable sight of eternal beauty.Tawang, an ‘East Himalayan Paradise' is perched majestically at a height of about 11,000 feets, amidst towering snow capped peaks. It was founded in 17th century by Mera Lama, a contemporary of the fifth Dalai Lama and the region came under Buddhist influence with the arrivl of Padmasambham in the mid-8th century. The town is now studded with all modern amenities and is fastly emerging as a drem destinationa for nature lovers and sightseers. It has al;ways been a Buddhist pilgrim site and is a life time destination for the Buddhist living in India. The fortified complex of Tawang Monastery of the ‘Geluppa' (Yellow hat) sect was founded by Mera Lama and is the major attraction of Tawang. It stands on a spur overlooking the Tawang valley and in size is second only to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. The main hall of the monastery is the prayer room and venue for various religious rituals. The ‘Parkhang' hall houses the library which contains rare hand written and block printed Buddhist manuscripts of immense religious value. The monastery complex is also a great repository of exquisite Buddhist artifacts, paintings and sculptures. The gold plated, eight metra high bronze statue of Lord Buddha seated on a platform is one of the finest sculptures in the shrine. The Urgelling Monastery here is said to be birth place of the 6th Dalai Lama. It enshrines his footprints and fingerprints. Beautiful masks, hand-woven carpets, thangkas and silver jewellery etc. can be purchased at the craft centre in Tawang.
The world famous seventeenth century Tawang Monastery , also known as Galden Namgyal Lhatse which overlooks the wide Tawang Valley at a height of 10,000 ft. The monastery is a vast complex of 65 buildings housing Lamas and antique scriptures written in gold letters and ancient scripture, images and has an eight meters high gilded Buddha statue. It is the largest monastery in the Himalayan region and the second oldest monastery in Asia. Five hundred lamas live in its residential buildings and it is rich in. It was constructed in 1681 by Mera lama Lodre Gyaltso. It is the fountainhead of spiritual life of the followers of the Gellupa sect of the Mahayana school of Buddhism. The Tawang Monastery is associated with the famous Torgva festival which is held in the eleventh Monpa month called the Dawa Chukchipah (i.e Dec-Jan as per the Buddhist). The Tibetan influence here is unmistakable, with the elaborately painted wooden windows and other motifs. Prayer flags flutter in the breeze outside. There is an 8 mtr. high gilded statue of Lord Buddha here. A must visit is the craft centre which produces very fine woollen carpets of colourful designs and masks.
The area of the district is approximately 2085 Sq. km. bordered by Tibet in the North, Bhutan in the South-West and Sela ranges separate West Kameng district in the East.
Tawang Township
The name Tawang derives from some bearings on surroundings. But people's interpretation is that the name Tawang was given by Mera Lama in the 17th century.One can reach Tawang from other parts of the country via Guwahati and Tezpur in Assam. From Guwahati(Assam) or Tezpur(Assam), one has to go to Bhalukpong in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh and from there via Bomdila and Sela Pass one can go to Tawang by road.
The inhabitants of the districts are all of Monpa tribes except Shyo village which is dominated by people of Tibetian origin. The Monpas belong to Mongoloid stock. They are well built, fair in complexion. Their houses are built with stones and timbers. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry are the fundamental means of the Monpas occupation.
Tawang Monastery is one of the most important element in Social and Religious life of the Monpas. This Monastery is known as "Galden Namgyel Lhatse". It is one of the most largest Lamaseries of Mahayana sect in Asia.
As the road goes up from Bomdila, the scenery turns captivating. Alpine pine. Oak and rhododendron forests along with forests of a high altitude bamboo, greet one. After crossing the Sela Pass at 4249 ft, which is the second highest motor able road in the world, a serene take below the pass, and stands in contrast to the barren landscape. The Tawang Monastery, beautifully perched on a spur surrounded by snowcapped peaks, was founded in 1645 by a lama from Merak in neighbouring Bhutan. Belonging to the Gelugpa sect, the monastery has over 500 resident monks. Also the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama, the three storied assembly hall has a magnificent 8 m high gilt statue of the Buddha. The ancient library is an excellent storehouse of thangkas and valuable Buddhist manuscripts. The Bramdungchung Nunnery is about 12 km away and stone houses, juniper and dwarf rhododendron bushes and fluttering prayer flags lead to it.