Tawang

Tawang (Ta meaning horse and Wang meaning Chosen) is also known by another Tibetan name, Galden Namgey Lhatse, which means a true name within a celestial paradise in a clear night. Tawang is traditionally inhabited by the Monpa, who follow Gelupa Sect of the Mahayana School of Buddhism It is the birth place of the sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyasto. It is known as “The Land of The Lamas”, and is surrounded by ancient Buddhist monasteries and beautiful lakes.

Places of Interest:

Tawang Monastery (Vihar): Tawang Monastery, about 400 years old, is situated at an altitude of approximately 10,000 ft. It is the second largest Buddhist monastery in India. It also holds the distinction of being the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama. The monastery is a house of more than 700 monks. The monastery was founded by Merag Lama Lodre Gyamtso, in 1681, according to the record of the 5th Dalai Lama, Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso. As per the legend, the site of the Monastery was chosen by the horse of Merag Lama. Merag Lama, who had been unable to decide a site to establish the monastery. One day he was praying in cave, seeking a divine guidance. When he came out after the prayers, he found his horse was missing. On search, the horse was located standing quietly on a hilltop. Considering that as the sign of divine blessing he decided to construct the monastery at the very spot. The monastery is also called Galden Namgey Lhatse meaning celestial paradise. There is a magnificent 8 meter high statue of Lord Buddha. The ancient library inside the courtyard has an excellent collection of thangkas, painted with the blood from the nose of 5th Dalai Lamaand valuable Buddhist manuscripts, mainly Kanjur and Tanjur, numbering 850 bundles.

Urqelling Monastery: It is the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama who is the only Indian so far to have risen to such a high position in Gelupka Sect of Buddhism. Inside the monastery there are several Stupas (Vihar) and people from all walks of life visit this place during Buddhist new year to get the blessing for the coming year.

The Craft Center: The craft center in Tawang sells beautiful masks, hand woven carpets, jewellery in silver, coral and amber, ‘chubas’ (the local dress), and many delightful affordable mementos.

Tawang War Memorial: The memorial is dedicated to the martyrs of the 1962 Sino-Indian war. The memorial is 40-foot-high and like a stupa in design. It is locally called ‘Namgyal Chortan’. The names of 2420 martyrs are imprinted in gold on 32 black granite plagues.

Gyangong Ani Gompa: Ani Gompas, which literally translates into ‘Nunnery’, are run by the women monks.No male monk can be seen near these Ani Gompas and all you can see are sparkle eyed and clean-shaven nuns who are busy managing the day-to-day operations of

the Ani Gompa. Gyangong Ani Gompa is the oldest Ani Gompa in the Tawang District. It is situated in the lap of a far off mountain laced with natural scenery. This Ani Gompa is under the administration of Tawang Monastery.

The Giant Buddha Statue: If you are in tawang, this newly built Giant Buddha Statue is the must visit place. The location of the statue is such that it can be seen from most areas in Tawang. The life of Buddha is depicted on the walls inside the prayer room underneath the statue. This statue was consecrated by Padma Shree Awardee H.E. Thegtse Rinpoche on 20th June 2016. The statue is truly an excellent piece of work of and worth spending an hour or so.

Sangestser Lake & Bum La Pass: Popularly known as Madhuri Lake is located 35 kms away from Tawang near the China Border. The drive to Sangestser Lake is full of thrill and one can still see the war bankers that had been used during the Chinses aggression in 1962 and the beautiful PTSO lake

Sella Pass: The entry point into the Tawang Valley is Sela pass at  an elevation of 13700 ft above the sea level.. Legend says that a monpa woman supported sepoy Jashwant Singh during his battle with the Chinese. She brought sepoy Jashwant supplies and used to heal his wounds. When Jashwant got martyrdom she killed herself as an act of loyalty.

The glimpse of Paradise Lake in the Sella Pass makes your visit worth. Most of the time the lake is covered with thick blanket of snow.

Jaswant Garh: The war memorial is located 14 kms from Sella Pass on the way to Tawang. The memorial pay homage to Jaswant Singh Rawat, Mahavir Chakra Awardee posthumous (the second highest award from the Indian Army). In the famous battle of Nuranang against Chinese in November 1962, Rawat and two other soldiers from 4^th Batallion Garhwal Rifles were instrumental in killing 300 Chinese soldiers in 72 hours.

Nuranang or Jung Falls: Nuranang Falls, also known as Jung or Jang Falls is a splendid and stunning waterfalls around Tawang. The Nuranang river originates from the Sela pass and before meeting Tawang river it forms into this beautiful waterfall. A short tour from the main road takes one to the waterfalls followed by a short walk to reach the base of the waterfall. Though the road is not in good shape but would still recommend visiting the water fall and walking to the base. One can enjoy the light shower from the waterfall and also see multiple rainbows forming at the base.