Tawang is a beautiful area of ​​Arunachal Pradesh, which has been blessed by nature very beautifully. Tawang district, located in the west of Arunachal Pradesh, is known for its mysterious and magical beauty. Situated at an altitude of 10,000 feet above sea level, the district is bordered by Tibet in the north, Bhutan in the south-east and Sela mountain range of West Kameng in the east. ‘Ta’ means ‘horse’ and ‘wang’ means ‘chosen.‘ Tawang is very rich in terms of natural beauty and its beauty fascinates anyone.

Tawang is famous for being the birthplace of Lobsang Gyatso, the sixth Dalai Lama and also known for having the largest Buddhist monastery in India. There are many lakes, rivers, and waterfalls here. When the reflection of blue sky and clouds emerges in the water, then this site proves to be an unending sight for tourists.

Places to see in Tawang

Sela Pass: Sela Pass is the most visited place in Arunachal Pradesh Tawang. It is one of the high-altitude mountains in the world. It connects town Tawang to Dhirang and Guwahati. Sela Lake, near the pass, is sacred in Tibetan Buddhism.

Tawang Monastery:  Tawang Monastery is the largest monastery in India and the second-largest in the world after Potala Palace. It is in the northwestern part of Arunachal Pradesh which is situated in the valley of the Tawang River. It was established during the 17th century by the Mera Lama. This monastery is also famous for its amazing collection of manuscripts, books, and other artefacts.

Nuranang Falls:  Nuranang Falls, also known as bong bong falls, is at an altitude of about 100 meters. The Nooranang River and the Nuranang Falls are named after a local woman named Nura who helped soldiers in the 1962 Indo-China war.

Bumla Pass: Bumla Pass is about 37 km from Tawang and is about 16,500 feet above sea level. The time between May and October is appropriate to visit here. The immense beauty of this place attracts people towards it.

Tawang War Memorial: Tawang War Memorial is located at a height of 40 feet which is built in the form of a stupa. This memorial is dedicated to the martyrs of the India-China war held in 1962. This monument is situated amidst beautiful peaks. This memorial is popularly known as Namgyal Chorten.

Fairs and Festivals

Fairs and Festivals form an important part of the tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh. The same goes for the Monpa tribe of Tawang. Like other tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, the festivals of the Monpa community are mainly associated with agriculture and religion. Monpas of Tawang celebrate many festivals every year. One of them is Losar. It is a New Year festival, celebrated in full swing in late February and early March. Toragya is another important festival. It is celebrated every year on the 28th of the 11th month according to the lunar calendar. It is believed that this festival is celebrated to expel evil spirits who cause diseases and misfortune in humans as well as crops. The Saka Dawa festival is also celebrated on the 28th of the 11th month according to the lunar calendar, which usually falls in January. Its purpose is to protect crops from supernatural powers and to produce good yields.

Arts and Crafts of Tawang Region

The Monpa people are skilled craftsmen. The beauty of wood articles, woven carpets, and bamboo utensils is worth seeing. People here have also earned a lot of fame through Thanka painting and handmade paper. The wooden facade is also prominent in the artefacts made of wood.

Best time to visit Tawang

The best time to visit Tawang is from the month of March to October. During this time, the weather here is very pleasurable.

How to reach Tawang

Tawang can be reached from other parts of the country via Guwahati and Tezpur. Flights are available from Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and all other major cities to Guwahati.