20th December, 2021
Arunachal means “ Land of the Rising Sun” and home to the first Indian soil that greets the morning sun. It’s the largest state in North East India.Till 1972 it was known as NEFA ( North East Frontier Agency).
When we think of Buddhist monks, the image that comes up in our minds is of Mountains with blue skies at the background, soft and cold breeze touching our body amidst which we see a group of monks clothed in pristine white, chanting hymns.
That’s how Tawangis . The Nearest airport to reach here are Lilabari and Guwahati Airport.
Domestic Tourists need Inner Line Permit to visit Arunachal Pradesh. One can apply online or through designated offices. NRI’s, PIO and OCI card holders are not eligible for ILP.
Tawang basically means the Land of Dawn or Lit Peaks.
As the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama, it is a holy site for Tibetan Buddhists and a prominent center for Gelug or Gelugpa, the pre-eminent Buddhist school in Tibet. Tawang shares boundaries with Tibet in the north, Bhutan in the south west and Sela range of West Kameng in the east.
Places to see in Tawang:
1. Sangestar So ( Madhuri Lake)
Formed by a flash flood after an earthquake in the year 1950, Madhuri Lake is originally known as Shonga-tser Lake, which is one of the most popular lakes in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. The lake was renamed so after the shooting of Bollywood movie Koyla, starring Madhuri Dixit, the beautiful actress. The lake has been surrounded by wonderfully lush valleys, and snow-capped mountains. A leisure walk is the best way to explore the picturesque surroundings of the lake.
2. Chagzam Bridge
TangtonGyalpo, a disciple of first Dalai Lama, popularly known as Lama Chag-ZamWangpo (1385-1464) was an architect, Philosopher and an Iron chain bridge builder. He is credited to have built more than 100 iron bridges all over Himalayan region. During 1420-1430 he built the bridge over Tawang-chu river to make a passage through Kitpi and Mukto. The bridge that exemplifies the finest metallurgy is about 25 Kms away from the town.
3. War Memorial
A beautiful Stupa is built in memory of the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in 1962 Sino-Indian war.
4. Tawang Monastery
About 2 Kms from the town is the Tawang Monastery. The Monastery is the second biggest and oldest in Asia and is known as the TawangGanden Namgyal Lhatse i.e., the celestial paradise of divine site chosen by the horse was founded by MeragLodroeGyamtso in the year 1680-81. The Dalai Lama gave him a painting of goddess PaldenLhamo to be kept in the monastery. The 8 m high glided statue of Lord Buddha dominates the sanctum. The great rotating prayer wheels, priceless thangkas, the drone of monks in prayer, sputtering butter lamps are an evocative vision. The Tawang Monastery has a residential building for the monks, a library, a museum and school for the basic education. Pierced atop a hill dominating everything around and below it is an enormous yellow-roofed Tawang monastery which was originally a large and fortified complex strategically sited where the caravan routes from Tibet, Bhutan and West Kameng met. The place is also famous with the legend of 7th Century A.D., King Kalawangpo and KhandroDrowaZangmo, known as rTa nag mandalsgang.
