Tawang
District Tawang is bordered by Tibet in the North, Bhutan in the Southwest and Sela ranges separate West Kameng district in the East The area of the district is approximately 2,085sq. kms. The name Tawang derives from some bearings on surroundings. But people's interpretation is that the name Tawang was given by Merak Lama in the 17th century. Explore the hotels and packages with Indian Travel Agent.The inhabitants of the districts are all of Monpa tribes. The Monpas belong to Mongoloid stock, are well built, and fair in complexion. Their houses are built with stones and timbers. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry are the fundamental means of the Monpas occupation.
Tawang
Tawang the headquarters of the Tawang district located on the western tip of the state on a mountain side at 12000 ft above sea level, is the land of the Monpa tribes and a major centre of the Mahayana Buddhists. Tawang is famous for its 400 year old Buddhist monastery which overlooks the wide Tawang Valley. The best season to visit is from April to October. Explore the hotels and packages with Indian Travel Agent.The nearest airport is Tezpur which is 345 km from Tawang and the nearest Railhead is Bhalukpong at 280 kms. Buses and Taxi ply regularly from Bomdilla to Tawang which is 180 km and takes 10 hrs. Deputy commissioner, Tawang Phone 037824 - 22221 (O) 22222 (R) can be contacted for accommodation at Government Circuit House, Tawang. Tawang is also ideal for trekking and hiking.
On the way to Tawang lies the World's second highest pass, the Sela Pass through a high altitude lake of crystal blue water. Both sides of the lake are decked with miles of rhodendrons. There is also an Orchidarium at Tipi near the banks of the Kameng River in the West Kameng District, enroute Tawang.
Sightseeing in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh Explore the hotels and packages with Indian Travel Agent.
Tawang Galden Namgyal Lhatse
 The spiritual center of the universe for the Monpas is the Tawang Galden Namgyal Lhatse, also know as Tawang Monastery. The monastery was founded Mera Lama, the contemporary of the fifth Lama. Explore the hotels and packages with Indian Travel Agent.
About forty years of construction work, starting from the 1640s, was needed to complete the structure. After three centuries of peace, this monastery was badly damaged by the Chinese invasion of 1962, with priceless murals and Tankhas (also spelt as Thankas or Thangkas) being destroyed. Reconstruction work still continues in parts of the monastery. There are two major religious festivals of the Monpas viz "Dungyur and Torgya" festivals, celebrated at the premises of the Tawang Monastery with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm. Explore the hotels and packages with Indian Travel Agent.
On the Way to Tawang
On the way to Tawang lies the World's second highest pass, the Sela Pass through a high altitude lake of crystal blue water. Both sides of the lake are decked with miles of rhodendrons. There is also a Orchidarium at Tipi near the banks of the Kameng River in the West Kameng District, enroute Tawang. Explore Special Holidays with us.
Tawang Library
The library is a repository of thousands of block-printed commentaries and treatises on the subject of Mahayana Buddhism. Explore Special Holidays with us.
This is a valuable resource for Buddhist scholars in the region. Even the paper used is produced by the Monpas locally, from the bark of the Hong Seng tree.
Pankang Teng Tso Lake
There are beautiful lakes around Tawang, the most being Pankang Teng Tso (P.T. Tso) Lake, only 17 km away from maddening crowd of township. It is a beautiful natural site, providing the tourists with eye soothing vistas. Other awesome lakes are Sangetser Lake, and Banggachang Lake. Explore Special Holidays with us.
The Tawang Monastery also known as "Galden Namgyal Lhatse" was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyamtso in the year 1860-61 AD. Explore Special Holidays with us.
The Tawang Monastery stands on the start of a hill, about 10,000 ft above sea level and has ravines in the south and west, narrow ridge on the north and a gradual slope on the east.
It offers an imposing and picturesque view of the Tawang -Chu valley. The monastery appears like a fort from a distance, as if guarding the admirers in the wide valley below. Tawang monastery in Arunachal Pradesh is the largest of its kind in the country and 2nd largest in Asia. The Tawang Moanstery has the capacity for housing about 700 monks, but, the actual number of resident Lamas (Monks) at present is a little more than 300. This monastery of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is the source of the spiritual life of the people of this region. S
The Structure of The Tawang Monastery
Dukhang - The Assembly Hall
The most imposing building of the monastery is the assembly hall known as "Dukhang". It is a three-storied building standing on the northern side of the court and houses the temple and the "Labrang" (The establishment of the Abbot). Explore Special Holidays with us.
The inside walls of the Dukhang are painted with murals of various divinities and saints. The altar covers the entire northern wall of the hall. To the left of the altar is the silver casket veiled in silk, holding the Thankas (also spelt as Tankas or Thangkas). Indian travel agent gives special discounted hotel from budget hotels to Deluxe hotels in India. These are the Thankas of Goddess Sri Devi ("Palden Lhamo") the main deity of the monastery, which was given to Merak Lama by the 5th Dalai Lama. The Thankas was painted with blood drawn from the nose of the 5th Dalai Lama. The painting came to be known as "Ja-Droi-ma", means, it had warmth of a bird, which symbolised that the Thanka was of a living type.
A massive richly adorned statue of Lord Buddha stands in the middle of the northern side. The statue is seated on a platform and its body, rising up, ends up in a huge head above the first floor. It is the largest image of the monastery and is about 26 ft high.
The Entrance of the Monastery
The entrance to the monastery is from the north along the ridge. Just near the entrance to the monastery there is a building housing the "Dung-Gyur Mani" from where the water is fetched for use in the monastery. To the south of it is the 'Kakaling', the entrance gate. The Kakaling is a hut-like structure with its two lateral walls made of stone. It serves as a gate. The ceiling the Kakaling is painted with Kying-khors (Mandalas). The inside walls are painted with mural of divinities and saints. After passing through the Kakaling there is a big gate further south which is without any door. Indian travel agent gives special discounted hotel from budget hotels to Deluxe hotels in India.
Further south stands the main gate of the monastery, which is fitted with huge doors and is set in the northern wall of the monastery. The eastern wall starts from the open outer gate and encloses the entire eastern side of the monastery. It is about 925 feet long and the height varies from about ten to twenty feet. There is another gate near the southern and of this wall. It is fitted with a huge door. Near it there are two slits in the wall to see out through and for placing muzzle-loaded gun to fire upon the approaching enemy. A narrow path runs all along the outer side of the eastern wall connecting this gate with the Kakaling. It is said that the yarn given by the Vth Dalai Lama to Merak Lama enclosed the area bounded by the four walls. Indian travel agent gives special discounted hotel from budget hotels to Deluxe hotels in India.
The Court of the Monastery
A paved path runs from the main gate toward rear of the monastery and leads to a stone slabs court. Religious dances and outdoor ceremonies are held in this court. The entire eastern half of the monastery is covered with sixty residential quarters called "Sha"(hut) for housing the resident monks. Indian travel agent gives special discounted hotel from budget hotels to Deluxe hotels in India. Each of these dormitories has been constructed by a group of villagers on voluntary basis. They also carry out the repairs and are responsible for its maintenance.
A three storied building stands on the western side of the court. It is the "Par-khang" (Library). All the Holy Scriptures including a long two-storied building flanks the southern side of the court. A part of this building is used as store for the provisions of the monks. The Dra-tsang buk and his entourage occupy the other part. A two storied building, on the eastern side of the court is called "Rhum-khang", which is used for cooking the food-offerings for the rituals as well as refreshments for the monks on ritual days. Special Holidays with very attractive and discounted packages and hotel bookings.
The Centre for Buddhist Cultural Studies
The monastery also has a Centre for Buddhist Cultural Studies, the place, where young monks are taught Arithmetic, English, and Hindi besides traditional monastic education.
In brief, this monastery is simply amazing and majestic in its appearance and splendour. Visiting the Tawang Monastery Arunachal Pradesh is most spiritually a reviving experience. Special Holidays with very attractive and discounted packages and hotel bookings.
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