Tawang

Tawang is a high altitude town in western Arunachal Pradesh at 3,048 metres, known as the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, who lived from 1683 to 1706. For those wondering Tawang is in which country, it lies in India near the sensitive Indo China border. The town is home to the magnificent Tawang Monastery, the largest Buddhist monastery in India and the second largest in the world after the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Founded in 1680 to 1681 by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso, the monastery houses about 450 monks and preserves an extraordinary collection of ancient thangkas and manuscripts. Tawang sits in a broad Himalayan valley surrounded by dramatic peaks, and the 4,176 metre Sela Pass offers a breathtaking approach from the Assam plains. Tawang tourism centres around its deep Tibetan Buddhist heritage, strategic border history including the 1962 conflict, and rich Monpa tribal culture. Popular Tawang tourist places include Sela Pass, Bum La Pass on the China border, and the serene Madhuri Lake. Visitors often plan detailed Tawang sightseeing itineraries due to the region’s spread out attractions. Flights to Tawang are not direct, so travellers fly to nearby Assam airports and continue by road. Tawang weather remains cool for most of the year, with Tawang temperature dropping sharply in winter.