Tawang Travel Guide

 

Languages    Arunachali and English
Best time to visit    April-October
STD Code    037824

Tour to Tawang The small town of Tawang is located amidst the eastern Himalayan ranges. It is famous for its 400-year-old monastery. This monastery is one of the biggest Buddhist monasteries to be found in India and is an important pilgrim center for the followers of Buddhism. Apart from its religious importance, Tawang is famous for its natural beauty, which attracts and enchants the traveler.

LOCATION

Tawang is located in the northwestern part of the state of Arunachal Pradesh, in the northeastern region of India. It is adjacent to border with Bhutan. It is set amongst the mighty Himalayas at an altitude of 3400 m above sea level. The weather in Tawang is alpine. Summers (April-June) are short and mild, while winters are very cold (November-February). It experiences scant monsoon rains in July-September. It experiences snowfall in the months of December and January.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to visit Tawang is between the months of June and October

HISTORY

The origin of Tawang is obscure. It was a part of the kingdom of Tibet in medieval times. Local tribal rulers governed it from time to time. The British had declared this area as off-limits in 1873. The area around Tawang became a cause of disagreement between India and China, after India gained independence in 1947. The Chinese army invaded Tawang in 1962 but they later withdrew.

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS

The small town of Tawang is perched at a height of over 10,000 ft above sea level. It is an important Buddhist center of northeast India. The origin of the Tawang monastery can be traced to the mid-17th century. A monk, Mera Lama, a contemporary of the fifth Dalai Lama, founded this monastery. The sixth Dalai Lama was born in this monastery. The Tawang Monastery is also known as the 'Galden Namgyal Lhatse.' This monastery is a virtual treasure trove of Tibetan Buddhist culture. The Parkhang hall within the monastery has a library that houses a good collection of rare Buddhist manuscripts and thanka paintings (traditional Tibetan paintings on cloth). The monastery complex also houses a towering 18-ft-high gilded statue of the Buddha in the prayer hall. The monastery is situated on a spur about 2 km from the heart of the town. Tawang provides the traveler with panoramic view of the eastern Himalayas. The area around Tawang is suitable for trekking and hiking.

PLACES AROUND TAWANG

The picturesque town of Bomdila is an important town to visit near Tawang and is known for its natural beauty and Buddhist monasteries.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

The Tibetan Buddhist festival of Losar is celebrated in the month of February-March every year with great fanfare in the Tawang monastery.






How to Reach Tawang                                                                       

Tawang by Air
The nearest Domestic Airport is Salonibari Airport, Tezpur, roughly six hour drive from Tawang. It is well connected to Kolkata and Guwahati through Air India flight. The nearest International Airport from Tawang is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, roughly 480 Kms from Tawang. It is connected with the major cities like Delhi, Imphal, Kolkata, Agartala, Aizawl, Dibrugarh, Lilabari, Silchar, Dimapur, Jorhat and Mumbai.

Tawang by railways

The nearest Railway Station is Tezpur Railway Station which is connected to the all major cities of Arunachal Pradesh via Guwahati Express, Porvotr S Krnti, Ghy Rajdhani and Sc Ghy Express etc.

Tawang by road

Tawang is 262 Kms from Bhalukpong, 319 Kms from Tezpur, 320 Kms from Missamari, 383 Kms from Nagaon, 381 Kms from East Kameng, 390 Kms from Udalguri, 402 Kms from Dhula, 408 Kms from Paneri, 440 Kms from Itanagar and 502 Kms from Sagali and is very well connected via Arunachal Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) and some private travel services.