TAWANG MONASTERY ARUNACHAL PRADESH

TAWANG TOWN

Tawang town is located approximately 555 km (345 miles) from Guwahati. Tawang has an average elevation of 2,669 meters (8,756 feet).

Tawang Monastery was founded by the Mera Lama Lodre Gyasto in accordance to the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso. It belongs to the Gelugpa sect and is the largest Buddhist monastery in India. The name Tawang means Horse Chosen.

It is said to be the biggest Buddhist monastery in the world outside of Lhasa, Tibet It is a major holy site for Tibetan Buddhists.

Tipi Orchid sanctuary in Tawang houses thousands of varieties of orchids.

Visitors to Tawang require special Inner line permits from the government which are available in Kolkata, Guwahati, Tezpur, and New Delhi.

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL: April to October.

HOW TO REACH TAWANG MONASTERY

BY ROAD:

Tourists can travel there from Tezpur, Assam, which is 12 hours by road. Tezpur has direct flights from Kolkata. Guwahati, Assam, is 16 hours by road. In June 2008, a daily helicopter service from Guwahati was started by the Arunachal Pradesh government.

BY RAIL:

BThe railway station at Rangapara (Assam) is the nearest railhead to Tawang. However, Guwahati is better connected to the rest of India. From Guwahati, you can take buses or cabs to Tawang via Tezpur (343 km) and Bomdila (162 km, on the Assam-Arunachal border).

BY AIR:

Technically, Tezpur (343 km) in Assam is the nearest airport to Tawang. However, Guwahati is a more accessible entry point from the rest of India. From Guwahati, you can take a bus or hire a cab to reach Tawang via Tezpur and Bomdila (162 km, on the border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.)

                                                                           

ACCOMODATION :

accommodation facilities – government rest houses, hotels and lodges. There are regular buses and Sumo taxis to Tawang from these three towns, Tawang,Tejpur,and guwahati.

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