MOUNTAIN ESCAPES
| TAWANG |
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| Tawang guide >>> Tawang travel guide and tourist information on
Tawang, how to get to Tawang, also details on sightseeing in Tawang, best time to visit
Tawang and accommodation in Tawang |
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Brooding in solitary splendour, with a grand
view of the snowy Himalayas, is the Tawang Monastery in the fabulous Tawang district of
Arunachal Pradesh. The hill town is quite like the last frontier, strategically placed
between China, Tibet and Myanmar. Tawang is well connected to Tibet in the north by the
Bum La and Tulung La passes.Tawang is an important centre of Buddhist learning and is
particularly famous for its 400- year old gompa, one of the best known in India. The
Tawang Gompa houses a beautifully gilded 8 metre high statue of the Buddha and a number of
equally remarkable idols, thangkas and murals.
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Getting to Tawang from Kolkata means braving
a long but rewarding journey. The drive through the picturesque mountain country is
spectacular and can leave you breathless, as you wind around steep hill-roads and
manoeuvre sharp hairpin bends. In parts, the road can be rather treacherous and this is
not a drive for the faint-hearted!
But once you are on top of the situation, and reach the end of the vertiginous drive, you
are rewarded by the electrifying panorama of stark mountains, deep valleys, waterfalls and
almost a hundred lakes. To the south of the town, the Tawanchu river carves a deep gorge
as it rages by, while jagged cliffs rise steeply towards the north and snow capped peaks
frame the east. To the west of town, the Tawang monastery looms across
the horizon, its enormous yellow roof and white walls standing out like a beacon for miles
on end.
The Tawang Gompa is definitely the high point of the town, perched on a
2,760 m high ridge with a commanding view of the splendid valleys beyond. The gompa, also
called the Galden Namgyal Lhatse, is a famous Mahayana monastery established in 1643-47 by
Lodre Gyaltso, who was popularly called Meera Lama. The name of Tawang means "horse
chosen," a reference to the way in which Meera Lama's horse wandered off on its own
and discovered the perfect spot on which the monastery now stands.
The 3-storey, fortified monastery is over 140 square metres and has 65 residential
buildings, chortens, lanes and by-lanes. The Dukhang or main assembly hall has Buddha
statues in various poses, while the Parkhang hall lodges the library, with a wealth of
thangka-manuscripts and sacred books. Some of the precious manuscripts have been penned in
gold and are quite a treasure to behold!
Five hundred monks live in the gompa, chanting, praying, meditating and advancing Buddhist
thought. The monastery attracts scholars and pilgrims from all over the world. In spite of
being a peaceful and solitary retreat, the Tawang gompa buzzes with activity and its craft
centre produces intricately woven carpets. The Dalai Lama renovated the entire monastery
in 1997.
The town of Tawang itself is modern, with a bustling bazaar and fluttering prayer flags.
The best way to enjoy Tawang is to walk around the town. And once you have had your fill,
make a trip to Zimithang to see the impressive Gorsam Stupa, the Tatsang
gompa, the Khinme monastery and the Singshur nunnery. The Sangeshar Lake,
en route, is one of myriad lakes that make Tawang the splendid haven it is. So thank God
you braved that long drive to get here!
Getting to Tawang
There are a number of ways to get to Tawang, either from Kolkata or from either Guwahati
(1,081 km from Kolkata) or Tezpur (1,100 km) in Assam. You can fly or take a train to any
of these cities, the most practical being Guwahati since Tezpur does not have direct
connections. The closest railway station is Rangapara in Assam. From either Tezpur or
Guwahati, there are regular public and private bus services to Tawang. It is a good idea
to hire a jeep, Sumo or other rugged vehicle with an experienced hill driver to do the
mountain drive - this is a 479 km journey of about 16 to 20 hours.
Best time to visit Tawang
Tawang is best visited between March and October. Being at a high altitude it sometimes
gets snowed in during winter. Carry light woollens and a windcheater for summer and heavy
woollens for winter.
Accommodation in Tawang
Accommodation is the middle to low budget range is aplenty. Tariffs start at Rs 200 to Rs
500. There is a modest Government Tourist Lodge and a Circuit House where you can stay,
provided you have permits.
Note: Inner Line Permits for travel to Tawang
Indian tourists visiting Arunachal Pradesh require an Inner Line Permit, which takes
approximately three weeks to be issued. Contact The Liaison Officer, Government of
Arunachal Pradesh, 4B Chowringhee Place, Kolkata: 700013; Tel: 91-33-2486500, or The
Liaison Officer, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, R.G.Baruah Road, Guwahati, Assam:
781021; Tel: 91-361-26544.
Foreign tourists intending to visit Arunachal need clearance from the Home Ministry and a
Restricted Area Permit, which takes approximately three weeks to be issued. The Permit is
valid for 10 days. A minimum of four and a maximum of fourteen tourists must travel
together on a tour arranged through an approved travel agent.
For more information on permits, see Arunachal
Pradesh.
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