There are many attractions of Tawang an important center of Buddhist learning in India. Some of them are enumerated here.
Tawang Gompa: Tawang Gompa is definitely is the major tourist attraction apart from the high point of the town. The gompa, also known as the Galden Namgyal Lhatse, is a famous Mahayana monastery. It was established in 1643-47 AD by Lodre Gyaltso, popular by the name of Meera Lama among locals. It is one of the largest Monasteries in Asia. The fortified complex built over an area of 165sq meters is perched on a 2,760 m high ridge. The compound wall is 610 meters long. The Gompa gives a kaleidoscopic view of the splendid valleys and beyond. A special attraction here is the beautifully gilded 8-meter high statue of Gautama Buddha. Other attractions include an ancient library comprising many rare books and manuscripts, idols, thangkas, and murals. In 1997 the monastery was renovated.
Jaswantgarh: Jaswantgarh is 14 km away from the 14000 ft high SelaPass on the way to Tawang. It is basically an Indian army Memorial built to honour an extraordinary brave soldier of the Indian Army who fought the Chinese Army single-handedly. Rifleman Jaswant Sing Rawat, of 4 Garhwal Rifles kept the advancing Chinese at bay for three days till he was captured and killed by the marauding forces. Jaswant Singh was awarded Maha Vir Chakra by the Government of India. The memorial has a plaque that describes Rawat’s heroics. The temple-like Jaswantgarh memorial houses a garlanded bronze bust of Jaswant Singh. His personal belongings including Army uniform, cap, watch, and belt are also kept here. An earthen lamp keeps burning before the portrait of this Great War Hero.
Urgelling Gompa: Urgelling Gompa is the birthplace of the Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsanyang Gyatso who was born here on 1683. The temple is said to have been built around 1487 AD by Ugyen Zangpo, the youngest brother of Terton Pema Lingpa, a Great Treasure Revealer. It is located to the south of Tawang at a close distance from the heliport.
Se La Pass: Se La Pass is on the way to Tawang. At around 14000 ft high (world’s third-highest) it signals the entering into Tawang valley. The beautiful ParadiseLake considered a very sacred lake is also located here. The beauty of this place is hard to be described.
Madhuri Lake: Encircled by towering cliffs, the Madhuri Lake 42 km from Tawang is extremely picturesque. Nobody cares that the official name is Sangetsar Lake but since Madhuri Dixit shot some scenes here for the film Koyla it came to be known as Madhuri Lake. The lake is a result of a major earthquake in the area in 1950. The bare tree trunks could still be seen standing out from the lake that was once a forested area. The Lake remains frozen for most of the time.
Panggang teng Tso: Panggang teng Tso, Tso meaning lake is better known as PT Tso named after our sprint queen PT Usha. This lake is at around 14 km from Tawang and perched at an altitude of approximately 13,500 feet. The view is amazing here as the lake has a mountainous backdrop and set against the clear blue sky. The lake is 100-150 meters below the road.
Kiomoi Tip:
The oxygen content of the area is low so trekking back to the main road from the lakeside is a laborious task that is forught with inherent medical risks.
Brama Dungchung Ani Gompa: The nunneries or Ani Gompa is located about 5 Kms. north of the Tawang township. It was in 1826 a Buddhist monk named Kachen Yeshi Galek founded this nunnery. The practice of sending one girl from a family to the Ani Gompa is discontinued. The prayer hall of the monastery has the images of Shakyamuni Buddha, Avalokesetesver et al. A must-visit.
Getaways Nearby Destination
There are some nice getaways from Tawang which a traveler must explore. Take a look.
Bomdila: The breathtakingly beautiful Bomdilla is situated at an altitude of 8500 feet is just around 190 km from Tawang. Bomdilla is an excellent jaunt for trekking, picnics and eco-tourism camps. It is saddled with many beatific spots to make a memorable excursion. There a fair number of gompas (small monasteries) due to their strong Buddhist and Tibetan influence, apple orchards, forests, waterfalls ready to be discovered. For those who like to devour Tibetan cuisine, Bomdilla has quaint little eating-places. For those scouting for souvenirs and traditional memorabilia, the way is to head for the Craft Centre. The Bomdilla monastery is located at a higher elevation than the main township and it gives a commanding view of the valley below. The garden with its myriad variety of flowers is really soothing for the eyes. Bomdila is also a hub for hiking expeditions in the Kameng region. From small walks to serious trekking by experts, Bomdilla is the place to be.
Dirang: Dirang is situated in between Bomdila and Tawang and is around 140 km from Tawang. Dirang lies in the West Kameng district. Dirang is ideal for Trekking and hiking and the attractions of Dirang include Kalchakra and Ngingmapa Monastery, YakResearchCenter, SangtiValley, kiwi and apple orchards, hot-water springs et al.
Bomdilla-Pangam: Located 64 Kms from Tawang, the travelers can traverse up to the ridge from where on the other side lies Bomdilla Monastery, which is worth visiting. From their travelers can drive on to Thembang, the seat of Gelugapa, or the yellow Hat School of Tibetan Buddhism. From their training to the low-end farms where the travelers can click some interesting pictures.
Ziro: Located in the heart of Lower Subansiri District, 5,839 ft above sea level, it is a small town in Arunachal Pradesh still unexplored and concealed under the bask of the foggy clouds. The people who are really keen to trek through the tough passages of the mountain, spree to the villages where the houses are still constructed with bamboo sticks, and handcrafted artifacts showcase the religious memoirs of the region. While on a tour to the region, the vacationers can make a visit to the district museum, Mithun spotting, Talley Valley Sanctuary and can enjoy the processions of the Mloko Festival (March-April) celebrated during the commencement of the agricultural cycle. Bobo is another sporting event in which the local denizens of the region hereby perform acrobatics. The Dree festival (July) marks the end of the agricultural cycle. The nearest station is North Lakhimpur. The Sumo taxi costs about Rs 1,500-2,000. The shared cab is around Rs 110 per head.
Daporijo(172km): Part of the popular Itanagar-Ziro-Daporijo-along-Pasighat travel circuit, the vacationers can plan to discover the rich culture of the East India which can most surely be an eye opener for the people who have never seen the unspoiled beauty of the region. It is genuinely an excellent camping destination dotted at the rendezvous point of the Sippi and Subansiri rivers.
Khonsa: is located in a valley, Tirpa region in the South-East Arunachal Pradesh. Khonsa is the best point for sky-diving and bungee jumping. The travelers can venture through the unsullied forests and the perennial rivers of the region caressed by more than 500 species on its seashores. Here you can track the extinction species like elusive red panda, cross breaded cow "Mithun", gibbon monkey, and rare exotic blossoms. While on a trek to Khonsa, the travelers can organize trips to Kheti and Lajo. The travelers can visit to Khonsa Museum, Namdapha National Park, Noadehing river, and the center for Tibetan refugees respectively. The nearest railhead is Tinsukia which is 169 km from Miao.
Tezu: Nestled amidst the Mishmi Hills in Lohit district lying in the eastern most corner of Arunachal Pradesh. The route from Guwahati trails from NH 37 till Dum Duma via Nagaon, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia; state road via Narmasai- Chowkham. While on an excursion entourage, the travelers while on a visit to the lower regions of the Lohit district can make a visit to the sprawling paddy fields, a few tea estates, Mlishimi Hills ands Walong exclusively. Besides this, the vacationers can trail to the opium fields and can see hundreds of mithun. While on a way there are also the war memorials showing an engagements of the 1962 India-China War