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HH the Dalai Lama says Tawang Visit to Promote Universal Human Values November 10, 2009

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 9 November 2009 (www.tibet.net) - His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who arrived at India's northeastern Himalayan town of Tawang on Sunday to a grand welcome by thousands of pious Buddhists devotees, underscored that his visit is "non-political and solely aimed at promoting universal brotherhood".

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The Chinese Response Isn't the Only Reason the Dalai Lama's Visit to Tawang Is Significant

The Dalai Lama’s visit to the Tawang monastery is significant given that the abbot he appointed stepped down last May after finding himself at the centre of an anti-dam protest in which two people were killed in police firing.

The Chinese Response Isn't the Only Reason the Dalai Lama's Visit to Tawang Is Significant

The Dalai Lama gestures during a public talk. Credit:Reuters/Files

New Delhi: After a gap of eight years, the Dalai Lama embarks on a nine-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh from April 4.

The national media is only looking at his visit in terms of the angry response it has already brought from China. The Indian government granted the Dalai Lama permission to visit Tawang, a town that has been claimed by China. However, there is an angle to this visit that is quite unconnected to India and China’s territorial anxieties, even if the wider resonances for Tibetan Buddhism help explain Beijing’s strident objections to this, his fifth visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

Many in the northeastern state are looking at the Dalai Lama’s visit as a likely attempt by Dharamshala to firmly put in place the influence of the Tawang monastery abbot over the people of the town and thereby all followers of Tibetan Buddhism across the state.

According to some, the visit is also important when seen from the angle of reinforcing the primacy of the Gelugpa sect over all the branches of Tibetan Buddhism.

Though the Dalai Lama is considered an important figure across the four sects of Tibetan Buddhism, he belongs to the Gelugpa lineage which has an upper hand in Arunachal because the Gelugpa sect controls the Tawang monastery.

Thsegtse Rinpoche at the February 14 meeting. Photo courtesy SMRF

Thsegtse Rinpoche at the February 14 meeting. Courtesy: SMRF

Called Galden Namgey Lhatse, the Tawang monastery is the largest in India, second only to the world’s largest – the Potala Palace in Tibet, which is, of course, out of bounds for the Dalai Lama.

In March 1959, after the Dalai Lama fled Tibet, it was in this monastery that he found shelter for some days before he reached Tezpur in Assam.

In this visit, the Dalai Lama was to stay first at the Tawang monastery, though inclement weather conditions forced him to abandon a chopper ride for a road trip from Guwahati to the TGL monastery in Bomdila. He will now be in Tawang for three days – from April 8 to April 10 – as per an announcement made on his official website on April 4 morning.

Being the head of the Gelugpa sect, the Dalai Lama appoints the abbot of the Tawang monastery. On June 6, 2008, as per practice, he appointed a new abbot, picking Guru Tulku Rinpoche from the TGL Monastery in Bomdila, situated about 65 kms from Tawang town.

However, for the first time in the monastery’s history, in May last year, Guru Rinpoche sent his resignation to the office of the Dalai Lama following public unrest in Tawang. The spiritual leader found himself at the centre of a violent anti-dam protest that led to the killing of two people, one of them a monk of the monastery, in police firing. The firing also injured 10 others and hit the headlines not just in the state but outside it too.

The dead and the injured were part of a crowd of about 200 people who assembled outside the Tawang police station on May 2, 2016, to demand the release of Lama Lobsang Gyatso, a monk who belonged to the monastery. He was arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged by the chairman of the local district council for purportedly “questioning” Guru Rinpoche’s authority in a video clip.

Lama Lobsang also heads the Save Mon Region Federation (SMRF), a powerful group that has been spearheading protests since 2011 against the large hydel projects coming up in the ecologically sensitive region. The SMRF enjoys the active support of many monks from the Tawang monastery besides student bodies, local people and also the heads of some other sects of Tibetan Buddhism. In April 2016, it also succeeded in getting a favourable order from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which suspended the environmental clearance of the 780 MW Nyamjang Chhu hydel project coming up in the Mon region.

“Taking an anti-dam stand in Tawang also meant he was taking on the most powerful political family in town – the family of present chief minister Pema Khandu. The Khandu family has considerable interest in the hydel projects of Tawang and elsewhere. All the three MLAs of Tawang are from the family. The NGT order particularly alarmed the pro-hydel project lobby. At the time of the police firing, Pema Khandu was a minister in the Kalikho Pul government,” said a senior reporter in Itanagar who preferred to remain anonymous.

Two days before his  arrest, which led to the police firing, Lama Lobsang was reportedly detained on the basis of an FIR filed by the security officer of Pema Khandu, alleging that he disturbed the peace by leading a team of villagers to the site of the under construction Mukto Shakangchu hydel project. He was later released.

“Lama Lobsang is considered to be the one taking over the anti-dam stand of the venerable monk Tsona Gontse Rincpoche (TSR) after his death under mysterious circumstances in Delhi in 2014. TSR dabbled in electoral politics but couldn’t make progress because of Pema Khandu’s father and former Arunachal chief minister Dorjee Khandu. Lama Lobsang was one of the many young monks that TSR sourced from the Sera Jey Monastic University in Mysore for his anti-dam stand that he made poll issues,” said Jarpum Gamlin, editor of Eastern Sentinel.

In a May 20 article in The Hindu BusinessLine , Gamlin – also the general secretary of the state unit of BJP of which Pema is now the chief minister – wrote, “The large presence of Gelukpa monks in that emotive, yet unruly May 2 protest, could be construed as a rebellion within the monastery, as also an attempt to undermine the Dalai Lama, as the abbot is directly appointed by him. Such a construct is not unfounded, given the threat perception to the life of Guru Rinpoche, who is camping at Dharamshala. Sensing danger, he had earlier moved out of Tawang monastery to take shelter at an Indian army guesthouse. A day later, he left for Bomdila but the local administration expressed its inability to provide security.”

He added, “Amid the hullabaloo, word is out that three of the five secretaries at Tawang monastery are seeking the ouster of Guru Rinpoche…it is alleged that the rebel monks have been aiding Lama Lobsang’s campaign against the political and religious establishments.”

Lama Lobsang, however, maintained that he was a part of “a conspiracy” hatched to arrest him by using the video clip which was shot in 2012. In that clip, he asked Guru Rinpoche to stay away from the anti-dam protests as he belonged to Bhutan.

“The case is in the court, so I don’t want to say much but the attempt then was to clearly put me against the abbot of the monastery, who is a revered figure, by some people with vested interest, and thereby take away the people from the movement which otherwise has a lot of public support. They circulated the video clip shot in 2012 where, in response to an order passed by the abbot then asking the monks to stay away from the anti-dam protests, I said he should stay away from it as he doesn’t belong to the region. I said it is an issue of the indigenous people of Tawang,” Lama Lobsang told The Wire on April 3.

According to Nani Bath, professor of political science at the Rajiv Gandhi University in Itanagar, “A lot of people believed that the Khandu family was close to the Dalai Lama’s office and thereby Guru Rinpoche. I got that feeling during the visits I made to Tawang then.”

Though the Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, also an MP from Arunachal, told reporters in New Delhi on April 3 that the Dalai Lama’s visit “is purely religious,” it was Pema, the state’s political leader, who went to invite the religious leader to visit Arunachal “on behalf of the people of the state”.

Upset by the developments leading to Guru Rinpoche’s resignation, the Dalai Lama, however, recused himself from appointing a new abbot. He stated in a letter to the monastery, “If there are people who are not satisfied with the abbot’s activities, then I shall no longer appoint the abbot to Tawang monastery. Instead, the abbot will be directly appointed by the Sera Je monastery.”

But two months ago, the Dalai Lama named a new abbot for the Tawang monastery from the Drepung Loseling monastery in Karnataka. The new abbot will now receive him in Tawang on April 8.

“It is in this context that the Dalai Lama’s visit is extremely significant. That is why he is also visiting all the important monasteries in the Bomdila and Dirang region,” Gamlin told this correspondent.

Nani Bath, however, does not see last year’s public protest as just an offshoot of a “power struggle” at the Tawang monastery.

“It is true that the Tawang monastery is powerful and has a considerable say in many matters but to just call  last year’s anti-dam protest as a result of only power struggle at the monastery would be to undermine the movement widely supported by the public. Why Lama Lobsang has won a lot of support is because people fear that that they will lose their land because of acquisition of land for big dams. It is a small place, land is precious,” he said.

The SMRF has long accused the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) of fraudulently taking signatures of villagers agreeing to the projects during gram sabha meetings.

As part of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, it is mandatory to seek prior consent of the concerned gram sabhas under the Scheduled Tribes (and Other Forest Dwellers) Recognition of Forest Rights Act 2006 before any forest is cleared for a project. The Supreme Court also reiterated the importance of getting prior consent of the gram sabhas in the Vedanta case in Odhisa in 2013.

On February 14, the Tawang district commissioner Sang Phuntsok held a meeting with over 100 monks who are members of the SMRF, along with public leaders and villagers to discuss the hydro power projects to be taken up by the NHPC in Tawang region. Pema’s brother and MLA Tsering Tashi and cousin Jambey Tashi, also an MLA, were present at the meeting.

The crowd at the Frbruary 14 meeting called by the deputy commissioner in Tawang. Courtesy: SMRF

The crowd at the February 14 meeting called by the deputy commissioner in Tawang. Courtesy: SMRF

The people suggested cancellation of the Phase I and Phase II projects of NHPC as per which big dams were to be constructed in the Mon region. The NHPC has, however, already made an upfront payment of Rs 37.5 crores each for l Phase I and II to the Arunachal government in 2008 for those projects.

“We consider it a victory of public outcry. The administration had to bow down to people’s concerns and objections. We are not opposed to mini dams like 6 MW Mukto Shakangchu,” Lama Lobsang said, adding, “We also handed over a report to the DC with signatures of the land owners who have refused to back the NHPC projects in Tawang.”

Importantly, a committee was formed that day to submit a report to the government on the decision of the people over the NHPC projects under the guidance of Thegtse Rinpoche – the abbot of the Khinmey monastery of Tawang, who belongs to the Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Before the Gelugpa sect began controlling Tawang, it was the Nyingmapa sect that was said to be dominant in the region. It is believed that the location of the Tawang monastery, founded in the 17th century according to the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, was strategically chosen and well fortified keeping in mind possible invasion from the Nyingmapa sect with support from believers of that sect from nearby Bhutan.

It is in this historical context too that many in the state are also calling the Dalai Lama’s visit especially significant.

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HT

Wish to visit Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh: Dalai Lama

China is likely to object to his visit to tawang, which is located south of the mcmahon line in arunachal pradesh; the dalai lama has visited the region seven times since 1983.

After his month-long visit to Ladakh , Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama wishes to visit Tawang region in Arunachal Pradesh.

Tawang, called the land of Mon people, houses the largest Buddhist monastery in India, which belongs to the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhist tradition – the school associated with institution of the Dalai Lama. (HT PHOTO )

“I have a strong link to the people of the Himalayan region. I was recently in Ladakh and I hope to make a visit to Mön Tawang again soon,” the 87-year-old spiritual revealed during a prayer offered by five Tibetan organisations for his long life at Mcleodganj on Wednesday .

China is likely to object to his visit to Tawang, which is located south of the McMahon Line in Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing wishes to control. Dalai Lama has visited Tawang seven times since 1983. His last visit was in 2017, when China had alleged that religious teachings had been engineered by New Delhi in an area which it refers to as southern Tibet.

Tawang, called the land of Mon people, houses the largest Buddhist monastery in India, which belongs to the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhist tradition – the school associated with institution of the Dalai Lama.

‘Am not the reactionary, I am made out to be’

The Dalai Lama said that during his recent visit to Ladakh and Zanskar, he was moved by the faith and trust of the people there. “Tibetans in Tibet are also unflinching in their devotion, but they are living under oppressive conditions . Meanwhile, an increasing number of people in China are taking an interest in Buddhism and even Chinese officials are beginning to acknowledge that I am not the reactionary they make me out to be,” he said.

In fact, in Tibet, it is not just a matter of human beings, there are spirits and deities who have faith in me because I am resolute in my efforts to cultivate the awakening mind of bodhichitta (the mind that is aimed at awakening) for the benefit of others,” the Dalai Lama said.

Can live for another 10 to 20 years: Dalai Lama

The spiritual leader said that all his life, he had been able to serve dharma and sentient beings and was determined to live long in order to continue to do so. “I feel I can live for another 10 to 20 years or so. I’m not concerned with money or fame, only with being able to benefit others,” he said.

The long-life prayer was organised by Tendhong Cultural Preservation Society (Mön), the International Jonang Wellbeing Association, the Domey-Mang-Bha-Ja-Sum Association, the Namgyal Higher Secondary School, Nepal, and the Sydney Tibetan.

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Arunachal Observer

HH Dalai Lama may visit Tawang Oct-Nov next

  • CM reviews preparatory meeting

By A O News Service

ITANAGAR, Sept 16: Chief Minister Pema Khandu has chaired a meeting to review preparations for the proposed ensuing visit of His Holiness, the 14 th Dalai Lama, to Tawang, the abode Tawang Monastery.

The Dalai Lama, exiled religious and political leader of Tibet, globally known as the ‘Apostle of Peace’, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize-1989  in recognition of his nonviolent campaign to end the Chinese domination of Tibet. The 14th Dalai Lama was born as Tenzin Gyatso in a hamlet in northeastern Tibet in 1935.

It may be recalled the highly religious people of Tibet, who practice a unique form of Buddhism, had suffered under communist China’s anti-religious legislation. After years of scattered protests, a full-scale revolt broke out in March 1959 that was crushed by Chinese troops forcing the Dalai Lama to flee from Tibet capital Lhasa with his entourage southwards to Tawang where he was welcomed by the Indian authorities.

The Tibetan leader is likely to visit Tawang in October-November next. “In view of the proposed visit of HH to the district, chaired a meeting”, Khandu tweeted after the meeting. The meeting was attended by Tawang district MLAs Tsering Tashi and Tsering Lhamu, DoKAA chairman Jambey Wangdi, DGP Anad Mohan, Tawang DC Kanki Darang, representatives of Monpa Mimang Tsokpa,Indian Army, ITBP and SSB besides monks, PRI leaders and GBs.

It was second meeting in connection with HH visit to the border town after a preliminary meeting conducted by the district administration in July last.

It may be mentioned here that HH Dalai Lama had accepted the invitation of CM Khandu to visit Arunachal Pradesh when he along with his family members had met him on January 1 last to get his blessings.

“Inspected the ongoing construction of the Dalai Lama Phodrang residence at Pungteng, near Tawang, This is a blessed place where HH Dalai Lama had spent few days after arriving from Lhasa in 1959.

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Tawang:  A preliminary meeting was convened at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Tawang on Monday to discuss preparations for the 14th Dalai Lama ‘s proposed visit of the region.

The Tibetan spiritual leader is expected to visit Arunachal Pradesh in October-November this year.

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Complete Guide to the Charming Urgelling Monastery, Tawang

  • by Vasudevan R
  • April 28, 2023
  • 13 Comments
  • 11 min read

Guide to Urgelling Monastery, Tawang

Table of Contents

Urgelling Monastery, the Small Gompa with a Big Story

The most famous and visited place in Tawang , Arunachal Pradesh , is the Tawang Monastery, the largest in India and the second largest monastery in the world, after the Potala Palace in Tibet. However, a trip to Tawang is not complete without a visit to the less touristy and modest monastery with a fascinating story, and a complete guide to the Urgelling Monastery.  Tawang is a blessed land for being the birthplace of Sixth Dalai Lama.

A Brief History of Urgelling Monastery or Ugyenling Gompa  

This story begins with Terton Pema Lingpa . A Terton is a very highly respected spiritual leader of the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism, who could find and understand religious treasures, called terma, and revealing & explaining it to the people for their good. A terma could be manuscripts, teachings or interpretations of ancient gurus. He was one of the most eminent of the 5 Terton kings. So, a Terton, loosely translated, is a spiritual treasure-revealer.  

Thangka of 6th Dalai Lama

Pema Lingpa gave the responsibility of building the Urgelling Monastery to his youngest sibling, Ugyen Sangpo (hence the name Ugyenling) and the human habitation around it was called Urgelling Village. The Gompa (a monastery or a temple) was a modest one with plans of expanding it in the future. 

Guide to Urgelling Monastery, Tawang. Images of 9th to 14th Dalai Lama

Our guide explained that at that point in time, neither Tawang Monastery nor the city of Tawang existed, making Urgelling Gompa, the oldest in the region. About 200 years older than the famous Tawang Monastery!  

Significance of Ugyenling Gompa or Urgelling Monastery  

Fast Forward 2 centuries, when the Tawang monastery was just two years old, a boy was born in Urgelling, to Lama Tashi Tenzin, one of the direct descendants of Ugyen Sangpo (same family as the great Pema Lingpa) and Tsewang Lhamo, a monpa girl of an elite family from a nearby village in the region. The importance of Urgelling Monastery changed for good with the boy being identified as the reincarnation of the 5 th Dalai Lama and the boy, who was the Sixth Dalai Lama, was named Tsangyang Gyatso. 

Ugyenling Monastery

The original monastery was sacked by a general of the Mongol army, as soon as the 6 th Dalai Lama was deposed, as they were against Gelugpa sect. At that time all riches and religious artifacts were moved to Tawang Monastery for safe keeping.  

Also Read : Things to do in Bhalukpong, Arunachal Pradesh

A Visit to the Urgelling Monastery (Ugyenling Gonpa)  

We decided to leave a bit early to go to the Urgelling Monastery about 2.5 KM away from our homestay in Tawang, near Tawang Monastery. Within a couple of kilometers, it looked like we had already exited Tawang and were on a sparsely populated stretch of greenery called the Sacred Groves. A sharp left turn and some minutes later we were at the gates of the small but beautiful Ugyenling monastery. We saw a huge tree on the right side after entering the Gonpa.  

Legend of the Tree  

In the year 1697, the high-ranking Buddhist monks from the Potala Palace, came here to take the newly ordained 6 th Dalai Lama from his family, back to Lhasa. At that time Tsangyang Gyatso was just a boy of 14 or so. Legend has it that at the time of leaving home, he stuck his walking stick in the ground and prophesied that three trunks would grow out of it and when they became equal size he would return. In the beginning of the year 1959 the 3 trunks were of equal size but one of the trunks was destroyed by a storm. It was surely an inauspicious sign. People and monks were equally concerned and frightened.  

The tree at Urgelling Gompa, planted by 6th Dalai Lama

And then it happened. True to the prediction of the 6th Dalai Lama, the 14th Dalai Lama was persecuted in Lhasa, Tibet and in March 1959, he had to flee to India via Tawang. It is said he stayed a few days at Tawang and visited Urgelling Monastery before proceeding to Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, where He has his current government in exile in place, even as I write.  

Fresh water from the stone mortar  

It is said that there were a few miracles that happened before the 6 th Dalai Lama was born. As per his mother, once during her first month of pregnancy, she was using a stone mortar. Suddenly the mortar was filled with fresh water, and it would keep filling up. We tasted the same and found it to be quite good. 

Ugyenling Monastery Mortar used by the mother of 6th dalai lama

Once, as a boy, when the young Dalai Lama went to the stream nearby to drink water, it turned to milk! However, I could not locate the stream.  

Prayer hall of the Urgelling Gompa  

After tasting the sweet water from the mortar, we went up the steps leading to the small prayer hall. It was nothing like I had seen before. The hall with its wood flooring was quite modest and congruent with the overall structure of the monastery and its surroundings. First thing that was conspicuous by its absence was, the big figure or statue of Buddha at the end of the hall as is there normally in many gompas. 

The prayer room at Ugyenling Gompa

There were smaller images on the walls though. What strikes you is the sheer simplicity of the prayer hall, which had a calming effect on me. The second most interesting thing was, this was probably one of the very few places where the walls adorn the images or thangkas of all the Dalai Lamas, starting from the first who became a Dalai Lama in the year 1411 to the current 14 th who lives in exile, Dharmshala in Himachal Pradesh, India.    

Forehead print of 6th Dalai Lama at urgelling

At the far wall are the imprints of the foot and the forehead of the 6 th Dalai Lama, which is considered very sacred here and devotees make sure to pray there.  

Other things to see within the premises  

On the ground floor, behind a closed door, are 8 stupas belonging to some of the important heads of the Ugyenling Monastery, in one of the rooms. There is also a room to light butter lamps as a form of prayer, which we did, just like we did in Tawang monastery. There is a huge cylindrical prayer wheel much taller than me.  

On three sides of the building, there’s a long niche with a continuous array of small prayer wheels.  

Audung Village  

As luck would have it, we were invited to an event during the World Tourism Day, held at this very village Audung, about 20 KM away by road. By walking down the mountain, which is what folks back then would have done, it is probably just about 3 or 4 KM! Claim to fame of Audung village is, this is where the mother of 6 th Dalai Lama, Tsewang Lhamo, was born and lived before her marriage.

Monpa tribe dance at Audung, Tawang

We were also directed to visit a two-storey building, which was the house of the family of that Monpa girl. Probably rebuilt many times over, still looked quite ancient. We met a lady who was part of the Monpa Group Dance and who was introduced to us as the descendent of that very family! Wow!  

One of the descendants of the mother of 6th Dalai Lama

Useful Information about Tawang  

Terms explained  .

  • Nyingmapa School of Buddhism – The oldest buddhism sect of Tibet, began the Guru Rinponche, Padma Sambhava from undivided India.  
  • Gelugpa School of Buddhism – The newest and the most widely followed sect from Tibet of which all Dalai Lamas are part, including the 14 th Dalai Lama who currently lives in India.  
  • Gompa – Gompas are the temples of worship and also place of learning. Nearest equivalent in English is a Monastery. Also spelt as Gonpa.  

Tidbits  

  • Tawang region was part Tibet till 1914. So when the sixth Dalai Lama was born in Urgelling, it was part of Tibet.
  • The predominant tribe of Tawang and West Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh are the Monpa. 
  • Sacred Groves are regions of forest land owned, maintained and managed by the monasteries.

Tips  

  • Although most monasteries open very early, Urgelling does not open early.  
  • Photography is allowed outside and inside the prayer hall too.  
  • Please remove footwear before entering the prayer hall. 
  • Please dress modestly. (Anyway most of the time the weather is so cold or rainy that one is quite covered on that front).  
  • The distance between Tawang Gompa and Urgelling Gompa is about 5.5 KM. 
  • You may visit the Tawang war memorial which is nearby. 
  • The birthday of the current Dalai Lama is celebrated with great fanfare here.
  • This Tawang Circuit was curated by Holiday Scout , one of the best Tours company in North East.

How to reach Tawang?  

The best way to reach Urgelling monastery is by car or cabs. If you are the more adventurous kind, you may walk, taking the mountain shortcuts.

Where to stay in Tawang?  

Tawang has a lot of accommodation options such as hotels, guest houses and homestays too. However, there are no big hotel chains or star hotels yet. Homestay are the way to stay here to understand more about the Monpa culture and their cuisine. We stayed in a homestay called “Pal-Mo homestay” very close to the Tawang Monastery.

Please click here for more accommodation options to suit all pockets

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P.S.-  This article, Complete Guide to the Charming Urgelling Monastery, Tawang belongs to  Le Monde, the Poetic Travels ,  one of the top Indian Travel Blogs , published by the traveling couple bloggers,  Nisha & Vasudevan . Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited. If you are viewing this on another website other than the RSS feed reader or www.lemonicks.com itself, then that website is guilty of stealing our content. Kindly do us a favour by letting us know via  Contact Us . Thank you.

13 thoughts on “Complete Guide to the Charming Urgelling Monastery, Tawang”

The story of Urgelling is very interesting. And I can believe that would have happened. 🙂

It is a wonderful story and perhaps history.

I so enjoyed ‘traveling’ with you! Such a colorful and culturally rich place.

Thanks Stephanie. North East India is so less travelled in comparison to rest of India, that, I would not be wrong in saying that most Indians also may not have visited it.

That is so amazing! All the culture and history of the monastery are fantastic.

I would love to see that monastery one day. The artifacts are aamzing.

I love to visit places that are rich in history and learn more about their culture. Excellent photographs.

I would love to see and attend the event too when I visit this place. It looks interesting.

What an eye-opening story about Urgelling. My goodness. Thank you for sharing.

This is so cool! I love visiting different monasteries and temples around the world

I just love the experience of travel. NoWhere else as great where you can you come across such wonderful bits and pieces of history!

Loved reading all about this place. So much culture in one location!

This look so pretty and love the colors of the houses. It’s amazing place to visit.

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His Holiness The VI th Dalai Lama

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His Holiness the Sixth Dalai Lama

Not long after the passing of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, a Nyingmapa family living in Urgelling village in Monyul conceived a child. The father, Lama Tashi Tenzin, was a descendent of the younger brother of Pema Lingpa, one of the great Nyingmapa Lamas of the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries and also one of the greatest treasure text revealers in Tibetan history.His mother was Tsewang Lhamo, daughter of Karma Dorjee of Bekhar village.His Holiness the Sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso was born on the first day of the third month in the year of the Water Pig (1683 AD)

There are many marvels which are said to have accompanied the birth of the Sixth Dalai Lama.  It is said that when Tsangyang Gyatso was in his mother’s womb, she dreamed that she went to fetch water from the spring nearby.  In it, she saw a big bubble in which there was a five pointed golden vajra shining very brightly which fell upright into the palm of her hand when she had stretched her arms forward.  In another, she dreamed of holding the sun and moon in her hands; receiving teachings from many great lamas and saw herself seated on a high throne.  She also experienced few other miracles at the time of her pregnancy.  It is said that one morning when she had gone out to fetch water from the usual water-point, milk flowed down from the conduit, instead of water.  The spot is today known as ‘Woma Tsikang’ – the milk water point.  It is also said that one day during her pregnancy,when she was husking paddy, she had a vision of twenty-one Taras in the stone mortar.  This stone mortar can be seen even today by the side of the stairs leading to the first floor of the temple.  It is said that at the time of his birth, there was an earthquake of mild intensity three times followed by thunder from the sky.  A rainbow was seen over the Urgelling Gompa again and again.  It is also said that the child did not drink his mother’s milk for three days after the birth.  His grandfather dreamed that the child was constantly being protected by heavenly beings.

Inside view of Lamai Shabje

Inside view of Lamai Shabje

There are also many sacred places in Monyul associated with Tsangyang Gyatso, H.H. the Sixth Dalai Lama.  About half a kilometre east of Urgelling Gompa, there is a spot known as “Lamae Shungthri’ (Lama’s throne).  The legend has it that Tsangyang Gyatso, as a child, used to sit on top of this throne-like rock pretending as if he was preaching dharma to his followers.  It is said that the young Tsangyang was once playing with his playmates at a place near Lamae Shugthri ,while playing, his sister grabbed him by the ribbon around his neck that had been blessed by the Panchen Lama and dragged him over a rock.  As he was naked at that time, the impression of his body miraculously got imprinted on the rock.  The rock with the impression of his body can be seen even today and is known as ‘Hroze-nyas’.  A few yards below it is a spot known as ‘Senge Gorpo’ (Stone-Lion) having a lion-shaped rock, which is said to have actually moved to and fro when once the young Tsangyang was riding on it.

Another legend has it that when the search party for the new incarnation of the Dalai Lama arrived at Urgelling, the young Tsangyang was playing with his playmates at Hroze-neng , When he heard his mother shouting at a high pitch from the compound of Urgelling temple for his immediate return, he exclaimed, “Lama Khyenno! (Oh My God! Or Oh Lord!), because he had an intuition that the search party from Tibet has come to take him to Tibet.  Simultaneously he inscribed these words on a rock with his bare index finger which miraculously got inscribed on it.  Hence forth, the site came to be known as Lama Khyenno, and the site can be seen even today.  Another site associated with him is the Lamae Shabje (Lama’s footprint) .

It is said that when Tsangyang Gyatso and his parents were being moved to a safer place called Sha’uk by the two monks who had been sent by the regent to conduct the secret search for the new incarnation, the boy, on reaching at the pass called Churned , below the Panggateng Lake had said, “Dismount me from the horse here.  I want to have a last look at my country and home” .  It is said that he took rest there for a while, sipping a cup of milk.  When the time came to move forward, gazing towards Tawang, he put his right foot on a slab of rock leaving the impression of his foot miraculously on it.

Tsangyang Gyatso led an unconventional and colorful life.  He was an erudite scholar, who composed wonderful poems and melodious songs, practiced archery, was a lover of wine and had a penchant for the company of women.  He was revered and venerated by the people for his beautiful compositions and his simple lifestyle.  He did not conform to the standards of his time

Mother of VI th Dalai Lama

Mother of VI th Dalai Lama

and rejected the regalia that were associated with the position of the Dalai Lama.  He preferred to wear clothes of the laity and chose to walk rather than ride a horse or use of the comforts of the state palanquin.  He freely mixed with the commoners, lived in a tent in a park near the Potala and gave his numerous discourses there and at other public places.  He was the only Dalai Lama ever who chose to give up his monastic vows.  His unique lifestyle endeared him as much to the masses as it antagonized the establishment.  It is said that his way of living evoked the wrath of the Mongol camp, which was determined to bring him down.

The death of the Sixth Dalai Lama is shrouded in a veil of mystery.  One version mentions that Lajang Khan, the king of the Kusot Mongols and an ally of the Chinese emperor treacherously killed the Regent, Sangye Gyatso.  The murder of his Regent upset the Young Dalai Lama so much that he left his studies and renounced his vows before Lobsang Yeshi, the Fifth Panchen Lama.  It is said that thereafter Lajang Khan kidnapped the Sixth Dalai Lama, who was later on killed while on his way to China at Gongganor, south of Kokonor on 14 th November, 1706 (Though, his followers who revered and worshipped him, believed that he escaped and secretly resided for some year somewhere in Mongolia).While being taken away by the Mongol soldiers, a desolate Tsangyang Gyatso wrote the following lines to his lady friend in Shol in 1706.

White crane;

Lend me your wings

I will not fly for

From Lithang, I shall return’

Initially the hidden meaning of this poem was not clear to the masses and nor did anyone even suspect that the young Dalai Lama had decided to terminate his earthly manifestation.  But when the tragic and shocking news of his ‘disappearance’ or more probably ‘murder’, spread amongst his grief-stricken and bewildered followers, the underlined meaning of these words became clear.It is believed that when he was being taken away to Tibet, he planted his walking stick in the premises of the Urgyelling Monastery and had prophesied that he would once again visit Tawang when all the three trunks that would grow of the walking stick would be of the same height as his abode.  By 1959, the trunks had no doubt grown to the same height, but much to the dismay and anxiety of the local people, one of the trunks broke due to strong wind. However, soon after, they saw the Dalai Lama indeed coming to Tawang once again, this time as the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, on his way to India in exile.

Stone  to tie Horses at Mother of Dalai Lama

Stone slab at the home of the Mother of the Dalai Lama at Kushanang to tether and feed horses

Lama Kyemo

VIth Dalai Lama

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Sunanda K. Datta-Ray | Dalai Lama has ensured global identity for Tibet

dalai lama visit tawang

No Chinese leader had ever asked of the Dalai Lama -- as Stalin did of the Pope -- “How many divisions does he command?” Yet this 65th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising of March 1959 must find China worried that the 88-year-old exile with an infectious giggle but without a country to rule or troops to command might be the “wolf in a monk’s robe” of its national nightmare. If so, what role will history assign to his enigmatic second eldest brother, Gyalo Thondup?

When Jawaharlal Nehru sent the Dalai Lama to Dharamsala, journalists predicted that he would be forgotten on that shelf above the world. But Mao Zedong, with his acute insight into character and situations, had lamented when he heard that the Dalai Lama had escaped: “In that case, we have lost the battle.”

The Great Helmsman knew that an idea conquers the world more effectively than any army can. While Dalai Lamas come and go, an institution embodying the spirit of Tibet lives for ever. Tibet and Tibetans have blossomed into an indestructible virtual nation during these 65 years of the Dalai Lama’s exile.

That is also India’s unique contribution to the cause. “Presidents and Premiers meet the Dalai Lama only when they want to make a point against China,” Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao once told me. “We alone have given him full liberty to do whatever he wants!” When I asked China’s consul-general in Kolkata if Beijing was serious about claiming Arunachal Pradesh, he retorted: “But of course! The Sixth Dalai Lama was born there!” The fervently loyal Han diplomat meant Tsangyang Gyatso, an unconventional 17th century pontiff who disdained monastic austerity, grew his hair long, wore regular Tibetan robes, drank alcohol and accepted female company. Born on March 1, 1683 in Tawang, he was probably kidnapped and murdered by Mongol rebels during a power struggle but his poems and songs remain popular even today among Tibetan-speaking communities in Nepal, India and throughout China.

The present 14th Dalai Lama, whom Tibetans call Gyalwa Rinpoche, was born into a farming family on July 6, 1935, and chosen as the incarnation of Tibetan Buddhism’s supreme head at the age of two. He was given a string of high-sounding names and hastily installed in Lhasa’s 13-storeyed Potala Palace with its more than 1,000 rooms soaring nearly 400 feet above the Marpo Ri, or Red Hill, when the Chinese invaded.

A detailed account of the enthronement by Sir Basil Gould, British representative in Gangtok with jurisdiction in Bhutan and Tibet, confirmed that despite Manchu claims, the canny Tibetans allowed the Chinese no role in the ceremonies. When Chinese troops crushed the Tibetan uprising, the Dalai Lama escaped from the Potala Palace to start the 13-day trek across the Himalayas to India, from which there was no return. He was just 23.

While the Dalai Lama remains one of Nature’s innocents, his life an open Book. Gyalo Thondup’s tantalising links with the United States, Communist China, Taiwan, India, and Bhutan and role in the 1959 Tibetan uprising baffles many. As I wrote in my 2002 book, Waiting for America: India and the US in the New Millennium: “When British intelligence reported in 1958 that the Chinese would soon launch their final campaign of pacification in Tibet, Dwight D. Eisenhower asked Nehru to give the Dalai Lama asylum. Being ‘a notorious hard bargainer’, Nehru demanded help in developing nuclear weapons. ‘A security assurance is not enough,’ he said. ‘India required its own nuclear guarantee against China.’

“In 1953, when Nehru’s sister Vijayalakshmi Pandit was the UNGA’s president, President Eisenhower had made a seminal speech to the General Assembly announcing his Atoms for Peace programme to share nuclear technology to develop atomic energy for civilian purposes. Nehru welcomed the plan and agreement was reached in 1958 for what eventually became the $118-million Tarapur nuclear reactor…

“According to the intermediary, William Corson, a Hong Kong-based Marine Corps major who was an intelligence aide to Eisenhower, Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, ‘the course of the negotiations left no doubt that the American-trained scientists would be assigned the task of producing nuclear weapons.’ In 1974, less than sixteen years later, India exploded Pokharan-I, its first nuclear test… Three years after the request about the Dalai Lama, a state department memo proposed that Washington should help India to develop the bomb in order to deny China the psychological edge of being Asia’s first nuclear power.”

Gyalo Thondup moved to Lhasa in 1939, and to Nanjing, Republican China’s capital, three years later when he was 14, ostensibly to learn Chinese. He became a protégé of Chiang Kai-shek, often dining with him at home and being educated by tutors selected by Chiang. In 1948, he married Zhu Dan, the daughter of a Kuomintang general. The first officially acknowledged Tibetan to visit Taiwan since 1949, Gyalo Thondup facilitated semi-official contacts between the exiled Dalai Lama’s administration and the Chinese in both Beijing and Taiwan. He travelled to the United States in 1951, becoming a seemingly contrary link between America’s Central Intelligence Agency (which promised to make Tibet independent by organising guerrilla units to fight against the People’s Liberation Army) and Deng Xiaoping, with whom he had negotiated on behalf of the Dalai Lama.

It was a tortuous mix of roles with no one ever sure whether India’s RAW or the CIA was the real mastermind. Whispers of KMT funding and the part that an inconspicuous Tibetan restaurant in Calcutta’s old Chinatown, which served India’s first and most delicious momos, played in recruiting fighters compounded the mystery. Even more curious was Bhutan’s allegation in 1974 that Gyalo Thondup had plotted to blow up Thimphu’s Tashichodzong, assassinate key members of the royal family and stage a coup.

All that lies in the past. The Dalai Lama has handed over to an elected government and says that sovereign independence is no longer the goal. Change may now have to wait until some other power takes the initiative -- as the US did in 1903 to hive off Panama from Colombia, or India in 1971 splitting Bangladesh from Pakistan -- to create a more benign world order. But whatever happens, the 14th Dalai Lama, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, has ensured that Tibet and Tibetans will always remain distinctly separate from China and the Chinese. That is his unforgettable legacy.

sunanda k. datta-ray

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Tawang – A Detail Travel Guide

tawang

Famed for being the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso. Tawang is a quaint and beautiful town located in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Tawang, situated at a height of 3048 meters, is filled with beautiful monasteries. The place has an air of unparalleled sanctitude that drowns you in deep serenity and calmness.

The town, also called Dawang is a place of utmost significance for the Buddhist monks. There are several monasteries located here with the Tawang monastery, the most popular of them all. Tawang leaves you spellbound with its divine beauty and air of spirituality. There are several places to visit at Tawang that will leave you with an experience like never before and is a place to be crossed off the bucket list.

Things to do at Tawang

Table of Contents

1. Visit Sela Pass

Heavenly doesn’t do full justice. Sela pass is a breathtakingly beautiful place in Tawang. This high altitude mountain pass is the pride of Arunachal Pradesh, and rightfully so. The Sela pass and the Himalayas form an absolute enchantment for every visitor. For the people of the North East, Sela pass is more than a masterpiece from god’s tapestry to be enjoyed. It is also a lifeline for them as the Sela pass is the only path that connects Tawang to the rest of the country.

Sela pass seems to be unperturbed by the riding tension running along the borders of India. However, you need an inner line permit to visit the Sela pass. That being said, the breathtaking beauty of Sela pass is still pristine, unaffected by the impurities of the world beyond.

Sela pass with its snowy picturesque setting is a mesmerizing experience for every tourist. The Sela lake, which is essentially one of the most beautiful lakes in the area runs along with this iconic location. The Sela pass and the Sela lake situated at an altitude of 4170 meters are a gateway to Arunachal and in a way tell you the treasures that lie ahead within the state. The frozen lake can delve you into the utmost tranquility. Sela pass is an ideal location to absorb the true beauty of Tawang and anyone who visits Tawang should never miss the chance to visit the great Sela pass.

2. Visit Tawang Monastery

Tawang monastery, also known as Golden Namgyal Lhatse, is one of the most treasured entities of Tawang. Towering at a height of 3000 meters above sea level, the Tawang monastery has been recognized as the second-largest monastery in the world. The monastery is believed to be 400 years old and controls 17 gompas in the region. Housing almost 300 monks, the monastery also gives a breathtaking view of the Tawang Chu valley. The quintessential feature of the monastery is however the 8-meter high statue of Lord Buddha which will captivate you without a doubt.

Having been built about 400 years ago, the Tawang monastery has a rich history of it. The three-storeyed building was founded by Merak Lama Lodge Gyamtso to complete the wish of Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, the 5th Dalai Lama in 1860-61. It belonged to the Gelugpa sect of Buddhism and had a religious association with the Drepung Monastery of Lhasa, which continued during the period of British rule. The artwork and the stunning interiors of the main temple will leave you mesmerized. The paintings, ancient scriptures in the library, the brilliance in architecture and the vibrant festivals are all the more reasons why a visit to the Tawang Monastery is a must.

3. Visit Madhuri Lake

Arunachal Pradesh can boast of several beautiful lakes but rest assured nothing they all pale in comparison to the breathtaking Madhuri lake. The palatial mountains that surround the lake just add to the splendor of the great Madhuri lake. Located at a height of 12000 ft above sea level, Madhuri lake is beautified by the addition of towering trees in its banks. The serene beauty, tucked between the towering hills is an ideal place for people craving solitude and calmness. It is least surprising that this iconic location attracts a lot of city dwellers. It also holds a very special place in the hearts of Buddhists of both India and nearby Tibet who come here every year to pray. A splash of water on your face and you feel a rejuvenation like never before. A visit to the Tawang lake is something to be not missed.

4. Visit Nuranang Falls

Untouched, unperturbed, and unexplored. These three words describe the Nuranang falls of Tawang perfectly. This pristine beauty is still unexplored and lesser-known to the outside world. A spectacular waterfall, Nuranang with its splendid view of white sheets of falls cascading from a height of 100 meters is all enough reason to visit this enigmatic location. Nuranang Falls is largely unknown to the popular tourist trail making it an offbeat and tranquil spot.

The crystal clear water is ideal for swimming and a dip in this amazing falls is all you need for refreshment and rejuvenation. The lush greens nearby and the caressing hilltops yonder will give present you with a delightful experience that you can cherish for eternity. If you are a shutterbug, then you are in luck, nothing beats the view of Nuranang falls and is something to be etched in memory and frames. At the falls, you can visit the Hydel plant which generates electricity for the nearby areas from the force of the waterfalls. Nuranang fall is a great place to have a glimpse if nothing of the great beauty of Arunachal. Arunachal Pradesh is cold almost all year round and thus the best period to visit is from February till November.

While you’re at it, carry some woolens, it might come in handy.

5. Visit Tawang War Memorial

A 40- foot high multi-hued memorial, Tawang War Memorial dedicated to the war heroes of the Indian Army of Sino-India war in 1962. Also known as Namgyal Chorten, Overlooking the Tawang-Chu valley, this memorial was constructed to remember the sacrifices made by the soldiers of the Indian Army. Dalai Lama visited this memorial in the year 1997. Visitors can spot the names of soldiers (on granite plates), 2420 in number, who sacrificed their lives during the war at the Kameng sector. Tawang War Memorial is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Arunachal Pradesh without a doubt.

The war memorial has two rooms on each side. The first room contains maps, photographs, artifacts, etc of the war heroes and the other is sound and light showroom, telling the tale of the heroism of the Indian soldiers. There is also a museum displaying the articles that were used at the time of the war, like pots, bullet, guns, helmet, mugs, etc. There are also newspaper cuttings and maps too, pin-pointing at the placements of both the armies.

6. Visit Gorichen Peak

Gorichen’s peak is Arunachal Pradesh’s highest peak and is situated between Tawang and West Kameng. Towering at a height of 22,500 ft from sea level, Gorichen peak is roughly 164 kilometers from Tawang. The peak is locally known as Sa-Nga Phu, which means the Kingdom of Deity. Which is considered to be one of the sacred peaks protecting them from all the evils according to the local Monpa tribe. The place is the best place to engage in a trek. The mesmerizing views of the palatial mountain and the verdant greens of the Himalayas makes it the best trekking and mountaineering spot.

7. Taste The Exotic Cuisines of Tawang

Like most north-eastern regions, momos and Thukpa are delicacies you will find aplenty in Tawang. Apart from this, you can try out the traditional Monpa cuisine. This dish has a lot of chilies and is quite flavourful. So if you are someone who loves spicy food, Monpa is something you simply must try. Also try out the authentic dishes of Tawang like Zan, Khura, and Gyapa Khazi. If you want to taste these authentic delicacies, you must try them out at the local food joints rather than mainstream restaurants. Also, you can book one of the hotels in Tawang that have an in-house restaurant. So you can gorge on the authentic cuisine made by locals!

8. Visit to Jaswant Garh

9. visit to p.t tso lake, 10. visit to urgelling gompa, history of tawang.

Locals here believe that Tawang derived its name from the Grandiose Tawang Monastery. Perching on the edge of the ridge running along the western part of Tawang Township. Ta means Horse and Wang mean Chosen. As the legend goes, the site of the present Monastery is believed to have been chosen by a horse owned by Mera Lama Lodge Gyatso. Who was searching for an ideal place to set up a monastery but couldn’t. So he decided to pray for the guidance of divine power.

As he opened his eyes after prayer, he found his horse missing. So, he went out searching for his missing horse and found it on the top of a hill known as Tana Mandekhang. Where once stood the palace of King Kala Wangpo. Believing it to be a sign, Mera lama Lodge Gyatso built the monastery with the help of the people. Thus, Mera Lama Lodge Gyatso founded the monastery in late 1681

However, there is also another belief of derivation on the name Tawang. The great treasure revealer, Terton Pemalingpa gave initiations such as Tamdin and Ka-glad, and hence the place came to be known as Tawang. Ta an abbreviation of Tamdin Wang meaning Initiation.

HOW TO REACH TAWANG

The nearest airport from Tawang is located in Tezpur, the Salonibari Airport at a distance of 387 km. The airport is directly connected to Kolkata and Guwahati. In 2014, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh Government started a helicopter facility to connect Tawang and Guwahati. The service is available twice a week.

The best way to reach Tawang through road is via cab or bus services. Arunachal Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) and other private agencies have introduced regular bus services. Most of which connect Tawang to Tezpur, Bhalukpong, Nagaon, etc, and other towns and cities.

The nearest railway station from Tawang is Rangapara Railway Station. It is well connected to major cities and towns of North-east India. About 88 stations are directly connected to Rangapara Railway Station.

SOME TIPS BEFORE VISITING TAWANG

Summer season is the best time to visit Tawang. That is between April and June when the temperature varies between 5 and 25 degrees Celsius. Which is the ideal time to visit Tawang? The days are pleasant and the nights even though colder, is magical. Keep necessary thermals in hand as the climate is a bit cold even during the summer season. For traveling within Tawang, there are several rental cab services available at cheap prices, so make use of it. If you are a foodie, try out the exotic dishes of Tawang. They are simply delicious and you can never get these cuisines back home. Also, the locals are very friendly and welcoming. So if you have any queries regarding the stay and anything else feel free to ask them, they would be more than happy to help.

That’s it, you are ready to embark on a soul-changing trip to the beautiful Tawang. Grab your backpack, Tawang is waiting.

If you are looking for soul changing experiences, then Bhutan should be on your bucket list

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Antony Sebastian

Wanderlust by birth. Traveller by choice.

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Sunanda K. Datta-Ray | Dalai Lama has ensured global identity for Tibet

Gyalo Thondup's enigmatic role and the indelible legacy of the Dalai Lama in the context of Tibet's struggle for autonomy.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. (AP File Image)

No Chinese leader had ever asked of the Dalai Lama -- as Stalin did of the Pope -- “How many divisions does he command?” Yet this 65th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising of March 1959 must find China worried that the 88-year-old exile with an infectious giggle but without a country to rule or troops to command might be the “wolf in a monk’s robe” of its national nightmare. If so, what role will history assign to his enigmatic second eldest brother, Gyalo Thondup?

When Jawaharlal Nehru sent the Dalai Lama to Dharamsala, journalists predicted that he would be forgotten on that shelf above the world. But Mao Zedong, with his acute insight into character and situations, had lamented when he heard that the Dalai Lama had escaped: “In that case, we have lost the battle.”

The Great Helmsman knew that an idea conquers the world more effectively than any army can. While Dalai Lamas come and go, an institution embodying the spirit of Tibet lives for ever. Tibet and Tibetans have blossomed into an indestructible virtual nation during these 65 years of the Dalai Lama’s exile.

That is also India’s unique contribution to the cause. “Presidents and Premiers meet the Dalai Lama only when they want to make a point against China,” Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao once told me. “We alone have given him full liberty to do whatever he wants!” When I asked China’s consul-general in Kolkata if Beijing was serious about claiming Arunachal Pradesh, he retorted: “But of course! The Sixth Dalai Lama was born there!” The fervently loyal Han diplomat meant Tsangyang Gyatso, an unconventional 17th century pontiff who disdained monastic austerity, grew his hair long, wore regular Tibetan robes, drank alcohol and accepted female company. Born on March 1, 1683 in Tawang, he was probably kidnapped and murdered by Mongol rebels during a power struggle but his poems and songs remain popular even today among Tibetan-speaking communities in Nepal, India and throughout China.

The present 14th Dalai Lama, whom Tibetans call Gyalwa Rinpoche, was born into a farming family on July 6, 1935, and chosen as the incarnation of Tibetan Buddhism’s supreme head at the age of two. He was given a string of high-sounding names and hastily installed in Lhasa’s 13-storeyed Potala Palace with its more than 1,000 rooms soaring nearly 400 feet above the Marpo Ri, or Red Hill, when the Chinese invaded.

A detailed account of the enthronement by Sir Basil Gould, British representative in Gangtok with jurisdiction in Bhutan and Tibet, confirmed that despite Manchu claims, the canny Tibetans allowed the Chinese no role in the ceremonies. When Chinese troops crushed the Tibetan uprising, the Dalai Lama escaped from the Potala Palace to start the 13-day trek across the Himalayas to India, from which there was no return. He was just 23.

While the Dalai Lama remains one of Nature’s innocents, his life an open Book. Gyalo Thondup’s tantalising links with the United States, Communist China, Taiwan, India, and Bhutan and role in the 1959 Tibetan uprising baffles many. As I wrote in my 2002 book,  Waiting for America: India and the US in the New Millennium : “When British intelligence reported in 1958 that the Chinese would soon launch their final campaign of pacification in Tibet, Dwight D. Eisenhower asked Nehru to give the Dalai Lama asylum. Being ‘a notorious hard bargainer’, Nehru demanded help in developing nuclear weapons. ‘A security assurance is not enough,’ he said. ‘India required its own nuclear guarantee against China.’

“In 1953, when Nehru’s sister Vijayalakshmi Pandit was the UNGA’s president, President Eisenhower had made a seminal speech to the General Assembly announcing his Atoms for Peace programme to share nuclear technology to develop atomic energy for civilian purposes. Nehru welcomed the plan and agreement was reached in 1958 for what eventually became the $118-million Tarapur nuclear reactor…

“According to the intermediary, William Corson, a Hong Kong-based Marine Corps major who was an intelligence aide to Eisenhower, Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, ‘the course of the negotiations left no doubt that the American-trained scientists would be assigned the task of producing nuclear weapons.’ In 1974, less than sixteen years later, India exploded Pokharan-I, its first nuclear test… Three years after the request about the Dalai Lama, a state department memo proposed that Washington should help India to develop the bomb in order to deny China the psychological edge of being Asia’s first nuclear power.”

Gyalo Thondup moved to Lhasa in 1939, and to Nanjing, Republican China’s capital, three years later when he was 14, ostensibly to learn Chinese. He became a protégé of Chiang Kai-shek, often dining with him at home and being educated by tutors selected by Chiang. In 1948, he married Zhu Dan, the daughter of a Kuomintang general. The first officially acknowledged Tibetan to visit Taiwan since 1949, Gyalo Thondup facilitated semi-official contacts between the exiled Dalai Lama’s administration and the Chinese in both Beijing and Taiwan. He travelled to the United States in 1951, becoming a seemingly contrary link between America’s Central Intelligence Agency (which promised to make Tibet independent by organising guerrilla units to fight against the People’s Liberation Army) and Deng Xiaoping, with whom he had negotiated on behalf of the Dalai Lama.

It was a tortuous mix of roles with no one ever sure whether India’s RAW or the CIA was the real mastermind. Whispers of KMT funding and the part that an inconspicuous Tibetan restaurant in Calcutta’s old Chinatown, which served India’s first and most delicious momos, played in recruiting fighters compounded the mystery. Even more curious was Bhutan’s allegation in 1974 that Gyalo Thondup had plotted to blow up Thimphu’s Tashichodzong, assassinate key members of the royal family and stage a coup.

All that lies in the past. The Dalai Lama has handed over to an elected government and says that sovereign independence is no longer the goal. Change may now have to wait until some other power takes the initiative -- as the US did in 1903 to hive off Panama from Colombia, or India in 1971 splitting Bangladesh from Pakistan -- to create a more benign world order. But whatever happens, the 14th Dalai Lama, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, has ensured that Tibet and Tibetans will always remain distinctly separate from China and the Chinese. That is his unforgettable legacy.

Tags: dalai lama , tibet autonomous region , china and tibet

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dalai lama visit tawang

The Travelling Slacker

Tawang Travel Guide: (Including Dirang, Bomdila, Shergaon & More)

Tawang does not really need much of an introduction. It is one of the places in Arunachal that was always on the tourist map, while people had no clue about other parts of the state. Naturally, it is also the most developed area in terms of tourism. The nature of the terrain is such that you don’t just visit one place. When you plan for Tawang, you normally have a few days at hand and also make stops at either Bomdila or Dirang. However, there are dozens of underappreciated spots on the entire route and if you want, you can easily extend your trip for a couple of weeks.

Shergaon Fest 16

Tawang Travel Guide

Understanding bomdila tawang circuit.

What you need to understand about the Tawang circuit is that it is not only about Tawang the town or for that matter Bomdila and Dirang. These are all important stops but there is much more to the region spread across two districts of Arunachal Pradesh, mainly West Kameng and Tawang. Apart from the expected hilly charm, Monpa culture, and Buddhist monasteries, there are sender valleys, bird-watching opportunities, orchid heavens, treks, and a few things beyond your wildest imaginations. This is also the most developed area in terms of tourism infrastructure in Arunachal. There are great facilities and friendly people and the dreaded roads have also improved of late, thanks to BRO. It is one of the main tourist circuits of Arunachal Pradesh , as defined by the state’s tourism department. See the following tourist map to have an idea about the routes around Tawang.

Tawang Dirang Bomdila Tourist Map Copy 768x448 1

Things to do in and around Tawang

Approach to tawang, se la pass and lake.

SelaPassAutumn1

Se La, often mistakenly called Sela Pass (because La means Pass), is a 4170 meter high pass that connects West Kameng and Tawang districts. So, it is basically the gateway to Tawang and at such a high altitude, you can expect to find snow during most of the year. There is a lake near the summit, called Sela Lake, which is considered sacred in Tibetan Buddhism. 

Nuranang Falls

Nuranang

A beautiful waterfall is located at a slight diversion from the town of Jang, which is at the midpoint between Se La and Tawang. The best views here are in the afternoon, on a sunny day, when the light falls directly and creates a rainbow. There are some local myths associated with it too, that you can find out from the locals. 

Jaswant Garh

It is another war memorial just after Se La. It is located at a high altitude and commemorates the story of rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat who fought bravely but lost his life in the 1962 war. His belongings can still be seen here. There are some local legends associated with him too.

In & Around Tawang

Tawang monastery.

TawangMonastery

The 400-year-old Tawang Monastery atop the hill dominates the landscape of Tawang and it is the largest monastery in India and second-largest in the world after the one in Lhasa, which itself makes it worth a visit.It is a massive complex that takes time to explore fully. You can also attend the morning prayers for a spiritual experience, but you will have to wake up very early in the morning.

Urgelling Gompa

Urgeling

It is a small but very important monastery in Tawang. This 14th century gompa is even older than the main Tawang Monastery and the 6th Dalai Lama was born here. Do visit the ancient stupas inside one of the houses. It’s around 3 km from Tawang city centre.

Tawang War Memorial

Tawang War memorial

The war memorial, as the name suggests, commemorates fallen heroes and is maintained by the Indian Army. There is a big chorten underneath which there is a small museum with maps, arms, and details from the war of 1962.

Khinmey Gompa 

Khinmey

Khinmey Nyingma Monastery also known as Sang-ngag-choekhorling, is located a short 5-6 KM drive from Tawang. The name comes from the Monpa word meaning a “place for listening to the sound of barking dogs”. As per legends it was a thick forest teeming with wild animals. A legendary hunter from a nearby village met Rev. Kundun Sange Yeshe, the founder of the monastery, who was meditating in the jungle and became his disciple by giving up hunting. It is a Nyingma monastery dating back to 1440 AD.  A massive statue of Medicine Buddha has also been built recently.

Giant Buddha Statue

Giant Buddha Tawang

Just like any other Buddhist town, Tawang has a huge Buddha statue overlooking the town. It is located higher up and the panoramic views are good from here.

Detours from Tawang

The Bum La is a mountain pass is a border pass between Tibet’s Cona County and India’s Tawang district. It is 37 km away from the town of Tawang and 43 km from the town of Cona (Tsona Dzong). As it is a sensitive area, visiting it requires additional permission from DC Tawang. Bum La is one of the frontier passes that used to be a trading route connecting Tibet and India. When the current Dalai Lama escaped Tibet and entered India in 1959, this is the route his entourage took.

Sangester Tso (Madhuri Lake)

This lake is located near Bum La. It was created by the falling rocks of an earthquake and decaying trees can still be seen in the middle of the lake. After the shooting of Bollywood film Koyla, people started calling it Madhuri Lake after Madhuri Dixit, but the original name is Sangester Tso . You will also come across another lake called PT Tso en route. 

Taktsang Gompa 

Do not confuse it with the famous monastery in Bhutan with a similar name. However, this only shows how close the relations are between Bhutan and Tawang. This gompa is located around 45 KMs from Tawang, around 5 KMs from the Sungester Tso (Madhuri Lake). It was consecrated by a visit of Guru Padmasambhava in the 8th century CE. It is located atop a hill and needs a short hike to reach.

Mukto Village Papermakers

Mukto paper

It is a small village not known to many but it is home to one of the most unique crafts, that of papermaking through traditional means. They use the barks of a specific plant for this and there is a very unique process that they use. This paper is used mostly for writing religious texts at monasteries. It is an hour from Tawang but the roads are challenging and you’ll need some local help to spot the right household. 

Geshela Peak

Geshela Tawang 3

It is a lesser-known route that starts somewhere near PT Tso Lake and circumvents Tawang to reach Jang. It runs at a higher altitude, so much so that you can see the Tawang Monastery below you at a distance. A great offbeat route, Geshila route is covered with rhododendron forests and splattered with nameless lakes, and can be a delight for cyclists, bikers, and offroaders. Trekking can be great here too although not yet explored fully. 

Chakzam Bridge

Chakzam

Around half an hour from Tawang, Chankzam is known for its hanging bridge over the powerful Tawang Chu river. However, this is just not another bridge! It is an almost six hundred years old iron bridge built by Tangton Gyalpo (1385-1464), a famous architect and builder of the Tibetan world who was a disciple of the first Dalai Lama. He was also known as Lama Chag-Zam Wangpo and the bridge is named after him. It is a great example of medieval engineering that is still functional.

Ani Gompas (Nunneries)  

Tawang has a long tradition of Buddhist nunneries popularly called “Ani Gompas”. So, do note that there is not one but many such nunneries in Tawang and so do not get confused if different people give you different locations. The most famous and oldest one is the Brama dung- chung Ani Gompa (Also called Thukje Choeling), located 12 kms from Tawang. It was commissioned by Karchen Yeshi Gelek in 1595 and houses about 45 nuns.  Some other famous nunneries include  Gyangong Ani Gompa about 5 km from the Tawang Township with 50 nuns and Singsur Ani Gompa 28 KMs from Tawang, built by Gonpaste Rimpoche, housing around 45 nuns.

Thonglek Village

This is a small village around 25 kms from Tawang. It is one of the places where the Dalai Lama spent a night while he escaped from Tibet. To commemorate that event, a big monastery has been built here. You can also stay in the village and enjoy a rustic lifestyle for a day or two.

Lumla is a small settlement around 45 kms from Tawang on the way to Zemithang. It is famous for the massive statue of Tara Devi (Jetsun Dolma), a major Buddhist deity. A prayer hall is present underneath the statue. It is not far from the Bhutan border and from the statue atop a hillock, you can see the hills of Bhutan.

Zemithang is practically the farthest major point that you can reach from Tawang, around 70 Kms from the town. It is located in the northwestern corner of Monyul, not far from both Tibet and Bhutan. The most iconic spot here is the chorten at Gorsam constructed by Lama Prathar from Kharman village in Zemithang, in 13th Century A.D.and is modeled after that famous stupa in Nepal. Thousands of devotees visit it during the Gorzam Kora festival to observe the virtuous occasion during the last day of the first month of the lunar calendar

Meeting Brokpa Herders

Arunachali Brokpa 5

The Brokpas of Arunachal are nomadic yak herders who make the yak cheese essential in local Monpa cuisine. If you go there in the winter, you can visit one of their settlements near the town. In the summers they disappear into the mountains with their hers, looking for grazing grounds for yaks. You may also come across them in case you travel. 

Chumi Gyatse

Chumi Gyatse, also called Domtsang and Dongzhang waterfalls is a collection of waterfalls in the Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh, India, close to the border with Tibet. According to the local Buddhist tradition, the 108 holly waterfalls which originate from in-between the mountains symbolise the blessings of Guru Padmasambhava.

Around Dirang & Bomdila

Bhalukpung is a small town on the Assam-Arunachal border, divided between both states. It is located on the banks of a beautiful blue river which is called Kameng in Arunachal and Jia Bhoroli in Assam. It is a regular stop for people going towards the more famous Tawang and is a picnic spot for locals. However, Bhalukpung itself has enough to lure the visitors, especially for nature lovers and combined with nearby Seijosa, it is considered to be a circuit on its own by Arunachal Tourism. It is also known for adventure activities like river rafting.

Tipi & Sessa

Tipi is a few KMs ahead of Bomdila. It is known for its orchidarium. The jungle behind Tipi is the Sessa Orchid Sanctuary. The local villagers have recently improved the road so that people can visit it. The spring season is the best for orchids. In case you have not realized yet, Arunachal is one of the richest places for orchids with more than 600 recorded varieties. 

Bomdila 9

Bomdila is the headquarters of West Kameng district. It is the biggest town in the region with a huge monastery at the center and many smaller monasteries. There are many hotels and homestays here and the market is also worth a visit if you want to buy local products. The iconic GRL monastery here has three different parts. So, these are three monasteries, lower, middle, and upper gompas. The upper one is the biggest one. You can also visit the museum to understand the history and culture of the region and take a round of the local market if you want to spot exotic mountain products.  

Additionally, there are some interesting things you can do around Bomdila. For example, there is a monk living in a small hillock, who is known as the “Oracle” . He reads some ancient texts and tells you about your future. You probably need some local help for finding the location but it is a fun activity if you have time. He stays at a small gompa that takes a short hike to reach. Similarly, the fruit orchards around the town also offer great views. Spring (blooming season) and post-monsoon (plucking season) are good times for this.

Dirang

Dirang is a beautiful valley 40 KMs ahead of Bomdila. It is located at a lower altitude and hence is warmer than Bomdila. There are many monasteries here including the new and shiny Thupsung Dhargye Ling Monastery atop a cliff overlooking the entire valley as well as the ancient Khastung Gompa, located on a different cliff. There is also a hot water spring here which is very famous and you can take a dip here too if you have time.

Dirang Dzong 19 1

The Dirang Town is actually a new development. The Dirang Dzong is the original village here which is built like a fortress. You’ll get here a few KMs before the new town. A walk around the Dirang Dzong is a great way to introduce yourself with Monpa culture, architecture and history. Hiking is also an option here (discussed separately below).  

Sangti Valley

Sangti Valley

Sangti Valley is a short diversion of just 15 KMs from main Dirang Town and 10 KMs from Dirang Dzong. It is a beautiful secluded valley inhabited by the Monpas that is slowly beginning to get famous. During spring, these meadows get covered with colourful orchids and wildflowers. In the winters, certain migratory cranes usually arrive here. You can camp on the banks of the river too. A sheep breeding farm is another interesting spot you’ll see en route to Sangti. 

Tenga & Rupa

Tenga Valley is the region that you cross before Bomdila. This region has significant military presence and it is the gateway to the Eagle’s Nest Sanctuary. The alternative route via Shergaon also meets here. There are additional attractions in and around. An hour’s drive will take you to the majestic Chilipam Gompa, built like an oriental palace atop a hill overlooking the valley.  

Eagle’s Nest Wildlife Sanctuary

Average travellers may not have heard of Eagle’s Nest Sanctuary but it is the holy grail for bird watchers. It is located on the western side of Bhalukpong to Bomdila route with an entry from Tenga. It boasts of an extensive array of flora and fauna. More than 400 bird species have been spotted here and some new species have also been discovered here such as the Bugun Liocichla named after the Bugun people that live here. You can camp inside the sanctuary for a few days for better results. 

Mandala Top

Mandala 8

Mandala is the best-kept secret for bird watchers. Actually, serious birders know about it already, while no one else has even heard of it. It is a secluded high altitude spot around 25 KMs from Dirang with a lodge frequented by hardened birders and photographers. A Buddhist monument with 108 Manes have been built here at the top, which is beginning to draw many visitors.Around 300 different bird species have been spotted around the hills of Mandala.  

Thembang is a traditional village centered around a fortress (Thembang Dzong). It is an ancient village with centuries-old structures and a great place to experience Monpa history and culture.It is so ancient that according to some people it was established before the first century AD. It’s around 20 KMs from Dirang. 

Around Shergaon & Rupa

Shergaon Fest 26

Shergaon is a region dominated by the Buddhist Sherdukpen people. It was lesser-known until recently but it is beginning to grow its tourism of late. You can stay at the local homestay and experience the rustic charm and walk along the fruit orchards experiencing yet another exotic culture. The local Gompa as well as the Choskorong waterfall are worth visiting too. It’s a beautiful region covered with rhododendron forests as well as fruit orchards. Especially in spring, it gets covered with rhododendrons & cherry blossoms. Shergaon lies on a parallel route that connects Assam to Bomdila (Not the route through Bhalukpong). It is an award-winning village and there is much more to see and do here. SO, read my detailed blog on Shergaon here.

Morshing & Lhagyala Gompa

Lagyela 2

Morshing is a Monpa village higher up and from there you can drive or hike to Lhagyala Gompa , yet another historical monastery with many stories associated with it. As per one source, it was constructed by Kachen Lama in the 7th century, which makes it one of the oldest monasteries in the region, much older than the Tawang Monastery. Another source mentioned it as the birthplace of legendary queen Khandro Drowa Zangmo. Lhagyala Gompa is also a great repository of important texts, scrolls, and artifacts. Apparently, the term ‘Lhagyala’ itself means a repository of hundreds of large icons.

People, Culture & Festivals in Tawang & West Kameng

This region is dominated by the Monpas who are Buddhists and have close historical relations with neighbouring Bhutan as well as Tibet. Monasteries, stupas and other Buddhist structures dominate the landscapes. The Shergaon region is inhabited by a different Buddhist group called the Sherdukpens while you will find another small group called Buguns near the Eagle’s Nest Sanctuary.

Local cuisines, culture, apparel, handicrafts etc are worth exploring too. If you are in the mood for shopping, you can always explore the local markets. The emporiums in Bomdila and Tawang also have a good collection of authentic handicrafts.

There are many festivals that take place throughout the year. For example, I attended the monastic festival of Torgya in January at Tawang Gompa. Here is a longer list of festivals.

Losar is the new year in the Tibetan world. All the Buddhist communities celebrate Losar. It usually takes place around February. Preparation starts from the 12th month of the previous year..New clothes are bought, special fried loaves called “Bongp-nelap” and fried biscuits called Khapse are prepared, and houses are cleaned and whitewashed. A  special gruel called  “guthug” is made for dinner.  Houses are decorated with colored paper flowers and auspicious drawings on the walls.A feast is prepared and prayers are offered for a prosperous new year.

Torgya  

Torgya Festival

Torgya, also called Tawang Torgya, is a major monastic festival in Tawang, that has been organized here since the inception of the Tawang Monastery in the 16th century. It is generally done for the peace and prosperity of people and to ward off evil spirits. An image of the effigy, also called Torgya or Zshor, is made with barley and ghee and the image is later burned during the celebrations. More than 20 different types of performances take place during Torgya in the Tawang Monastery courtyard. It takes place in January, when it also snows in Tawang.

Gorsam Kora

Kora means circumambulation. So, it is basically a circumambulation of the Gorsam Chorten near Zemithang. It takes place in March and is accompanied by mask dances and other Buddhist rituals.It usually runs for 3 days and even people from neighboring Bhutan participate. 

Choe-Kor  

It is an important Monpa festival that is organized after the crops are sown and when the people in the villages have ample free time. It involves circumambulation with villages with holy images and scriptures organized by the community to pray for good harvest and to ward off evil spirits. It usually takes place around June. 

Khiksaba is an indigenous non-Buddhist festival of the Sherdukpens. That means, it is traced back to ancient times even before they adopted Buddhism. It is meant to appease the forest deities and other mountain spirits. Such festivals are presided over by the local shaman.

Kro-Cheykor

Kro-cheykor is a Sherdukpen festival celebrated around June. The rituals here are designed to teach the younger generations and prepare them for the future with the elders as the role models. Ritualistic performances and celebrations take place amid the unadulterated hills.  

Tawang Festival

It is a new tourism festival started a few years ago to attract new visitors. It takes place in Tawang. It combines traditional events with modern festivities, musical concerts, and celebrations. It usually takes place around October every year.

Shergaon Rhododendron Festival 

Shergaon Fest 13

This is a comparatively new festival designed to promote tourism in Shergaon. It is organized in March, during the peak of spring where the rhododendrons are in full bloom. Traditional masked dances, SHerdukpen pantomime, music, beauty pageants, local food and beverages etc can be enjoyed here, that too in the middle of a blooming spring of unparalleled beauty.   Check this post for more details .

How to Reach Tawang?

The primary route followed for this circuit is Guwahati-Tezpur-Bhalukpong-Tipi-Bomdila-Dirang-Tawang . However, there is another route from Guwahati-Tezpur-Shergaon- Rupa – Bomdila-Dirang-Tawang.   As you can see in the Map above, the difference is between Tezpur and Bomdila, while the rest of the route is the same. Both routes have various attractions and it is suggested that you take one route while going and one for coming out so that you can enjoy both.

Normally you can take a flight to Guwahati and then look for cabs or buses going towards Arunachal.There is also an airport at Tezpur so you can directly start at Tezpur. There is a helicopter service between Guwahati and Tawang too but it can always get affected by treacherous weather in those mountains and also the road trip has its own charm.

There is no train service on the Bomdila-Tawang route in Arunachal. The best you can do is to get a train from Guwahati or Kamakhya Station to Dekargaon (near Tezpur) and then look for local transport going into the hills.

By Bus or Shared Car (Timings & Rates from Tezpur & Guwahati)

Guwahati to Tawang is 445 KMs and generally, people do not cover it in one go and halt at either Bomdila or Dirang, as it is a very long and tedious journey that also involves crossing the 4100 meters high Sela Pass. If you are reliant on public transport, you can look for morning buses from ISBT Guwahati. It leaves at around 7 AM and reaches Bomdila by the evening. Next morning, you can find Tawang Bus from Bomdila. Guwahati to Bomdila bus costs around INR 500-550 and Bomdila to Tawang will cost around INR 350-400.

If you are already in Tezpur, you can look for shared cars (Sumos) going upwards in the morning. You can stop directly to Tawang to stop at Bomdila or Dirang. They generally leave very early in the morning around 5.30-6 AM.

Tezpur to Bomdila INR 500-600

Tezpur to Dirang INR 700

Tezpur to Tawang INR 1200-1400

Car or Bikes

If you have your own vehicle, still you will have to halt one night around Bomdila or Dirang as it will be a very tedious journey. Also, be careful about crossing the Sela Pass on the second day. As it happens with high passes, you are never sure when it snows or when the weather deteriorates.

Where to Stay in Tawang?

As a highly developed tourist area, Tawang has dozens of hotels, resorts, and homestays at various price points. For the best experience, look for a good homestay run by a local family, so that you can get an authentic Monpa experience.Similarly, at Dirang and Bomdila also there are many options available. I stayed in Dirang at Dirang Boutique Cottages in the outskirts of the town. Other smaller places also have options but not as many as these towns. 

Best Season to visit Tawang?

Personally, I feel the spring & early summer (March-May), as well as the post-monsoon months (September-October), are the best time to visit the Tawang circuit. I visited in January, the peak of winter. You may like it if you have some fascination for snowfall but, to be honest, I prefer warmer weather when visibility is better and easier to roam around.

Mobile and Internet Connectivity in Tawang

Mobile and data connectivity was reasonably good all along the Tawang-Bomdila circuit on my Airtel connection. There is no problem at all in lower areas such as Bomdila & Dirang. Once you cross the Se La, I expected it to be weak in Tawang but it was still working. Tawang has electricity issues and so there are occasional power cuts and the network also goes down during those times but it works when the power is there.

Inner Line Permits (ILP) and Protected Area Permit (PAP) for Tawang

As you probably know, you need the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter Arunachal. You can get Arunachal ILP online or if you are going through a tour operator, you can get it through them. Foreigners need to get a Protected Area Permit (PAP) . For this, you can apply at the FRRO portal or visit any of these offices located at various Indian cities. If you find it difficult, you can get it through a registered tour operator from Arunachal if you are going through them.

Further Reading

IMG 20211230 144923 02

For more details on Arunachal, you can always try my book which is available on Amazon, If you are already on the movie, you can quickly access the ebook rather than relying on the physical book. Ebook (India) OR Ebook (International)

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"Birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama"

Tawang tourism.

Located at a height of about 3048m, is known for many important and beautiful monasteries and is famous for being the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso. 

The beautiful town of Tawang, also pronounced as Dawang has many sceneries to make your trip a picturesque one. However, what begins to define the area is its significance for Buddhist monks. Tawang is the place to go for monasteries, with the Tawang Monastery being the most popular one and extremely sacred for the Buddhists. Tawang is a place which will flatter you with its natural beauty wrapped in the scent of spirituality. The beautiful orchid sanctuary and the Tipi Orchid Sanctuary is also an ideal place for your list of places to visit. Along with this one can have their taste buds to have an experience of Tawang by indulging into the area's unique cuisine.

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IMAGES

  1. His Holiness the Dalai Lama Arrives In Tawang To A Rousing Welcome

    dalai lama visit tawang

  2. His Holiness The Dalai Lama Thanks Arunachal Pradesh Government For

    dalai lama visit tawang

  3. Dalai Lama wraps up 'memorable' Arunachal Pradesh visit

    dalai lama visit tawang

  4. Dalai Lama at Tawang

    dalai lama visit tawang

  5. Over 30,000 devotees gather for His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Tawang

    dalai lama visit tawang

  6. Wish to visit Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh: Dalai Lama

    dalai lama visit tawang

COMMENTS

  1. Why the Dalai Lama's visit to the tiny town of Tawang is causing such a

    CNN — The Dalai Lama's plans to visit a picturesque Buddhist town in India's northeast have sparked renewed tensions between Beijing and New Delhi. On Saturday, the 14th Dalai Lama is...

  2. HH the Dalai Lama says Tawang Visit to Promote…

    Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India, 9 November 2009 (www.tibet.net) - His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who arrived at India's northeastern Himalayan town of Tawang on Sunday to a grand welcome by thousands of pious Buddhists devotees, underscored that his visit is "non-political and solely aimed at promoting universal brotherhood".

  3. The Dalai Lama's Tawang Visit: The Aftermath

    The Dalai Lama's decision to visit Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh earlier this month came after weeks of uproar from China. Chinese media had reported that the visit was engineered to upset...

  4. The Chinese Response Isn't the Only Reason the Dalai Lama's Visit to

    Culture. The Chinese Response Isn't the Only Reason the Dalai Lama's Visit to Tawang Is Significant. The Dalai Lama's visit to the Tawang monastery is significant given that the...

  5. Tawang Monastery

    50 years later, in spite of strong protests by China, the Dalai Lama's visit on 8 November 2009 to Tawang Monastery was a monumental event to the people of the region, and the abbot of the monastery greeted him with much fanfare and adulation. As of 2006 the monastery had 400 monks, and the number was reported to be 450 in 2010.

  6. Tawang prepares to welcome Dalai Lama later this year

    A preliminary meeting was convened at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Tawang on Monday (Jul 10) to discuss preparations for the 14th Dalai Lama's proposed visit to the region, the report said. Tawang is the birthplace of the 6 th Dalai Lama, a previous reincarnation of the current Dalai Lama.

  7. The Politics of Reincarnation: India, China, and the Dalai Lama

    April 20, 2017. The Dalai Lama waves as he leaves Jangchub Chorten in Tawang in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, India (April 9, 2017). Credit: REUTERS/Anuwar Hazarika. The...

  8. Wish to visit Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh: Dalai Lama

    Dalai Lama has visited Tawang seven times since 1983. His last visit was in 2017, when China had alleged that religious teachings had been engineered by New Delhi in an area which it refers...

  9. Why China Is Fuming Over the Dalai Lama's Visit to Tawang

    His Holiness Dalai Lama's upcoming visit to Tawang, in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, on April 4 has created great consternation in China. In a veiled threat, the Chinese foreign...

  10. HH Dalai Lama may visit Tawang Oct-Nov next

    The Tibetan leader is likely to visit Tawang in October-November next. "In view of the proposed visit of HH to the district, chaired a meeting", Khandu tweeted after the meeting.

  11. Arunachal: Tawang gears up for Dalai Lama's visit

    Arunachal: Tawang gears up for Dalai Lama's visit. The 14th Dalai Lama is expected to visit Arunachal Pradesh in October-November this year. by Damien Lepcha July 10, 2023.

  12. Dalai Lama reaches Tawang

    Home. News. India. Other States. Dalai Lama reaches Tawang, to start religious discourses. The exiled Tibetan leader, who was to reach Tawang by chopper on April 4, travelled over 550 km on...

  13. As Dalai Lama visits Arunachal Pradesh, China vows to take 'necessary

    China is sensitive to the Dalai Lama's visit to Tawang region in Arunachal, which happens to be the birthplace in 1683 of the sixth Dalai Lama and is at the centre of Tibetan Buddhism.

  14. Complete Guide to the Charming Urgelling Monastery, Tawang

    Tawang is a blessed land for being the birthplace of Sixth Dalai Lama. A Brief History of Urgelling Monastery or Ugyenling Gompa. This story begins with Terton Pema Lingpa.

  15. India's Tawang, 50 years after Chinese invasion

    A brutal war took place here 50 years ago. Now, it is filled with pilgrims, tourists and memories - and troops from the Indian army. Image: DW. Advertisement. The small city of Tawang sits 3,000...

  16. Dalai Lama's escape from China

    Background. The Dalai Lama. Following the end of the Qing Dynasty, the 13th Dalai Lama declared the independence of Tibet in 1913. [2] . This independence was contested by the Chinese Government in Beijing who in October 1950 invaded Tibet and seized most of its territory in a military campaign of about two weeks. [3] .

  17. His Holiness The VI th Dalai Lama

    The spot is today known as 'Woma Tsikang' - the milk water point. It is also said that one day during her pregnancy,when she was husking paddy, she had a vision of twenty-one Taras in the stone mortar. This stone mortar can be seen even today by the side of the stairs leading to the first floor of the temple.

  18. Tawang

    The sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, was born in Tawang. Tawang was historically under the control of Tibet. During the 1914 Simla Conference, Tibet and British India signed an agreement delineating their common boundary in the Assam Himalaya region, which came to be known as the McMahon Line.

  19. Sunanda K. Datta-Ray

    The present 14th Dalai Lama, whom Tibetans call Gyalwa Rinpoche, was born into a farming family on July 6, 1935, and chosen as the incarnation of Tibetan Buddhism's supreme head at the age of two.

  20. Tawang

    Famed for being the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso. Tawang is a quaint and beautiful town located in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Tawang, situated at a height of 3048 meters, is filled with beautiful monasteries. The place has an air of unparalleled sanctitude that drowns you in deep serenity and calmness.

  21. Dalai Lama has ensured global identity for Tibet

    The present 14th Dalai Lama, whom Tibetans call Gyalwa Rinpoche, was born into a farming family on July 6, 1935, and chosen as the incarnation of Tibetan Buddhism's supreme head at the age of two.

  22. Tawang Travel Guide: (Including Dirang, Bomdila, Shergaon & More)

    Urgelling Gompa. It is a small but very important monastery in Tawang. This 14th century gompa is even older than the main Tawang Monastery and the 6th Dalai Lama was born here.

  23. Dalai Lama

    In 1648, after quelling a rebellion of Tibetans of Gansu-Xining, the Qing invited the Fifth Dalai Lama to visit their court at Beijing since they wished to engender Tibetan influence in their dealings with the Mongols.

  24. Tawang Tourism (2024)

    Tawang Tourism. Located at a height of about 3048m, is known for many important and beautiful monasteries and is famous for being the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso. The beautiful town of Tawang, also pronounced as Dawang has many sceneries to make your trip a picturesque one.

  25. Walk The Line

    As the Dalai Lama persevered to muster global support for his country's independence, and oppose China's occupation of Tibet, Beijing began to covet Tawang in the '80s.