Tawang Hill Station is situated in the Arunachal Pradesh state of India at an altitude of around 10000 feet (3500 meters). Tawang was captured by China in 1962 during the India-China war. Later on, China withdrew its troops from here.

The Birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama (Urgelling Gompa) in Tawang.

Tawang is home to Monpa Tribes, who are Mongoloid descent, believed to have immigrated from Bhutan and Tibet.

This small hill station town is known for its natural beauty. There are many hot water springs, waterfalls, lakes, etc, in Tawang. River rafting is a famous activity in the Tawang-Chu and Namjang-Chu rivers. This hill station town is also famous for other adventure activities like Paragliding, Rock climbing, Skating, Winter sports activities, etc. Snowfall occurs during December and January, and ice skating is popular during that period.

At 17 kilometers distance from Tawang City lies the beautiful Pankang Teng Tso Lake (PT Tso Lake or PTso Lake). The best time to visit the Lake is from April to October when it is summer. During winter, this lake remains frozen. The lake and its surrounding areas are a wonderful place, with its gushing river waters, the Himalayas, colorful birds, colorful flowers, etc. Jong–nga-tseir Lake is another lake 42 kilometers from Tawang City, formed in 1973 due to a flash flood. The bare trees (without leaves) are a wonderful place for a tourist and photographers.

Bab–Theng–Khang Waterfall is a beautiful fall at around 80 kilometres distance from the town on your way to the Famous ‘Gorzam Chorten Stupa’ (or Gorzam Stupa) in Zemithang. Phong-Phongma Waterfall alias Jang Waterfall or Nurongneng Waterfall, at Nyamseir, is another beautiful fall around 40 kilometres from Tawang town.

Gorzam Chorten Stupa at Zemithang is around 92 kilometers from the town of Tawang. Lama Prathar constructed this Stupa in the 13th Century A.D., and stands on a 186 feet base. It is 93 feet tall and modeled after the Boudhanath stupa of Nepal.

Sela Pass, at 13,714 feet above sea level, is a beautiful place on your way to Tawang. The Iron Bridge over Tawang – Chu River, built during 1420 -1430 AD, is around 25 kilometers from the town.

There is a war memorial, Namgyal stupa, at a distance of one kilometer from the town, in memory of the 2420 martyrs of the India-China war of 1962.

Tawang Monastery

Tawang is home to one of the biggest Buddhist monasteries, Tawang Monastery.  It is also known as “Galden Namgyal Lhatse”, founded by Mera Lama Lodre Gyasto in the 17th century, as per the wishes of his contemporary, the 5th Lama, Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso. Tawang Monastery has a gold-painted statue of Gautam Buddha, having a height of 8 meters.

This monastery is the biggest Buddhist monastery outside of Tibet. It is the biggest monastery in India and the second-biggest monastery in the world.

The current and 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, when attacked by the Chinese military in March 1959, escaped to India and stayed for a few days at this monastery before going to Tezpur on 18 April 1959. In 1959, Dalai Lama established the Central Tibetan Administration headquarters at Mussoorie and shifted it to Dharamsala in 1960.

The Parkhang Hall, which houses a library, has a huge collection of rare hand-written and block-painted manuscripts of many revered books for the Buddhists. ‘Teaching of Lord Buddha’, a 108 gold-embossed manuscript, is kept here. 225 volumes explaining the teachings of Gautham Buddha are also kept here. These volumes of Buddha’s teachings are specially covered with mothproof silk coverings with paintings. There is a Craft Center that produces colorful woolen carpets.

Urqelling Monastery is another Monastery in this hill station town, where The only Indian Lama, The 6th Dalai Lama, Urgelling Gompa, was born.

How Do I Go to Tawang?

Guwahati in Assam is the nearest major town with rail, road, and air connectivity with the rest of India. Guwahati city is around 450 kilometers from this hill station town.

Bomdila is the nearest bus station to Tawang at around 180 kilometers distance.

The nearest airport is the Donyi Polo Airport at Itanagar (opened on the 19th of November 2022).

Tezpur Airport, alias Salonibari Airport, with IATA code TEZ, in Assam, is another convenient airport for travelers to Tawang. This airport is connected to the “Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport” (earlier known as Dum Dum Airport), Kolkata.

“Rangapara Junction” in Assam is the nearest railway station to Tawang.

Entry permits

Being a restricted area, tourists (Indians and Foreigners) are required to get Permits to go to this hill station town, details of which are available here at the official website of Tawang district. Indian citizens can apply for the Inner Line Permits online here.