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Tawang

Tawang

hill station · Arunachal Pradesh

Tawang, at over 3,000 metres in the far Himalayas of Arunachal Pradesh, is home to India's largest Buddhist monastery and the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama.

State
Arunachal Pradesh
Type
Hill Station
Best season
Winter
Things to do
2+

Tawang, at over 3,000 metres in the far Himalayas of Arunachal Pradesh, is home to India's largest Buddhist monastery and the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama. Snow peaks, high lakes, war memorials and the dramatic Sela Pass make the drive up as much of the point as Tawang itself.

When to go

Best visited in spring (Mar-May) and autumn (Oct-Nov); summers can be hot and the monsoon wet.

Why visit

India's largest Buddhist monastery amid Himalayan snow peaks and high-altitude lakes — one of the Northeast's great journeys.

Cultural notes

Tawang is a centre of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism (Monpa community), anchored by the 17th-century Tawang Monastery, and holds significance in India's military history.

How to reach

Nearest airport/rail: Tezpur or Guwahati, then a 1-2 day mountain drive over the Sela Pass. An Inner Line Permit is required for Arunachal Pradesh.

4 days in Tawang

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Day 1

Day 1

India's largest monastery at dawn

India's largest monastery at dawn

Day 1

Tawang War Memorial

Tawang War Memorial

Day 1

Old market & Monpa food

Old market & Monpa food

Sela PassDay 2

Day 2

Sela Pass

A dramatic high mountain pass (~4,170 m) with a sacred lake.

Day 2

Jaswant Garh war memorial

Jaswant Garh war memorial

Day 2

Nuranang (Jang) falls

Nuranang (Jang) falls

Day 3

Day 3

PT Tso & Sangetser (Madhuri) lake — permits

PT Tso & Sangetser (Madhuri) lake — permits

Day 3

Bumla Pass (if open)

Bumla Pass (if open)

Day 3

Yak pastures & army canteens

Yak pastures & army canteens

Day 4

Day 4

Urgelling monastery — 6th Dalai Lama's birthplace

Urgelling monastery — 6th Dalai Lama's birthplace

Day 4

Ani gompas (nunneries)

Ani gompas (nunneries)

Day 4

Craft centre & sunset point

Craft centre & sunset point

Tawang guide & itineraries

Tawang is perfect for

spiritualadventureoffbeat

Popular attractions

The places in Tawang most people come for.

Tawang Monastery

Tawang Monastery

Attraction

Sela Pass

Sela Pass

Viewpoint

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