A Backpacker’s Guide to Tawang

The landscape of North East India can feel like heaven that you would not want to escape from. Tawang has an elevation of 8,757 feet, and it exudes eternal calm with its icy mountain peaks and evergreen coniferous trees that will keep calling you back.

Tawang lies on the border of India and here you can even get a glimpse of China on the other side of the border. Tawang therefore is also a sensitive zone, but high security measures allow civilians to visit the beauty of Tawang. Here are some locations to check out:

Tawang Monastery

What’s incredible about this particular Buddhist monastery is that it is the largest monastery within India and the second largest in Asia! It is over 340 years old and it has 282 meters long walls that surround it. Here you also get stunning views of the Tawang Chu Valley.

There are a few legends associated with this monastery and one goes like this. It is said that the disciple of Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, the fifth Dalai Lama, sent Merag Lama Lodre Gyatso on a quest to find a home for a new monastery.

However, after hours of searching with his horse, he could not locate a place and finally decided to pray on it in a cave. After doing so, he realised that his horse was nowhere to be found. He then went in search of it and found his horse on the hilltop of Tana Mandekhang. Believing his prayers had been answered, Merag Lama Lodre Gyatso decided to establish the monastery on this hill.

The Giant Buddha

Another landmark worth visiting that can be viewed from various parts of Tawang, is the Giant Buddha Statue. In the year 2015, it was blessed by H.E. Thegtse Rinpoche. He is considered to be the 14th reincarnation of Kundun Sangay Yeshey Rinpoche, a highly respected religious figure.

This statue is about 30 feet high and is made of bronze and gold. As you stand at the base of this majestic sculpture, you could experience the significant influence that the philosophy of Buddhism has within the region and beyond.

Bum La Pass

Located 37 kilometers away from Tawang, Bum La Pass lies in between Indian and Tibet. This border also has historical significance because it was here that the 1962 Indo-China war took place. However, after 44 years, this pass was re-opened for traders, and the parties from India and China can hold meetings in order to discuss territory-related matters.

Furthermore, you can also pay your respects to all the 2,420 Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation during the 1962 war at the Tawang War Memorial, which is a domed-hemispherical structure. Before getting to Bum La Pass make sure to register for an entry pass using your Aadhar card as well as an Inner Line permit.

Sangestar Tso

Does the song ‘Tanhai, Tanhai’ sound familiar? Or maybe the 1997 Koyal?

The cinematic magic of old Bollywood movies, truly brought out the beauty of India’s natural landscapes and if you are a movie buff who enjoys visiting the locations of films, then on your way to Bum La Pass or back, Sangestar Tso or otherwise more popularly known as Madhuri Lake, is definitely a stop you need to add to your itinerary.

Besides this, if you want to see more of Tawang’s natural wonders, then Nuranang Falls, which is 100 meters high waterfall is also worth hiking to the base too.

Chak Zam Bridge

Do you want to test the brave adventurer in you? You can try crossing the famous 600-year-old-plus Chak Zam Bridge, that feels like the structure is simply dangling in the air. This is because the entire bridge is held strongly together by just two iron chains.

It was built by Thang Tong Gyalpo in the year 1430, who also built 58 other iron bridges within the Himalayan borderlands of India, Tibet, and Bhutan. This bridge is one of the few iron bridges that have remained, and it is about 60 meters long, over the Tawang Chu River.

What this bridge signifies is the passionate goal to help the ideas of Buddhism to spread and grow, despite the obstacles of rugged landscapes and wild streams.

Wrapping Up

Perhaps you may want to skip the flights and trains and go on a journey of self-discovery, and what better way to do it than by road. You can get to Tawang via an immersive roadtrip of 5-7 days.

There are some places on earth that carry the weight of history and teach you a history lesson that you can never forget. Tawang is one such place that could ensure the same for many of its visitors. Want to visit history with a touch of spirituality and serenity? Start here.