Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh

Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh

Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh is widely known for being the largest monastery in India. The monastery is located at an elevation of about 3,300 meters in Tawang Town of North East India. Tawang Monastery is also famously known by its other name Galden Namgyal Lhatse which translates as 'celestial paradise in a clear night' and belongs to the Gelugpa sect of Buddhism. The monastery is home to over 450 monks and includes around 17 Gompas in the region. The history of Tawang monastery tells that it was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso along with the 5th Dalai Lama, Nagawang Lobsang Gyatso. Presently, the monastery belongs to the Gelugpa School and continues to have a religious connection with Drepung Monastery. Tawang Monastery is a popular Buddhist pilgrimage center in Arunachal as it is a holy site for offering prayers to Mahayana Buddhism and also provides a serene view of the Himalayan valleys, one of the valleys is Chu Valley.

The monastery is widely known for its 16th century architecture, the stunning sketches and paintings of Bodhisattvas, silver silk caskets dedicated to Goddess Shri Devi and other artworks. At the monastery's entrance, there is a colorful gate construction known as the Kakaling, which is created in the shape of a "hut-like edifice" with stonework on the sides. The Kakaling has mandalas on its roof and paintings of saints and gods painted on its inner walls. The largest feature of the Tawang monastery is the enormous figure of Lord Buddha, which is creatively positioned in the center of the northern side of the monastery. The features, structures, cultures and traditions of the monastery are increasing the Buddist tourism in Arunachal. The monastery is a three-storey structure which is spread over an area of 140 sq.m. and enclosed by a long wide wall of 1610 meters. There are 65 residential quarters and 10 other structures which have a capacity of keeping 700 monks. Buddhist students, monks and Lamas stay in these quarters. The library inside the monastery possesses valuable old texts and scriptures of around 850 bundles mainly Kanjur and Tanjur. Inside the monastery, there's a three-storied Parkhang library which owns a collection of 400 year old Kangyur scriptures along with many other manuscripts. Some other large collections of the library are Sutras, Tangym, Sungbhum, old books and manuscripts. The texts are either handwritten or printed, many of them in gold.

Dances and ceremonial celebrations are held in the courtyard on the night of Buddha Purnima making it a must visit monastery in Arunachal Pradesh. Some of the main Monpa festivals held in the Tawang monastery are the Choksar, Losar, Ajilamu and Torgya. The ideal time to visit the Tawang Monastery is believed to be during the Losar festival held at the beginning of the new year. The monastery is also famous for its annual Tawang festival which is celebrated in the month of October and attracts a large number of tourists and pilgrims. The Tawang town is well connected to the major cities and towns by road, rail, and air services. Bhalukpong is the nearest railway station by road. One can also get down at Tezpur Railway Station whatever is convenient to tourists. The Tezpur Airport is the nearest airport, after landing, hire local transport like a bus, a taxi or a cab to reach the Tawang Monastery. Tawang is most enjoyable in the months of March to May as well as September and October. The summer season, which runs from March to May, provides calm and comfortable weather for tourists to enjoy while they stroll around and take in the stunning splendor of the flowering natural surroundings.