Tawang

Tawang is a town situated at an elevation of approximately 3,048 m in the north western part of Arunachal Pradesh on the international borders with China and Bhutan. The name Tawang derives from some bearings on surroundings. But people's interpretation is that the name Tawang was given by Mera Lama in the 17th century. Tawang is believed to have derived its name from the Grandiose Tawang Monastery perched on the edge of the ridge running along the western part of Tawang township. ‘Ta’ means Horse and ‘Wang’ means Chosen. It is famous for being the birth place of the sixth Dalai Lama, Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso and is home to the largest Buddhist Monastery in India. Tawang is an important seat of Mahayana Buddhism. Tawang is a popular tourist destination thanks to the well-preserved Tawang Monastery. Tawang also remains an important pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists The Sela Pass rises steeply and is covered with snow for most of the year. This magical land evokes images of awesome mountain views, remote hamlets, quaint and sleepy villages, magical Gompas, tranquil lakes and mesmerizing mountains. At Tawang, one has a heavenly tryst with nature and there is a heady mixture of ancient history, mishmash religion and glorious legends.