Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

Tawang, the world of mystics and enchanting beauties, forms the westernmost district of Arunachal Pradesh. It is located at a soaring height of nearly 10, 000 ft above MSL and shares it's boundaries with Tibet (China) in the north, Bhutan in the south east and West Kameng in the east.ss

The operation of a M1-172 helicopter to offer regular passenger flight service on the Guwahati(Assam) - Tawang sector has been approved by the GOI (Minister of Home Affairs).

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.

What to see :
Tawang Monastery (Gonpa)
Golden Namgyal Lhatse commonly referred to as Tawang Monastery is one of the largest lamaseries of Mahayana sects and the second oldest Monastery in the world after Lhasa. This Monastery was founded by a monk Merag Lama Lodre Gyamtso, a contemporary of His Holiness Fifth Dalai Lama in 1681 AD.

Urgelling Gonpa, Nunnery, Gyangong Ani Gonpa (Buddhist Nunnery), Brahrna-dung-chung Ani Gonpa, Singsur Ani Gonpa, Taktsang Gonpa, Gorsam Chorten

Trekking routes (Soft/Moderate/Hard)
There are number of Trekking routes of all categories Soft, Moderate and Hard in Tawang District, like : Sangey - Sela - RA III - Jang - Mukto - Gongkhar - Kitpi - Seru - Monastery (Tawang) [ Moderate]

Fairs & Festivals
Monpas of Tawang celebrates number of festivals every year. Like other tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, the festivals of Monpas are also mostly associated with agriculture and religion.

Traditional Dances
Apart from the monastic dances performed by the monks during the Torgya festival, the Monpas have several other attractive pantomimes dance-dramas depicting legendry stories or events. The musical instruments they use for traditional songs and dances are trumpet, drum, cymbals, clarion, conch shell etc.

Cuisine
The traditional Monpa cuisine is known for its tastes and generous use of chilly and fermented cheese. Butter tea is their main beverage. It is smooth and shooting. Alcoholic drinks are popular both amongst men and women. They are mostly non-vegetarians. "Momos";