facts about tawang monastery

Circled by grandiose and brilliant mountains, Tawang is a treat for the eyes. ; Tawang also boasts of India’s largest Buddhist Monastery – Tawang Monastery.In Tibetan language this is known as Galden Namgey Lhatse.This monastery is largest in India and second largest in world just after Potala Palace of Lhasa, Tibet. The reasons for this are clear – the river, which flows towards the south, is eroding the toe of the slope due to the site being on the outside of the bend. It was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in 1680-1681[citation needed] in accordance with the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso. The Tawang Monastery was founded by the Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in 1681 in accordance with the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, and has an interesting legend surrounding its name, which means "Chosen by Horse". The magnificent Tawang Monastery is hard to miss when you’re in Tawang. [4] According to Jia Liang, the British did not take possession of Tawang, which continued to be administered by Tibet. Tawang is till date inhabited mostly by this tribe of people. People, who went in search of the horse, found the horse grazing at the present location of the monastery. The Monastery can hold a capacity of 700 monks and is currently home to around 450 lamas. [26] Next to the Buddha image there is a silver casket that holds a special thangka of the goddess Sro Devi (Palden Lhamo), which is the guardian deity of the monastery. Best Time to Visit: The summer months from March to June are the best to visit Tawang.You can easily explore the beautiful town without having to worry about the weather conditions. "[22], The monastery currently has control over 17 gompas in West Kameng district. Visiting Twang can indeed be a fulfilling experience. The Monastery is the second ancient monastery in the world after Lhasa and is one of the biggest lamaseries of Mahayana sect which is also identified as the Golden Namgyal Lhatse. The area is administered by the Republic of India as a part of the Arunachal Pradesh state, however, it is claimed by the People’s Republic of China as a part of South Tibet, under Tsona Dzong of Shannan, Tibet. Lightfoot to Tawang. Apart from the main gate, the southern side of the monastery has another entry gate, which also has a massive door. Situated on a mountain in the town of Tawang at an altitude of over 3000 m, Tawang Monastery is one of the most important Buddhist sites in the world. When he came out of the cave, he found his horse missing. An important seat of Mahayana Buddhism, the famous Buddhist monastery in Indiaof the Gelukpa was founded during the 17th century by Mera Lama Lodre Gyaltso. After an intense search, when he failed to locate a suitable place, he retired into a cave to offer prayers seeking divine intervention to choose the site. In the Losar festival, which marks the beginning of the Tibetan New Year, people visit the monastery and offer prayers. The name Tawang (Tibetan: .mw-parser-output .uchen{font-family:"BabelStone Tibetan Slim",Jomolhari,"Noto Sans Tibetan","Microsoft Himalaya",Kailash,"DDC Uchen","TCRC Youtso Unicode","Tibetan Machine Uni","Qomolangma-Uchen Sarchen","Qomolangma-Uchen Sarchung","Qomolangma-Uchen Suring","Qomolangma-Uchen Sutung","Qomolangma-Title","Qomolangma-Subtitle","DDC Rinzin","Qomolangma-Woodblock","Qomolangma-Dunhuang"}.mw-parser-output .ume{font-family:"Qomolangma-Betsu","Qomolangma-Chuyig","Qomolangma-Drutsa","Qomolangma-Edict","Qomolangma-Tsumachu","Qomolangma-Tsuring","Qomolangma-Tsutong","TibetanSambhotaYigchung","TibetanTsugRing","TibetanYigchung"}རྟ་དབང་, Wylie: Rta-dbang) means Horse Chosen. Arunachal Pradesh has a number of religious monuments but the Tawang Monastery is the most famous. [19], The nearest functional civil airports with scheduled flights are the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at Guwahati and Salonibari Airport at Tezpur located at a distance of 450 and 325 kilometers, respectively. [25] This will be an upgrade of the existing Malo Road along Manas River (Dangme Chu River in Bhutanse) to National Highway standards, of this 40 km new winding road the 11 km "Khitshang Road-Manlo Road" stretch from Duksum on "Trashiyangtse-Tashigang Road" to Bhutan-India border in the east as well Lumla in India to Bhutan-India border already exists, only 10 km of new road needs to be constructed and the rest will be an upgrade of the existing roads. It is also the largest monastery in India. [9], As of the 2011 census, Tawang had a population of 11,202. Category: States of India On October 15, 2013 By Team Work. The Monastery is the second biggest and oldest in Asia and is known as the Tawang Ganden Namgyal Lhatse i.e., the celestial paradise of divine site chosen by the horse was founded by Merag Lodroe Gyamtso in the year 1680-81. [26] Construction will start in Jan/Feb 2019 and end by Jan/Feb 2022. Its white exterior perches grandly on the mountainside above the town, surrounded by forested green hills and backed by the towering Himalayas. It was set within the valley of the Tawang River in close proximity to the Tibetan and Bhutanese border. Tawang is the one of the most popular tourist destination of not only Arunachal Pradesh but whole North East India. It is all around associated with state capitals like Kolkata and Guwahati by road as well as via air. The library of the monastery has valuable old scriptures, mainly Kangyur and Tengyur. One of the most important place of attraction in this town is the Tawang Monastery. [17][18] The Indian Airforce (IAF) has offered the upgraded ALG in Tawang for the operation of civil helicopter and flights for the tourism and UDAN scheme. The famous Tawang Monastery is a popular tourist attraction and it was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyamtso in the year 1860-61 AD and it offers an impressive and picturesque view of the Tawang - Chu valley. Each dance represents a myth and costumes and masks represent animal forms such as cows, tigers, sheep, monkeys and so forth. That makes Tawang Monastery the largest active monastery in the world. It was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in 1680-1681 in accordance with the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso. FACTS ABOUT TAWANG: Tawang is encompassed by wonderful icy lakes in and around the valley with completely clear blue waters. The monastery is the centre of the Gelug school (Yellow Hat) of Mahayana Buddhism, and is bordered with a 282 m long compound wall. Source: windhorsetours.com. Interesting Facts About Tawang Valley. It belongs to the Gelugpa sect and is the largest Buddhist monastery in India. 1. The name Tawang (Tibetan: རྟ་དབང་, Wylie: Rta-dbang) means Horse Chosen. In 2003, the Dalai Lama said that "Arunachal Pradesh was actually part of Tibet". [27] When young boys join the monastery to train, it is on the condition that it is a lifetime commitment. [15][14] Tibet gave up several hundred square miles of its territory, including the whole of the Tawang region and the monastery, to the British. In February 1951, Major Ralengnao 'Bob' Khathing led an Assam Rifles column to Tawang town and took control of the remainder of the Tawang tract from the Tibetans, removing the Tibetan administration. It is one of the must-visit places in Tawang and is easily reachable by road. The area is part of the wider dispute between India and China concerning Arunachal Pradesh and is claimed by China as a part of the Tibet Autonomous Region[1][2]. The printed sets are in 101 volumes. [13], When the 14th Dalai Lama fled from Tibet to escape from the Chinese army, he crossed into India on 30 March 1959 and spent some days at the Tawang Monastery before reaching Tezpur in Assam on 18 April. The closest air terminal is Salonibari Airport in Tezpur, Assam. According to a past custom, in a family of three sons, the middle son was conscripted to the monastery and in a family of two sons the youngest son was inducted into the monastery. As she was not supportive of this practice she fled from the kingdom. Tawang has an average elevation of 2,669 metres (8,757 ft). The full name of the monastery is Tawang Galdan Namgye Lhatse. All bases and landing grounds are suffixed with AFS and ALG which means Air Force Station and Advanced Landing Ground respectively. The pride of the pictorial hill town, Tawang Monastery is Asia’s second largest monastery and India’s largest which controls 17 Gompas in the region. Local Tribe : Monpa. In Oct 2014, a biweekly helicopter service from Guwahati was started by the Arunachal Pradesh government. [5] This expedition was met with strong resistance from the Tibetan government and local people; a protest was lodged against the British Indian government. A moon disc adorns her hair, similar to the one seen on Shiva. 'Ta' means "horse", 'wang' means "chosen", which together forms the word 'Tawang', meaning "the location selected by horse". It is said that this footprint belonged to a resident of the monastery, who was a water carrier, known as Chitenpa. The Samten Yongcha Monastery in Tawang is home to a number of Buddhist monks who survive mainly on charity and aid. 2. The Monastery represents the Gelugpa sect of Buddism and is the Buddist centre for Cultural studies. [14] Prior to 1959, the Dalai Lama refused to recognize India's sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, including Tawang. Hence, when the Tawang monastery was built like a fort structure, a strategic location was chosen from the defense point of view. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was tasked in July 2020 to build the strategic road from Lumla west of Tawang in India Trashigang in Bhutan through Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary which will reduce Guwahati to Tawang by 150 km and enable rapid deployment of troops in eastern Bhutan and in Tawang sector of India-China-Bhutan boder. [9], The monastery was founded by Merek Lama Lodre Gyamsto in 1680-81 at the behest of the 5th Dalai Lama, who was his contemporary. About 30,000 people, including those from neighbouring Nepal and Bhutan, attended his religious discourse. Nearer to the gate, there are two small openings in the wall which provide the complete view of the exterior part of the eastern wall that connects to the Kakaling. It belongs to the Gelug school of Vajrayana Buddhism and had a religious association with Drepung Monastery of Lhasa, which continued during the period of British rule. Home to more than 700 monks and 450 Lamas, it is also the biggest Buddhist Monastery in India. It is held according to the Buddhist calendar days of 28th to 30th of Dawachukchipa, which corresponds to 10 to 12 January of the Gregorian calendar, and is a Monpa celebration. [19], The main Monpa festivals held in the monastery are the Choksar, Losar, Ajilamu, and Torgya. Tawang Monastery in Tawang: Get detail information on Tawang Monastery & other adventurous activities in Tawang. They occupied Tawang, including the monastery, for six months, but did not desecrate it. [17] China claimed that Tawang belonged to Tibet. …Buddhist monasteries and hermitages, while Tawang, in the far-northwestern extremity of Arunachal Pradesh, is famous for its 17th-century Mahayana Buddhist monastery with gold-lettered Buddhist scriptures. This thangka image, also known as Dri Devi, was donated to the monastery by the 5th Dalai Lama. [4] According to Tsering Shakya, the British records show that the border agreed in 1914 was conditional upon China accepting the Simla Convention. It is bounded on its southern and western flanks by steep ravines formed by streams, a narrow spur on the north and a gently sloping ground on the east. This was not accepted by the Lamas of the Tawang Monastery and as result the Tsona Lamas refused to part with some of the sacred texts and records of the Tawang Monastery which were with them. 3. [4] Tawang Manuscript Conservation Centre was established in the monastery in August 2006, which has curated 200 manuscripts, and 31 manuscripts have been treated for preservation. It was not dependent on the Dzonpan (head of Tsona Monastery) and Government of Lhasa, and this aspect was supported by G.A. [25][23] At some stage, some of the sacred scriptures were lost and the reason was attributed to the monks of the Tsona monastery who used to visit Tawang during winter time. It is situated in the valley of the Tawang River, near the small town of the same name in the northwestern part of Arunachal Pradesh, in close proximity to the Tibetan and Bhutanese border. Visitors to Tawang, as is the case with the entire Arunachal Pradesh, require special Inner Line Permit (ILP) issued by the concerned government body and can be obtained from offices based in Kolkata, Guwahati, Tezpur, and New Delhi. In 1938 the British made a move to assert sovereignty over Tawang by sending a small military column under Capt. The monastery is situated on a mountain at an altitude of over 3000 m. Tawang Monastery is one of the most important Buddhist sites in the world. Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh is ranked as the second largest … He took this as a divine and auspicious guidance and decided to establish the monastery at that location. [27] The tenders for construction were floated in 2018, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone in Feb 2019 to commence the construction. [15], At the entrance to the monastery there is colourful gate structure, known as the Kakaling, which is built in the shape of a "hut-like structure", with side walls built of stone masonry. When the British botanist Frank Kingdon-Ward crossed the Sela Pass and entered Tawang in 1935 without permission from Tibet, he was briefly arrested. In January 2007, he said that in 1914, both the Tibetan government and Britain recognized the McMahon Line. Within the complex there were 65 residential buildings. [18] 50 years later, in spite of strong protests by China, the Dalai Lama's visit on 8 November 2009 to Tawang Monastery was a monumental event to the people of the region, and the abbot of the monastery greeted him with much fanfare and adulation. [12] Tawang officials used to travel almost to the plains of Assam to collect monastic contributions. It is a major holy site for Tibetan Buddhists as it was the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama. New Indian Railways line close to China: This railway link to Tawang is coming up at a height of 10,000 feet! It has been exquisitely decorated with paintings, murals, carvings, sculptures and so forth. The walls of the monastery also have a profusion of thangkas of Buddhist deities and saints. [6], Three legends are narrated to the establishment of the monastery. Its name (ta = horse, and wang = chosen) is the subject of an interesting legend. 10 facts about Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. In the first legend it is said that location of the present Monastery was selected by a horse which belonged to Merag Lama Lodre Gyatso who was on a mission assigned to him by the 5th Dalai Lama to establish a Monastery. This is the second oldest Monastery in the entire world after Lhasa. The state is called “Land of Rising sun“. Lightfoot's brief visit elicited a strong diplomatic protest from Tibet but did not cause any territorial change. The Tawang Monastery stands on the start of a hill, about 10,000 ft above sea level and has ravines in the south […] The climate is warm and temperate in Tawang. Legend also states that in the past she had lived in Sri Lanka as the consort of a demon king who practiced human sacrifice. The average annual rainfall is 915 millimetres (36.0 in). Tawang monastery, situated at Tawang of Arunachal Pradesh, is the largest monastery in India and second largest in the world after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Largest Monastery in India, Tawang Monastery The Tawang Monastery also known as “Galden Namgyal Lhatse” is famous Buddhist monastery which was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyamtso in the year 1860-61 AD. [11], Monpas, who belong to the Gelug sect, are the dominant sect of the Kameng region. These dzongs not only collect taxes but also preach Buddhism to the Monpas and Sherdukpens of Kameng. Seeking the help of the local people, Mera Lama established the monastery at that location in the latter part of 1681. In 2008, he said that "Arunchal Pradesh was a part of India under the agreement signed by Tibetan and British representatives". [2], The ground floor of the monastery is where ritual dances are performed. [13] According to Pandit Nain Singh of the Trignometrical Survey of India, who visited the monastery in 1874-75, the monastery had a parliamentary form of administration, known as the Kato, with the Chief Lamas of the monastery as its members. With a control over 17 Gompas in the region, this monastery is believed to be 400 years old. Tawang Monastery is the largest Buddhist monastery in India and second-largest in the world after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, China Occupied Tibet. The three-storied Tawang Monastery is administered by the Gelug School of Mahayana Buddhism and it is associated with Lhasa’s Drupeng Monastery. Tawang Monastery. [1], The monastery is situated near the top of a mountain, at an elevation of about 10,000 feet (3,000 m), with a commanding view of the Tawang Chu valley, which comprises snow-capped mountains and coniferous forest. Ahead of the main gate of the Kakaling, to its south, is another entry, an open gate. She is also associated with Goddess Saraswati and Ma Tara. Tawang Monastery is known in Tibetan as Galden Namgey Lhatse, which translates to "celestial paradise in a clear night." Other notable and worth visiting places include: This article is about the municipality in India. Pierced atop a hill dominating everything around and below it is an enormous yellow-roofed Tawang monastery which was originally a large and fortified complex strategically sited where the caravan routes from Tibet, Bhutan and West Kameng met. Within the complex there are 65 residential buildings. The Famous Gaden Namgyal Lhatse roughly translated as “The peak of the heavenly abode of joyfulness and complete victory” and, popularly known as the Tawang Monastery was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in the year 1680-81. Mountains or Peaks: Sela Peak, Namche Barwa, Kelingon, Dapha Bum, Komdi Mountain, Kangto etc. According to a legend, the 5th Dalai Lama had given a roll of thread to be bound around the walls of the monastery to denote the extent to which the monastery should be built. [27] The famous Tawang Monastery is a popular tourist attraction and it was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyamtso in the year 1860-61 AD and it offers an impressive and picturesque view of the Tawang - Chu valley. Distance from Closet Airport : Guwahati (543 Kms) Nearest Major Railway Station : Guwahati (543 Kms) Climate :Mostly cold climate throughout the year with rains from May to August. For its namesake district, see. Tawang town is located approximately 555 kilometres (345 mi) from Guwahati and 320 kilometres (200 mi) from Tezpur. After Lhasa’s Potala Palace, it is the largest Buddhist monastery in the world and was founded in 1680. As she was running away, the king shot her with an arrow, which struck the backside of the mule that she was riding. Important Tribes: Adis, Buguns, Wanchos, Monpas, Singphos etc are main tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. The place is … The state of Arunachal Pradesh is located in the North-eastern region of India. This drew the attention of the British, who re-examined the Indo-Tibetan border and rediscovered that Tibet had ceded Tawang to British India, and attempted to revive the McMahon Line. The state is augmented with hills and valleys. Tawang Monastery is known in Tibetan as Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, which translates to “celestial paradise in a clear night.” The full name of the monastery is Tawang Galdan Namgye Lhatse. There are proposals to build more roads to connect eastern Bhutan with western Tawang such as "Trashigang-Namshu Road", the "Chorten Kora-Zemithang Road", road upgrade in Bhutan to Singye Dzong on Bhutan-China border, and an advance landing ground airstrip near Singye Dzong area along with more helipads in this area. The 1914 Simla Accord defined the McMahon Line as the new boundary between British India and Tibet. In November, the British government demanded that Tibet implement the 1914 Simla Accord; this met with rejection from the Tibetan government, which rejected the validity of the McMahon Line. In winter, there is much less rainfall in Tawang than in summer. Of the three sets of Kangyur, two are handwritten and one is printed. [25][26], The main entrance to the monastery, to the south of the open gate, has massive doors fitted on the northern wall. The roof of the Kakaling features mandalas, while the interior walls have murals of divinities and saints painted on them. The State symbols of Arunachal are It is said that it was painted with the blood drawn from the nose of the 5th Dalai Lama, which renders an ethereal "living quality" to the thanka. The monastery is entered from the northern direction along a sloping spur, which has alpine vegetation. The most obvious of things to visit is this famous monastery. The name Tawang means Horse Chosen. A distinctive mural, the ninth mural from the southwest west corner of the southern wall, is of Ningmecahn, the protector deity of the Bon religion, who is considered the guardian deity of the Tawang region. Before this war, in 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama had fled from Tibet, and after an arduous journey, crossed into India on 30 March 1959, and had reached Tawang and taken shelter in the monastery for a few days before moving to Tezpur. This image is on the northern face of the assembly hall and is installed over a platform and its head extends up to the first floor. Since the British were unable to get China's acceptance, the Tibetans regarded the MacMahon line "invalid". The State symbols of Arunachal are [24] The present resident head of the monastery is the incarnate Gyalsy Rinpochey. The Tawang monastery grew in wealth and in fact by the 19th century CE it owned a number of villages even levying taxes on them. Situated majestically on a hilltop, the monastery overlooks the entire Tawang district and is considered as a magnificent artwork and the kernel of Buddhist culture and tradition. BRO is also improving the road from Sangestar Tso (north of Tawang) to Bum La Pass on India-China Line of Actual Control (disputed parts of McMahon Line). One of the best parts of the Tawang Monastery tour was a visit to the monastery kitchens where huge cauldrons of daal, vegetable dishes and butter tea were simmering on large stoves. [28] There is also a ski lift in town. It is close to the borders of Bhutan and Tibet. [2][3][4][5] [1] Nearby Tawang Town, named after the monastery, is well connected by road, rail and air services. Tawang Monastery, located in Arunchal Pradesh, is India’s largest, and the world’s second largest, monastery. It’s the second largest in the world, after the Lhasa one in Tibet which is not longer in use due to Chinese laws. [11], A notable feature on the wall of the front porch on the ground floor is a footprint on a stone slab. The hot water spring is rich in sulphur and is believed to cure multiple skin ailments. Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, India and jointly used by the Indian Army and Bhutan Army, "Behind Tawang row, two nations enslaved by history", "China's New Passport Sparks Controversy", "Ugyenling Monastery: Birth Place of the 6th Dalai Lama", "Young Buddhist monks lead insular lives in India", Thousands flock to see Dalai Lama in Indian state, "IAF to have 7 operational Advanced Landing Grounds in Arunachal Pradesh in a month]", "Arunachal's Vijaynagar Advanced Landing Ground dedicated to nation", "Defence Ministry allots 4 more strategic rail lines to NE", "New Indian Railways line close to China: This railway link to Tawang is coming up at a height of 10,000 feet!". This outer wall is 925 feet (282 m) in length, with heights varying from about 10–20 feet (3.0–6.1 m). Tawang Monastery, also known as the Golden Namgyal Lhatse, is one of the largest lamaseries of Mahayana sects. The Tawang monastery provide for the everyday wants of the nuns and their monastery. It has a rich Buddhist culture and many fairs and festivals are organized at various times of the year. Nevill who had visited the monastery in 1924. The Tawang Monastery is best accessed by private vehicle/ taxi, although it is possible to walk up from Tawang town if you’re up for it. This largest monastery in Asia stands erect at the base of a hill at a height of 3,000 metre above sea level. The town once served as the district headquarters of West Kameng district and became the district headquarters of Tawang district when it was formed from West Kameng. 1. [12] It is a major holy site for Tibetan Buddhists as it was the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama. Thingbu is a natural Hot Spring in a small village called Thingbu, which is a three-hour drive from Tawang and is present on the Tawang – Jang road. The books are used usually by the literate Monpa Lamas who refer to it for conducting religious rituals. Located on the northern most end of NH 13 of Trans-Arunachal Highway network, Tawang is 447.5 kilometres (278.1 mi) from state capital Itanagar and is connected with buses run by APSRTC and private services. [10], Tawang Monastery was founded by the Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso in accordance to the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso. This step is venerated as a miracle in view of a belief among the people of the region that such an imprint on a stone slab could only be created by a divine person who was a true devotee of the monastery. The Famous Gaden Namgyal Lhatse roughly translated as “The peak of the heavenly abode of joyfulness and complete victory” and, popularly known as the Tawang Monastery was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in the year 1680-81. A large image of Buddha of 18 feet (5.5 m) height is deified; it is gilded and decorated, and is in a lotus position. A broad-gauge railway line connecting Missamari in Assam with Tawang has been proposed and a survey for the line was sanctioned in 2011.[21]. Following the religious recitations, the villagers carry the scriptures on their back and circumambulate their agricultural land seeking blessings for the good yield of crops without any infestations by pests and to protect against attack by wild animals. It has the precious treasure of lovely flowers. [4][1][9][26] The monastery has a school and its own water supply facility,[9] and a centre for Buddhist cultural studies. The Government of India announced the funding for construction of all weather transport tunnel in 2018-19 budget. Local Languages: Tibetan, English and Hindi. [15] The Dalai Lama visited Tawang on 8 November 2009. Tawang again came under Indian administration, but China has not relinquished its claims on most of Arunachal Pradesh including Tawang.[6]:384–502. [16] This disputed territory was the bone of contention for the 1962 India China war,[15][14] when China invaded India on 20 October 1962 from the northeastern border, forcing the Indian army to retreat. [11] It is said to be the biggest Buddhist monastery in the world outside of Lhasa, Tibet. The entire second floor houses the library. 2. This is the 2nd largest Tibetan monastery in world, after the Potala Palace in Tibet which is now a museum as the Chinese government do not allow the Tibetan people to follow the Dalai Lama or practice their culture and religion. 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