Tawang Monastery

Tawang Monastery, also known as 'Galden Namgyel Lhatse', i.e., the celestial paradise of divine site chosen by the horse, is in Tawang district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India. It is located at about two kilometres from Tawang, and 180 km from Bomdila. This monastery serves as one of the most important element in Social and Religious life of the Monpas, the tribe inhabiting the Tawang district. It is the largest monastery in India and the 2nd largest in Asia.

The monastery is also one of the largest Lamaseries of Mahayana sect in Asia. Lamaseries comprise of several sections ranging near about four hundred years, devoted to Love, Learning and Purity of life.

It was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyamtso in the year 1680-81. The Dalai Lama gave him a painting of goddess Palden Lhamo to be kept in the monastery. It stands on the top of a hill, about 10,000 ft above sea level with ravines in the south and west, a narrow ridge on the north and a gradual slope on the east.

This fortified complex covers an area of 135 sq. meters enclosed by a compound wall of 610 meter long. Within the complex there are 65 residential buildings and 10 other structures. The library here have valuable old scriptures mainly Kanjur and Tanjur numbering 850 bundles.

The 8 m high glided statue of Lord Buddha dominates the sanctum. The great rotating prayer wheels, priceless thangkas, the drone of monks in prayer, sputtering butter lamps are an evocative vision.

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. The place is also famous with the legend of 7th Century A.D., King Kalawangpo and Khandro Drowa Zangmo.

Nearby pages
Tawang War Memorial, Taxidermy, Taxon, Taxonomic Group, Taxonomic Hierarchy, Taxonomy, Taxus baccata