Visit Tawang: 5 Incredible Places To See In Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh (2024)

Tawang is a beautiful high altitude town located in the Himalayas. The place is famous for its some beautiful natural surroundings and the significant monasteries. Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is also well known as the Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso was born here. The incredible Tawang is also pronounced as Dawang and is endowed with natural beauty and scenic spots. The picturesque place is ideal for people looking for spirituality and tranquility. The famous Tawang Monastery is an important and sacred monastery for the Buddhists.

The largest monastery in India, Galden Namgey Lhatse, which means the “celestial paradise in a clear night”, is located in Tawang. The town attracts many tourists due to its cultural and historical significance. The stunning Nuranang waterfalls are a delight to watch. The Tawang War Memorial, which was built-in memory of martyred soldiers who lost their lives in the Sino-Indian war, is a perfect place for all history enthusiasts. Tawang is a place which has it all and is a blissful experience for all tourists.

Location: North-Western part of Arunachal Pradesh
Best time to visit: March to June and September-October

5 Incredible Places To See In Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh

1. Sela Pass

Sela Pass is a heaven on earth which is a lifeline for the people of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a spectacular place in the Himalayan vista and offers some breathtaking views. The Sela pass is of great significance in the sense that it connects Tawang town to the rest of the country. The region is quite sensitive, and so one needs an inner line permit to visit Sela Pass. The view of the moving clouds will make you in awe of this destination with the cool breeze in the background. Sela Pass is a beautiful picturesque spot with an unmatched beauty. The pass is open throughout the year unless there has been a landslide. The Sela lake, which is close to Sela Pass, is known as a Paradise Lake because of its splendid appeal and beauty. Image Source

Location: On the border of Tawang and West Kameng District
Best time to visit: March – April and October-November
Timings: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry fee : No fee

2. Tawang Monastery

The famous Tawang Monastery is also known as the Golden Namgyal Lhatse is one of the most significant and beautiful tourist destinations in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. The Tawang monastery is located at the height of 3,000 metres above sea level and is the biggest monastery in the country and second-largest in the world, the first one being Lhasa. The monastery, which is believed to be around 400 years old, has control over 17 gompas in the region. It houses over 300 monks. It offers some remarkable views of the Tawang-Chu Valley. A significant and prominent attraction is the 8 meters tall Lord Buddha statue.

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The monastery is a three-storeyed building which was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyamtso to fulfil the wish of Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso, the 5th Dalai Lama in 1860-61. Dukhang, the main temple is an architectural beauty with beautiful artwork and paintings of Bodhisattvas. The monastery has a library which is equipped with valuable old scriptures like Kangyur and Tengyur. The monastery also celebrates festivals which are a memorable experience to be cherished.

Location: Cona, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh 790104
Timings: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Entry fee : No fee

3. Madhuri Lake (Sangestar Lake)

There are some beautiful and splendid lakes that Arunachal Pradesh can boast off. Madhuri Lake, which is also known as Sangestar Lake, is one such stunning beauty in Tawang. The Madhuri lake is an amazing combination of rocky mountains, and the ever-present lake makes for a spectacular view. The lake was made famous as a famous Bollywood song from movie Koyla was shot here, and that is the reason it is now known as Madhuri Lake after the actress Madhuri Dixit who was the lead actress in the movie.

A beautiful lake with remarkable beauty has the power to rejuvenate one’s mind and soul. It is believed that an earthquake led to the formation of the Sangestar lake in Tawang, which was a grassland earlier. The lake is surrounded by picturesque and beautiful snow-capped mountains making it an ideal place for photography and some recreational activities.

An ideal thing to do here would be photography. Apart from this, the route to Shonga-tser is dotted with many small lakes, and thus one can enjoy stopping by these places as well.

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Location: Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh
Timings: During the day before sunset
Entry fee: No fee

4. Nuranang Falls (Jung Falls)

Nuranang Falls ( Bong Bong Falls), is around 100 meters high falls located in the Tawang district. This spectacular beauty is not a very widely known destination. The falls are situated in around two km from the town of Jang on the road connecting Tawang and Bomdila, and that is why also known as the Jung Falls. For the generation of electricity for local use, a hydel plant is constructed near the base of the falls. There is a popular myth associated with these falls, according to which the Nuranang river and Nuranang falls are named after a local Monpa girl named Nura who helped a soldier, Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat in 1962 Sino-Indian War and was later captured by China. This mind-blowing pristine attraction is a must-visit destination in Tawang for all tourists.

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Location: 2 Kms from Jung Town, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh 790105
Timings: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry fee: No fee

5. Tawang War Memorial

Tawang war memorial was built in the memory of brave and courageous soldiers who were martyred during the Sino-India war of 1962. It is mainly in the memory of rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, Mahavir Chakra Awardee. The braveheart, Jaswant fought and held the invading Chinese army for 72 hours all by himself during the 1962 Sino-India war and remained at his post which was at an altitude of about 10,000 feet. He succumbed to an enemy bullet during that war. The post he held has been renamed as Jaswant Garh in honour of his spirit and sacrifice.
The memorial has a bronze bust of Jaswant Singh along with a portrait of the war hero and his belongings which includes his Army uniform, cap, watch and belt. Certain planned activities take place in the memorial like even today the Garhwal Rifles are deployed on India’s western borders, and the unit makes it a point to keep around five-six personnel there to take care of him as if he were alive. It has become a daily ritual where he is served bed tea at 4:30 am, breakfast at 9 am and dinner at 7 pm. The soldiers not only serve him but also help travellers along the problematic portions of the mountain terrain. Apart from this, the soldiers also run a tuck shop where they serve tea, coffee and snacks to the tired tourists. The prices are very nominal, and all money goes for the maintenance of the war memorial. It is quite a surreal experience to visit this memorial in Tawang.

Location: Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh 790104
Timings: 7:45 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry fee: No fee