Tawang Monastery ( Arunachal Pradesh )

Location:  Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
Country: India
Affilliation: Tibetan Buddhism
Founder: Merek Lama Lodre Gyamsto in 1680-81
Style: 65 residential buildings
Famous for: one of the biggest Buddhist monasteries to be found in India & it's natural beauty.


Tawang is a place which could be one of India's premier attractions, but because of it's location, it remains the country's best- kept secret. For those who do make the journey, one of the World's largest Buddhist Monasteries, a unique tribal culture and breathtaking nature are waiting.

History: 
The monastery was established in 1680, this is the largest monastery in India & the second largest in Asia. It's also called Galden Namgey Lhatse and was founded as per the wish of the 5th Dalai Lama. It preserves two ancient scripts Kangyur & Tengyur.
The monastery had to be built as a fort , as a defensive structure. This was because it used to be dominated by Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism & the Drukaps of Bhutan tried to take control of this part of Tawang. In 1914, the monastery was controlled by Tibetan & after signing an agreement, it came under the control of British Raj.

Architecture:
The monastery welcomes devotees with a vibrant gateway called Kakaling & decorated with mandalas on its roof. The monastery is a three-storied buliding . It is 400 years old. Surrounding by wall of 925ft. The assembly hall consists of an enormous image of Lord Buddha that is of 18ft height. The monastery consists of a hall, a school, a Buddhist cultural studies center which can accommodate 450 monks at once. The monastery'' walls are decorated with colourful thangkas and curtains.


             ( Interior view of the Hall )
                      ( Decorated door )
               ( Statue of the Lord Buddha )
    ( Young monk debating at the monastery )

How to reach: 
By air: The nearest domestic airport is Salonibari airport, Tezpur & the nearest international airport is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi international airport, Guwahti which is 480kms away from the Tawang.
By train: It doesn't have its own railway station. You can reach Guwahti railway station then you can travel to Tawang by road.



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