Tawang Tourism – An Ultimate Travel Guide, 2022
The westernmost region of Arunachal Pradesh is where Tawang district is located. Around 2,172 square kilometres make up this district, which is bordered to the north by Tibet (China), to the west by Bhutan, and to the east by the Sela ranges, which divide it from the West Kament region. Tawang is thought to have gotten its name from the magnificent Tawang Monastery, which is positioned on the ridge that runs along the western side of Tawang Township. According to the widely accepted theory, His Holiness the Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso is credited with giving the name “Tawang.” “TA” stands for “Horse,” and “Wang” for “Chosen.” According to mythology, the location of the current monastery was picked by a horse belonging to Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso. Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso looked for a suitable location to build a monastery but came up empty-handed. In the end, he made the decision to sit in meditation and seek heavenly guidance. After his prayer, he discovered his horse gone when he opened his eyes. So weary was he that he ventured outside to look for his horse, which he saw calmly standing on top of a hill. According to the wishes of the Fifth Dalai Lama, Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso made the decision to start construction on a monastery in the latter part of the 17th century with the assistance of people living around the Monpa region because he thought it was a good omen. The district is made up of a continuous series of mountains and hills, ranging in altitude from about 3500 feet to 22500 feet. At over 22500 feet above mean sea level, “GOURICHEN” is the name of the district’s tallest mountain peak. The sweeping ranges of Shangfu hills and the everest-like Chongchongma mountain summit are located close to Bleting, the border settlement of Tawang district.
Best Selling Tawang Tourism Packages
What Makes Tawang So Famous?
All throughout the district are hills and mountains. Near Tawang town, the lofty Geshila ranges, which are composed of mountains in the shape of a line, appear to be the district headquarters’ defence wall. Wintertime snowfall covers the upper hills and mountains, which are uninhabited. In the district, the Tawang Chu and Nymjang Chu rivers are the two important waterways. These rivers receive their water from a large number of tributaries that flow through untamed gorges and mountains in the friendly company of priceless herbal and medicinal plants, a broad diversity of tree species, blue pines, and orchids flourish in the midst of pristine nature. Due to the Monpa people’s lack of hunting and trapping traditions, the typical high altitude birds, mammals, reptiles, snow leopards, mustelids, barking deer, bears, and other species can be seen roaming around fearlessly. The Monpa Tribe of the Tawang area has long been deeply ingrained with fairs and celebrations. Only once every three years is the Dungyur festival observed. An annual monastic feast called Torgya is held in the month of January. The Tawang Monastery’s courtyard is the setting for a monastic dance during this event.
Best Time To Visit Tawang
The optimal time of year to visit Tawang is from June to October. The period allows you to comfortably tour the area because of the excellent weather. We advise bringing along heavy woollens because the weather in Tawang between June and October fluctuates between 5°C and 21°C.
Things to do in Tawang
Tawang has a wide range of fantastic activities. Two of the attractions of this town are the oldest and largest monastery in India and the gorgeous valleys surrounded by the majestic snow-capped Himalayan mountains. Whether you stay in Tawang for at least a weekend, you will love seeing its attractions, which include monasteries, magnificent glacial lakes, and forceful waterfalls.
- Tibetan Settlement MarketWhat is a vacation if not something to remember it by? Tibetan settlement market, further known as Vihara market, is a neighbourhood of little shops and roadside shacks that offer Chinese tableware and traditional handicrafts. Additionally, there are Buddhist religious attainable things here, like flags, prayer wheels, statues of the Lord Buddha, wall hangings, etc. Additionally, you must not overlook the regional cuisine offered at these establishments!
- Sightseeing at Bumla PassOf the top destinations for tourists in Arunachal Pradesh is Bumla Pass, which is situated on the border between India and China. I feel proud to be an Indian and travel to this significant boundary. It’s a great spot for viewing and capturing images of the mountains blanketed with snow.
- Maggi with Nature’s Magic at Madhuri LakeThere are verdant valleys and snow-capped mountains all around this stunning lake. And sometimes all you need is a bowl of Maggi, therefore there is a cafeteria close to the lake where guests may have fun sipping tea or coffee while eating momos or eating Maggi. The best approach to enjoy the wonderful lakeside surrounds that the Indian Army manages is to take a leisurely stroll.
- Savour Your Taste Buds At The Dragon RestaurantFood is one of the best methods to learn about a culture. It serves as a depiction of the neighbourhood and its residents. The Dragon restaurant in the Old Market serves some of the must-try foods, including momos, spicy chicken, and salty Tibetan yak-butter tea. Churpi, the most well-known regional dish, is a cheese broth prepared with mushrooms and vegetables.
- Catch The Beautiful Sight Of Shonga-Tser LakeThe result of destruction can occasionally be beautiful. The Shonga-Tser lake, which was created by an earthquake, is well-known in and of itself. A genuinely once-in-a-lifetime experience that you must not miss are the tranquil surroundings, the calm lake waters, the vivid coloured birds on the banks, and the snow-capped Himalayas in the distance.
- Honour The Courageous Martyrs At Jaswant GarhAmong the most popular tourist destinations in Arunachal Pradesh is the JaswantGarh War Memorial. To pay tribute to the late Jaswant Singh Rawat, this memorial was built. The temple-like building with observable examples of camouflage all throughout the memorial is its most striking feature. It’s a great destination to spend the day because you can just go there to see the attraction, honour the valiant martyrs, and eat some quick refreshments.
Adventurous Activities to Do in Tawang
- Trekking At Gorichen PeakThe third-highest summit in the Northeast is Gorichen Peak, the highest peak in Arunachal Pradesh. This hike is endowed with the perfect environment and a terrain to test your sense of adventure. With its towering pinnacle and breathtaking beauty which offers a 360-degree view of its surroundings, this trekking route will enchant you.
- Boating At Madhuri LakeBeautiful panoramas are provided by the mountains, diverse vegetation and tree trunks that encircle the lake. In addition, there was a stunning waterfall that descended into the lake. There are also yaks to be seen. Here in the winter, the countryside is blanketed in snow. The lake offers a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, boating, fishing, picnics, and camping. Tawang and the lake are separated by around 20 kilometres. The lake freezes over in the winter, but the sight is still breathtaking. The gorgeous lake has the golden ducks. The lake rises to a height of 16,500 feet. The lake has always been present at the line separating China and India.
- Explore The Chakzam BridgeThis historic iron bridge from the 15th century is one of the Tibetan bridges that are still intact in the area. Through it, you can bridge the Tawang Chu River. Iron suspension bridges akin to the Tawang bridge are common in Bhutan and Tibet. On both sides, there are also a great deal of beautiful and colourful prayer flags, which only serve to accentuate how charming the area already is. The Tawang Chu River flows subterranean and varying throughout the season you visit, may be rather active.
- Rafting At Kameng RiverOne of the fun things to do in Tawang is go rafting on the Kameng River, one of the prettiest rivers in Arunachal. You can make bookings for your rafting adventures once you are in Tawang. The best time to go rafting is throughout the summer, from April to July. Additionally, prior rafting experience is not necessary. Depending on the activities and your preferences, you can book pickup and drop-off services for group rafting excursions or the addition of hikes to nearby areas and sightseeing to the tour.
- Mountain Biking Is A Must TryBecause of the area’s rocky terrain, Tawang’s environs offer some of the most challenging mountain bike tracks. You can try mountain biking in Tawang even if you have never done it before. If you are an accomplished biker, it gets better. To go to tranquil monasteries or breath-taking mountain top vistas, you can choose from a number of wide pathways with varied degrees of difficulty. Make sure you sign up if you want to visit Tawang during the summer as bike tours are one of the most fun things to do there.
- Be A Part Of Tawang FestivalsIf you plan your journey correctly, you can go to The Tawang Festival, one of the wonderful celebrations in Arunachal Pradesh. The tourism board of Arunachal organises this festival, which is one of the newest events to be added to the calendar. It is the best opportunity to experience the local culture while also taking part in a variety of exciting activities. At this event, You can engage in indigenous sports, watch traditional dance performances, discover more about the distinctive customs of some tribes, and savour a variety of delectable regional foods from several tribes, including their alcoholic beverages. The greatest approach to discover Tawang’s best qualities and discover the state’s unique history and culture is to attend this three-day event.
Itineraries for Tawang Tour
You can choose your ideal Tawang Tour plan from our list of Tawang Tour Packages.
How do we reach Tawang
You can reach Shillong by road, rail or flight.The 11-hour bus ride to Tawang from Bomdila is frequent and reasonably priced. As it is unsafe to travel in the mountainous terrains after dark, one can take a bus from Guwahati in Assam to Tezpur or Bhalukpong and then a bus to Bomdila, both operated by the Arunachal Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC). After spending the night there, one can then take a bus to Tawang the following morning. Also available is a direct bus from Guwahati to Bomdila, which takes 11 hours to complete. From there, one can depart for Tawang the next morning.
Within the state of Arunachal Pradesh, there is no train service. But Rangapara in Tezpur, Assam, is the closest railway station, and it has connections to a few significant cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, etc. Nearly all of the major Indian towns have good train connections with Guwahati, which is about 485 kilometres from Tawang.
Tawang may be reached from Salonibari Airport in Tezpur, Assam, which is 317 kilometres away. There are flights by Air India Regional to and from Silchar and Kolkata. To connect to Tawang, however, the airport in Guwahati is more practical. Tawang is 480 kilometres from Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, which has connections to all the country’s major cities. As of the moment, Druk Air’s only foreign destinations from the Guwahati airport are Bangkok, Thailand, and Paro, Bhutan. The trip to Tezpur from the Guwahati airport takes four hours.
Honeymoon Packages for Tawang
Formally speaking, Tawang only speaks English. However, East Bodish, Tshangla, Tibetan, and Limbu are the native tongues. Due to everyone’s proficiency in Hindi and English, communication with tourists is simple.
The Lhomons or Monyuls are credited as ruling Tawang between 500 BC and 600 AD. Tawang is an abbreviation for “Chosen Horse.” W hen the border between British India and Tibet was established in 1914 by the Simla Accord, Tawang and other territories were relinquished by Tibet. While China did not recognise it and the British did not gain control of Tawang, Tawang continued to be governed by the Tibetans, who continued to collect taxes from the region. During the Sino-India Conflict of 1962, Tawang briefly came under Chinese control, but when China withdrew its troops at the conclusion of the war, Tawang was once more held by India.
People from the Monpas and Sherdukpens are generally Buddhists and are quiet, peaceful, and compassionate. Smaller populations of people from other tribes are also present, albeit they tend to be Buddhists and some of them also practise the Bon religion in addition to their own tribal faith. Tawang has also attracted a small number of Assamese and Bengali residents, the most of whom are Hindu. The people of Tawang have a straightforward way of life and are amiable and helpful by nature. The men of Tawang dress in a garment modelled after the Tibetan Chub. In addition to a long, sleeveless chemise that is fastened at the waist, the women are dressed warmly. A yak hair hat with long tassels is worn by both men and women. Silver, coral, and turquoise are some of the jewellery available.
Top Tourist Attractions in Tawang
Sela Pass
Gyangong Ani Gompa
Thingbu Hot Spring
Tibetan Settlement Market
Gorsam Chorten
Narurang Falls
Shonga-Tser Lake
Banggachhang Lake
Bumla Pass
Pankang Teng Tso Lake
Bap Teng Kang Waterfalls
Gorichen Peak
Tawang Monastery
Tawang War Memorial
Jaswant Garh
Samten Yongcha Monastery
Urgelling Gompa
Geshila Peak
Nagula Lake
Taktsang Gompa
Zemithang village
Rainfall in Tawang
Throughout the year, Tawang experiences a wide range of monthly precipitation. The 7.8-month rainy season, which lasts from March to November, is characterised by falling rainfall of at least 0.5 inches over the previous 31 days. The wettest month in Tawang is July, which receives an average rainfall of 6.3 inches. 4.2 months go by from November to March without any rain. January is the driest month in Tawang, with an average rainfall of about 0.1 inches.
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Weather in Tawang
Tawang is a fantastic location in the summer and for the majority of the monsoon season, but it is a freezing spot in the winter. The monsoons are significantly cooler, while the summers are pleasant. However, during the winter, the temperature lowers to 1-3 degrees Celsius, and the snowfall may make it difficult to get around. Tawang has a warm, moderate climate. Tawang experiences substantially less rain in the winter than it does in the summer. Tawang has an average temperature of 10.3 °C. Tawang experiences a warm and primarily cloudy wet season and a chilly and primarily clear dry season. The average annual temperature ranges from 32 to 71 degrees Fahrenheit, with 26 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit being extremely rare. Late May to late June and late August to early October are the finest seasons to travel to Tawang for warm-weather activities. From June to October is the warm season, which lasts 4.1 months and has a daily high temperature that is typical of over 66°F. In Tawang, July is the year’s warmest month, with an average high of 70°F and low of 57°F. From December to March, the chilly season, whose daily peak temperature is generally below 53°F, lasts for 2.8 months. With an average low of 32°F and high of 49°F, January has the lowest temperature of the year in Tawang.
| Season | Month | Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | December – March | 32 °F – 49°F |
| Summer | June – October | 57 °F – 70 °F |
| Monsoon | July – November | 32 °F – 71 °F |
Tawang Tourism One Day Tour
Tawang Tourism Adventure Activities
Travel Advice on Tawang Tourism
Even before reaching the Himalayan town of Tawang, the Tawang area is home to some of the most spectacular views. Due of Tawang’s remote location, some people believe it will be difficult to travel there. It is one of the most beautiful places in the northeastern Himalayas, though. The Sela ranges in the east, Bhutan in the southwest, and Tibet in the north encircle the area, which is renowned for its glacial lakes and snow-capped mountains. All visits to Tawang and all other regions of Arunachal Pradesh require an Inner line permit (ILP). The permit is regularly issued to visitors, so it shouldn’t deter anyone from travelling to Arunachal Pradesh. ILPs are distributed across the urban areas of New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, North Lakhimpur, and Jorhat. Additionally, ILP is now accessible online.
- It is always advisable to take a commuter car from a paid stand and to haggle the price in advance.
- Set aside money for your safety in your budget.
- Prepare the itinerary in advance while taking note of the local customs and laws.
- Traveller’s checks should be used in place of cash. This is a safer option for those who travel in crowded areas.
Tawang Tourism Travel Guides
Best Places to stay in Tawang
| Hotel | Location |
|---|---|
| Pal_mo Homestay | Monastery Road, Tawang |
| Hotel Menda-La | New Market, Opp. Dungyur Mani, Tawang |
| Vamoose North Hill | Tawang Circuit House Road Nearby Buddha Statue, Tawang |
| Vamoosetrail Tawang | Tawang Old Bazar Line, Tawang |
| Stay Inn Tawang | Buddha Statue, General Parade Ground, Tawang |
| Dolma Khangsar Home Stay | Cona, Tawang |
| Dondrub Homestay | Medical road New Market, Tawang |
| Mony Lodge | Old Market Tawang |
| Bumla Inn | Near General Parade Ground Old Market Tawang |
| Bliss Homestay | Village – Mandrelling, Near Tawang Monastery |
Tawang Tourism Reviews
Shekhar Sharma
Professional service since the beginning. Right from building the itinerary to executing the same, along with altering as per the situation to make the trip better and more memorable. Our driver Sandeep was ever smiling and
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Karandeep Singh
I traveled two days with Irshad from Travenjo Tours. They are professional, trustworthy, and friendly people. I just booked on phone, and Irshad was standing right on time outside my hotel. The travel was very smooth,
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Bijan Pradhan
Extremely easy to pre-book online. Very low advance booking amount. Superb connectivity thorugh whatsapp and e-mail in case of any issues. We made a great friend in Raj bhai our driver for the trip. He was our driver
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Manu R
Iam very happy with the overall experience with Travenjo Tours! Mr. Tarique Anwar, owner of Travenjo was very helpful in suggesting best itinerary for our Meghalaya trip for 8 days, he made sure we were comfortable
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Shreya Patawari
We had a good and smooth experience with Travenjo. Our Driver Rahul was polite and made every possible effort to make us view/explore sites in Shillong. I highly recommend both Travenjo and the driver.
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Navjot Maini
It’s was awesome experience… I booked cab from 1st December to 6th December 2019…Without any hassle my trip went smooth, Pick up from Guwahati Airport to Meghalaya and back to Airport… There was no hassle, Our Driver
View ReviewFrequently Asked Questions about Tawang Tourism
You can explore the Love River, a few museums, parks, and other places in Tawang. Sela Pass, Tawang Monastery, Taktsang Gompa, Gorichen Peak, Shonga-tser Lake, Nuranang Waterfalls, Pankang Teng Tso Lake, and Bumla Pass are further attractions.
People who prefer quiet, adventure, or a straightforward holiday should visit Tawang. They can practise meditation, go hiking, shopping, dine on the greatest local cuisine, and take in the wonders of nature.
Anyone may make a reservation at any time for one of more than 20 serene homestays. Both a couple and a group of pals are acceptable.
Yes, a valid Inner Line Permit (ILP) is required for visitors to Tawang. On the Arunachal Pradesh Tourism website, visitors can submit an online application for the permission, which costs between Rs. 150 and Rs. 200 and takes between 5 and 8 working days to process. The alternative is to obtain it directly from the Arunachal Pradesh tourism office through Guwahati Airport. The office itself can be used to verify the charges.
The answer is that Tawang has a reliable cell phone network. While BSNL and Airtel have the best connectivity, postpaid connections from Jio, Vodafone, Airtel, and BSNL all function.
There are several selections, ranging from Tibetan, Chinese, and regional fare. It provides a distinctive selection of Monpa cuisine, a delicacy exclusive to the Arunachal region.
Some of the foods that visitors must eat while in Tawang include:
Zan: A staple dish prepared from millets or other flavoured flours that the Monpas eat.
Khura: Buckwheat flour-based monpa pancakes
Puta: Buckwheat noodles served with a vegetable, cheese, and spice-based sauce.
Excellent dining establishments and dhabas can be found in Tawang. Among Tawang’s top eateries are:
The Dragon
Orange Restaurant & Lounge Bar
GTK Kitchen
The ideal times to visit Tawang are without a doubt during the summer and the start of the monsoon season. An ideal day for sightseeing, the weather is lovely. The ideal times to travel to Tawang are in March, April, May, June, September, and October.
Travel to Tawang is safe, with the exception of the intense off-season rains or snowfall. In addition, it is a safe area to travel and one of the most stunning and tranquil locations for a fantastic getaway, whether you’re travelling alone or with your family.
Among the most secure states in northeast India is allegedly Arunachal Pradesh. People are incredibly kind and helpful, and there are very few instances of violence or robbery. Due to the numerous army camps in the area, taking your family on vacation as well as travelling alone is safe.
Tawang can be visited for as little as 3 days, but if you want to see everything there is to see—and everything nearby—you’ll need at least 8 days.