Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is a beautiful hill station known for its breathtaking views, snow-capped mountains, scenic valleys and serene lakes. The town is home to the Tawang Monastery, the largest monastery in India and the second-largest in the world after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. There’s a beautiful legend on how Tawang got its name.
In the 1680s, the Buddhist monk Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso was in search of a suitable place to establish a monastery. Unable to find an appropriate site, he sat in prayer seeking divine guidance. When he opened his eyes, he discovered that his horse was missing. After a thorough search, he found the horse standing atop a hill. Interpreting this as a divine sign, Merak Lama decided to build the monastery there. Tawang, literally meaning ‘chosen by the horse,’ derives its name from this legend.
Tawang War Memorial
Tawang is steeped in historical significance as well. It was part of the route taken by the 14th Dalai Lama when he fled from Tibet to India in 1959. It even played a key role during the 1962 Sino-Indian War. There are memorials, such as the Tawang War Memorial, dedicated to the soldiers who lost their lives in the conflict.
Tawang’s natural beauty, along with its spiritual and historical significance, make it a popular destination in Northeast India.
