Tawang The Unexplored Paradise
The area of the district is approximately 2085 sq. km. bordered by Tibet in the North, Bhutan in the South-West and Sela ranges separate West Kameng district in the East. Elevations range between 6,000 to 22,000 feet (6,700 m), and inhabitants are found at lower altitude, where they enjoy a cool temperate climate.Tawang is both historically and naturally endowed. It is located at a distance of 183 Kms from Bomdila and is situated at an altitude of 3500.
Tawang is both historically and naturally endowed. It is located at a distance of 183 Kms from Bomdila and is situated at an altitude of 3500 metres above sea level. The natural beauty and solitude of Gudpi and Chong-Chugmi ranges, Tawang chu River and Tawang valley are very mesmerizing. The inhabitants of the districts are all of Monpa tribes except Shyo village which is dominated by people of Tibetian origin.
There are two major religious festivals of the Monpas viz “LOSAR” and “TORGYA”. Both festivals are celebrated once annually. The LOSAR s celebrated to the commencement of New year. Every third year of Torgya, the festival of Dungyur is celebrated. Both “Dungyur and Torgya” festivals are celebrated at the premises of the Tawang Monastery with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm.
There are many beautiful grlacial lakes in and around Tawang with crystal blue waters such as Sela lake, P.T.Tso lake, Sangetser lake, Banggachang lake and many more. These remain frozen in winter while in summer they become haven for migratory birds
Things to keep in mind before traveling
- Every tourist visiting Arunachal Pradesh needs to obtain an Inner Line Permit and a Protected Area Permit which can be collected from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati or Tezpur airports.
- The weather in the north-east is pretty unpredictable, so be prepared to have delays due to the bad weather.
- Roads that lead to Tawang, especially from Bomdila onwards, aren’t in the best shape.
- Locals are friendly and helpful. Be patient as not everyone will know fluent Hindi or English.
- Most cell phone networks don’t work well, so inform your family or friends about your whereabouts whenever possible.
- Don’t forget to carry some ready to cook food packets or instant noodles if you’re strictly a vegetarian.
- Carry extra batteries, power banks and most importantly warm clothing.
- Keep at least a couple of extra days in hand in case of any problems like landslides and bad weather on your way.
- SANGETSAR LAKE: A WONDER OF NATURE..A BREATHTAKING LAKE..A LAKE MYSTERY. OFTEN KNOWN AS MADHURI LAKE, THIS MYSTERY LAKE , ACTUALLY PRONOUNCED AS SHO-NGA=TSEIR BY LOCALS, WAS ORIGINALLY PASTURAGE OF SHOK-TSEN VILLAGE TURNED INTO A LAKE DUE TO AN EARTHQUAKE IN 1971
- NURANANG WATERFALL: THE JUNG FALLS IS LOCATED ABOUT 35 KILOMETRES FROM THE CENTRE OF TAWANG CITY AND ABOUT 3 KILOMETRES FROM THE TOWN OF JUNG. JUNG IS THE VALLEY THAT LIES BETWEEN SELA AND TAWANG.
- SELA PASS: ONE OF THE MOST STUNNING GIFTS OF NATURE TO THE NORTH-EAST, SELA PASS IS A LIFELINE FOR THE PEOPLE OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH AS IT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT CONNECTS TAWANG
- TAWANG GOMPA: TAWANG MONASTERY IS THE LARGEST GOMPA IN INDIA AND THE SECOND LARGEST IN ASIA.
- PT TSO: LOCATED ALMOST 25KM FROM TAWANG TOWN, THIS IMMENSELY PICTURESQUE LOCALE IS A PERFECT TOURIST SITE. EXCELLENT FOR PICNIC, DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER. THE SERENE ATMOSPHERE AND MESMERIZING SURROUNDINGS LEAVE TOURISTS SPELLBOUND.
- BUMLA PASS: VISITING BUMLA IS AN EXPERIENCE FOR WHICH WORDS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT. BUMLA IS ONE OF THE FOUR OFFICIAL BORDER MEETING POST BETWEEN INDIA AND CHINA AND ABOUT 40 KMS FROM TAWANG BUT TAKES ABOUT 2 HOURS PLUS TO REACH AT THIS 17000 FEET ALTITUDE
- TSE CHU HOT SPRING: THESE ARE TRADITIONAL SPAS HAVING MEDICINAL BENEFITS.
BY AIR
The nearest Domestic Airport is Salonibari Airport, Tezpur, roughly six hour drive from Tawang. It is well connected to Kolkata and Guwahati through Air India flight. The nearest International Airport from Tawang is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, roughly 480 Kms from Tawang. It is connected with the major cities like Delhi, Imphal, Kolkata, Agartala, Aizawl, Dibrugarh, Lilabari, Silchar, Dimapur, Jorhat and Mumbai.
BY TRAIN
The nearest railway station is Naharlagun/Itanagar, roughly about 4 hours drive from Bhalukpong. There are daily trains running from Itanagar to Guwhati and Rajdhani express which runs twice a week.
BY ROAD
You can book a cab or travel by public transport from Guwahati to Bomdila. Or else if you prefer travelling by the bus then a bus leaves Guwahati at 6 A.M and there is also a night super which leaves at 7 P.M in the evening. The journey from Guwahati to Bomdila takes roughly around 8 to 10 hours depending on the road conditon. The next day you can take a Cab,Tata sumo or a bus which leaves at 6 A.M from Bomdila to Tawang daily.
Tawang is a town in Arunanchal Pradesh, profusely bestowed with pristine nature and a vibrant ethnicity. There is a mesh of India and China which can be witnessed during your trip to Tawang. The popular Tawang Monastery plays a special role in attracting different travelers here. Best time to visit Tawang is between March and October and for season-wise details of the town, you must read further.
| Seasons | Months | Temprature |
|---|---|---|
| Summers | March to june | 5 °C – 22 °C |
| Monsoon | july to September | 15°C – 20°C |
| Winters | November to February | 2°C – 10 °C |
Tawang in summer – From March till June
Summer is best time to visit Tawang. The temperature during this time ranges between 5 degrees celsius and 25 degrees celsius. The days are pleasant and nights are colder. On your visit to Tawang, don’t forget to visit the popular attractions of Tawang, Tawang Monastery, Sela Pass, Taktsang Gompa, Gorichen Peak and Shonga-tser Peak.
Tawang in Monsoon – From July till September
Tawang is mostly wet during monsoon season. Copious rainfall is sprinkled all over the vicinity and the temperature drops. However, Tawang looks even more enchanting during this season. Visit Tawang in monsoon is a good idea, if you love rains.
Tawang in winter – From November till February
Winters in Tawang are chilly and the temperature sometimes drops near the freezing point. The maximum temperature during winters in Tawang gets around 10 degrees. The coldest month of winters is January. If you are traveling to Tawang during this season, make sure you have enough clothing to keep yourself warm.
Day 1: Guwahati to Bhalukpong
Land in Guwahati. Rent a car to Bhalukpong as there are no local bus services from Guwahati to Bhalukpong. The cab ride will cost you around Rs 800 and the journey will last for close to 6 hours.
Relax at Bhalukpong, spend the day exploring the village. You could also visit the Pakhui National Park. You’ll have another six-hour journey to Bomdila which will be tiresome, so rest well.
Where to stay in Bhalukpong: There aren’t too many options in Bhalukpong to stay. Your best options here are the Forest Rest House, Assam Tourist Lodge and the Inspection Bungalow. (Approximate tariff per night: Rs 300 to Rs ,1000)
Where to eat in Bhalukpong: There are a few street side stalls that serve fast food.
Day 2: Bhalukpong to Bomdila
From Bhalukpong you’ll have to rent a cab, it’s the best- safest option for commute. Once you reach Bomdila, visit the Bomdila Monastery, the biggest tourist attraction here. If you’re not too tired, trek up to RR Hill, Bomdila’s highest point. The landscapes of Tibet and Bhutan are worth watching from the top. you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of Tibet and Bhutan. Just in case you have more time in hand,the Eaglenest Sanctuary, Kameg river and the Bomdila Apple Orchard are good options for sightseeing.
Where to stay in Bomdila: The Circuit House, Hotel La, Hotel Sweet, and Tourist Lodge (Approximate tariff for one night: Rs 800 to Rs 2500)
Where to eat in Bomdila: Momos, thukpa and noodles are some of the famous local dishes to try out at the Bomdila market place. There are several food stalls and dhabas to try out in the locality. There are a few restaurants like Silver Oaks, Tsepal Yongjam and Dragon.
Day 3: Bomdila to Tawang
Rent a cab and head to Tawang, first thing in the morning. The drive will take anywhere between eight and 11 hours depending on the weather and road conditions. On your way to Tawang, you can halt at Nuranang Waterfalls, 130 km from Bomdila and close to 40 km from Tawang.
Where to stay in Tawang: Hotel Nichu, The Circuit House, Inspection Bunglow, Hotel Shangrila, and the Government Tourist Lodge (Approximate tariff: Rs 750 to Rs 3,000)
Where to eat in Tawang: Road side cafes and restaurants are aplenty in Tawang. However, the food is a little more expensive than your expectations as most of the ingredients have to be transported from other places to Tawang. Orange Restaurant and Lounge Bar, Cafe Nirvana, Sno-Yak and Blue Pine serve pretty decent food.
Day 4: Tawang
Visit the picturesque Tawang Monastery followed by the Tawang War Memorial. Next, visit the Pankang Tso, which offers a scenic view from autumn to the monsoons but remains frozen through the winters.
Next, head to Jaswant Garh, a memorial built in honor of a soldier named Jaswant Singh Rawat of the Indian Army who fought the invading Chinese all along for three long days.
End your day with a hot cuppa tea and some instant maggi noodles near the lake.
Local cabs in Tawang will cost you anywhere between Rs 1500 and Rs 3,000 per day.
Day 5: Tawang
Start your day with a journey to Bum La (pass), one of the few places near Tawang you can expect to find some snow during the summers. After you’re done playing in the snow, on your way back to Tawang, stop by the Shong-Tser Lake also known as Madhuri Lake which offers stunning views of the Himalayas in the backdrop.
Day 6: Tawang to Dirang
Dirang is located between Bomdila and Tawang. It is advisable to stop at Dirang on your way back because it serves as a good point to break your onward journey to Tezpur.
A drive from Tawang to Dirang will take close to seven hours. If you are taking local transport note that the last bus from Tawang to Bomdila leaves by noon and the stop-over at Dirang is brief. Due to bad weather or landslides, the journey time can go up to between eight and nine hours.
Where to stay in Dirang: Hotel Pemaling, Hotel Samdup Khang and Hotel KC are some of your budget options. (Approximate tariff for one night: Rs 500 to Rs 1800)
Where to eat: There are a bunch of options in Dirang for eating, the best of them will be the local street-side food stalls.
Day 7: Dirang to Tezpur
Before you head towards Tezpur5 from Dirang, visit the Kalaracha monastery which is over five centuries old.
A drive to Tezpur will take seven hours. Try and start your journey to Tezpur before noon.
The cab ride to Tezpur will cost you close to Rs 1,000.
Day 8: Tezpur to Guwhati
Plan your journey from Tezpur to Guwahati according to your flight timings from Guwahati. Make sure you reach at least a couple of hours in advance. The cab ride takes between four and five hours and will cost you approximately Rs 900.
