A Gateway to Government of Arunachal Pradesh for information on web of Tawang District |
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About 400 years old the monastery is one of the oldest and the largest in Asia and can house more than 700 monks. It controls 17 Gonpas and a few nunneries of this region. Founded by Merag lama Lodre Gyatso in 1681 in accordance to the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso, the monastery has an interesting legend surrounding its name, which means chosen by horse.
(Ta-horse, Wang–Chosen) As the legend goes the site of the Monastery was chosen by the horse of Merag Lama. Merag Lama, who had been unable to decide a site to establish the monastery, was one day praying in cave, seeking a divine guidance, when he came out after the prayers, he found his horse missing. On search, the horse was located standing quietly on a hilltop. Considering this as a sign of devine blessing he decided to construct the monastery at the very spot. The monastery was built with the help of volunteers from the neighboring villages. Even today, the villages are responsible for the upkeep of the monastery.
The monastery is also grandiloquently called Galden Namgey Lhatse meaning celestial paradise and one look at the monastery on a clear night will make one realize how true its name, it stands glowing like a phantasmagoria in the blue of the night.
The monastery is also grandiloquently called Galden Namgey Lhatse meaning celestial paradise and one look at the monastery on a clear night will make one realize how true its name, it stands glowing like a phantasmagoria in the blue of the night.Prior to the construction of the Tawang monastery, Tawang was traditionally inhabited by the Monpa people, who reigned the Mon kingdom that streches from Tawang right up to Sikkim The Mon kingdom was later absorbed into the control of neighbouring Bhutan and Tibet.
The independence of India from Britain severed Tawang off from Tibet, and it was not until in 1962 when the Chinese troops conquered Tawang, destroying portions of the monastery. For six months it was controlled by the Chinese nationalist troops. After the retreat of the Chinese troops, Tawang was once again under the control of India. The Tawang district broke off from the West Kamengdistrict in 1984. Today, Tawang served as a center of Tourist attraction, thanks to the reserved beauty of the Tawang monastery.
The origin of Tawang is obscure. It was a part of the kingdom of Tibet in medieval times. Local tribal rulers governed it from time to time. The British had declared this area as off-limits in 1873. The area around Tawang became a cause of disagreement between India and China, after India gained independence in 1947. The Chinese army invaded Tawang in 1962 but they later withdrew.
Tawang derived its name from the majestic Tawang Monastery. Perched atop a ridge and surrounded by thick clouds and perennial mist, the Tawang Monastery seems to be suspended from heaven in an equally ethereal space.
