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Things to see & do in Tawang.

A visitor’s guide to Tawang

Tawang has something for every kind of traveller — spectacular mountain passes, ancient monasteries, sacred lakes, a proud 1962 war history, and a warm-hearted Monpa Buddhist culture that has kept its old rhythms alive. Here are our favourite things for guests to see and do. We’ll arrange the permits, the taxi and the guide — all you have to do is say yes.

Tawang Monastery prayer hall — the gilded Buddha of Galden Namgyal Lhatse
The Heart of Tawang

Tawang Monastery, the largest in India.

Founded in 1680 by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso, on the very hill where the legendary horse chose to rest, Tawang Monastery is the largest Buddhist monastery in India and one of the biggest in the world. Sitting at 10,000 ft, it looks down over the entire Tawang valley — a sight you’ll remember long after your trip.

Try to visit for the morning prayers (around 6:30 am) — dozens of monks chant together, butter lamps flicker, and the long horns rumble through the hall. It’s quite a moment. Don’t miss the library with its centuries-old scriptures, or the museum downstairs. Dress modestly, remove shoes before entering the prayer hall, and please, no photos inside during prayers.

Altitude10,000 ft / 3,050 m
Distance3.2 km (walkable)
Best SeasonYear-round; autumn for clarity
BlockHalf-day (3 hrs)
Bum La Pass at 15,200 ft — the 'Mighty Bumla, Fostering Friendship' gate, Indian flag and snow
Must-Do Day Trip

Bum La Pass — the India-China border.

At 15,200 ft, Bum La is the snow-covered mountain pass where India meets China, and where Indian soldiers famously held their ground in the 1962 war. You’ll visit the “Friendship Stones” that mark the exact border, the Army canteen, and the spot where Subedar Joginder Singh earned his Param Vir Chakra. The views into Tibet are worth every minute of the drive.

A quick tip: don’t do Bum La on your first or second day — the altitude is no joke. We recommend two nights in Tawang first to get used to the thin air. We’ll organise the special permit, the SUV, and a trusted Monpa driver. A pulse oximeter and oxygen cylinder travel with you, just in case. Bring warm clothes, a thermos (we’ll fill it), and a camera.

Altitude15,200 ft / 4,600 m
Distance37 km (3–4 hrs)
Best SeasonMay–October
BlockFull day
Sela Pass — the sacred glacial lake at 13,700 ft on the way into Tawang
The Gateway to Tawang

Sela Pass & the new Sela Tunnel.

Until March 2024, the only way to reach Tawang was over Sela Pass — a dramatic 13,700-ft crossing that closed often in winter. Now there’s also the Sela Tunnel, a brand new 12-km all-weather tunnel that cuts straight through the mountain in nine minutes. Big news for Tawang, and for the road trip.

On a clear day, ask your driver to take the old pass at least one way — the views are spectacular and Sela Lake, a holy glacial pool, sits right at the top. Whichever way you choose, stop at Jaswant Garh along the way — the war memorial to Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, who held off enemy troops single-handedly for 72 hours in 1962. The soldiers stationed there will serve you hot chai.

Altitude13,700 ft / 4,170 m
Distance78 km from Tawang
Best SeasonYear-round via tunnel
BlockEn-route stop (1 hr)
Sangetsar Tso / Madhuri Lake — the frozen glacial lake framed by rocky peaks at 12,000 ft
The Bollywood Lake

Madhuri Lake (Sangetsar Tso).

Its official name is Sangetsar Tso, but everyone calls it Madhuri Lake — ever since Madhuri Dixit filmed her famous song sequence here in 1997 (the lake was formed by an earthquake, hence the dramatic half-submerged trees). Nearly three decades later, travellers still stop here for a photo and a long, quiet stare.

At 12,000 ft, the water is an almost unreal turquoise. Because it’s close to the Chinese border, you’ll need the same special permit as Bum La — most people combine the two in a single full-day trip. Pack warm clothes even in summer.

Altitude12,000 ft / 3,700 m
Distance35 km (with Bum La)
Best SeasonMay–October
BlockCombined full day
Nuranang Falls — a 100-metre plume off a black-rock shelf near Jang
Lovely En-Route Stop

Nuranang Falls, also called Jang Falls.

A beautiful 100-metre waterfall about 40 km from Tawang, near Jang village. Locals call it Nuranang after Nura, the young Monpa woman who fed and guided Rifleman Jaswant Singh during his legendary 1962 stand at Nuranang. It also features in the same Madhuri Dixit film from 1997 — you’ll probably recognise the spot.

It’s a ten-minute walk down from the road and fifteen back up, with a viewing platform that gets misty with spray. Great for photos, especially after the monsoon when the flow is strongest.

Altitude~5,500 ft
Distance40 km (en route to Sela)
Best SeasonOct–May
Block45 min stop
Tawang War Memorial — Namgyal Chorten, the 40-foot white stupa ringed by regimental flags
A Moving Evening

Tawang War Memorial (Namgyal Chorten).

A beautiful 40-ft white stupa in the centre of town, dedicated to the 2,420 Indian soldiers who gave their lives in the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Their names are etched on black granite inside. Plan to arrive around sunset for the 30-minute sound-and-light show — the story of the battles of Nuranang, Sela and Bum La, told against the illuminated stupa. It’s very moving. Bring something warm.

Just 20 minutes’ walk from our hotel, or a quick taxi ride. Entry is only a few rupees.

Altitude~10,000 ft
Distance5 km
Best SeasonYear-round (show Apr–Oct)
Block90 min incl. show
Urgelling Monastery — the small whitewashed shrine where the 6th Dalai Lama was born in 1683
Where the Sixth Dalai Lama Was Born

Urgelling Monastery, humble & peaceful.

Five kilometres south of town, down a quiet lane lined with prayer wheels, is the small stone monastery where the 6th Dalai Lama — the famous poet-monk Tsangyang Gyatso — was born in 1683. A single courtyard, a single shrine, and a peach tree said to have grown from his walking stick. It’s a surprisingly emotional little place, especially compared to the grandeur of the main monastery.

Often quiet; if the shrine is locked, the caretaker-monk usually comes along in a few minutes to open it. Take your time.

Altitude~9,200 ft
Distance5 km
Best SeasonYear-round
Block45 min
Gorsam Chorten at Zemithang — the ancient white stupa with an elderly Monpa pilgrim
A Day in the Wild North

Zemithang & the Gorsam Chorten.

Ninety-odd kilometres north of Tawang, where the Nyamjang Chu river bends through a quiet Monpa valley, is Zemithang — home of the Gorsam Chorten. Modelled on the great Bodnath stupa of Kathmandu and believed to be nearly nine centuries old, it is one of the oldest and largest stupas in the eastern Himalayas.

Zemithang has a quieter claim to history too: in March 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama first stepped onto Indian soil through the Khenzemane pass just above here. In winter, the Nyamjang Chu wetlands become one of India’s only wintering grounds for the black-necked crane. It’s a long drive — four to five hours each way — but travellers who make it never quite forget it.

Altitude~7,500 ft / 2,285 m
Distance92 km (4–5 hrs)
Best SeasonOct–May (cranes Nov–Feb)
BlockFull day (or overnight)
The Mago Valley — wildflower meadows and yak-herders' stone huts under a mist-draped ridge
Off the Map, Recently Opened

Mago Valley — the meadows beyond Tawang.

An hour or so east of Tawang, past Y-Junction and over a winding mountain road, the green bowl of Mago opens up — a wide, wildflower-strewn valley hemmed in by sixteen-thousand-foot peaks. Until a few years ago, Mago was closed to civilian travellers. Now, with a Protected Area Permit, a small number of guests are allowed in each day, and the valley feels exactly as it should: untouched, quiet, and completely wild.

This is Brokpa country — a small community of nomadic yak herders who still move their animals through these high pastures each summer. You’ll see low stone huts on the grass, grazing yaks, and more wildflowers than you can name. Dress warmly, carry a packed lunch (there’s nowhere to eat), and be patient with the road. It’s worth it.

Altitude~12,000 ft / 3,660 m
Distance45 km (3 hrs each way)
Best SeasonMay–October
BlockFull day
A traditional Monpa home in a village near Hotel Taktsang — stone and timber with a small family chorten in the garden
A Cultural Morning

A morning in a Monpa village.

A short drive from the hotel will take you to villages like Khinmey, Lhou, or Thongleng, where the Monpa Buddhist rhythm of life has hardly changed in generations. Stone-roofed houses with carved wooden windows, water-driven prayer wheels in the streams, and small family chortens in the courtyards. Old women spinning prayer beads on their morning walk to the village monastery.

We’d love to pair you with a friend from one of these villages to walk you through — pointing out little details you’d otherwise miss, introducing you to a household for a cup of butter tea (suja) and a bowl of zan on the hearth, and showing you the village gompa. Just ask at reception a day ahead and we’ll set it up.

Altitude~9,800 ft / 2,985 m
Distance10–20 min drive
Best SeasonYear-round
BlockHalf-day
Gorichen — Tawang's 21,286-ft guardian peak catching the first light of dawn
The Valley's Guardian

Gorichen Peak — Tawang’s sacred summit.

At 21,286 ft, Gorichen is the tallest mountain in this corner of the Himalayas — and in Monpa tradition, it’s the sacred protector of the valley. Sa-Nga Phu, “the kingdom of the deity.” Although it’s hidden behind the nearer ranges from the hotel itself, it comes into view on the drive up towards Sela and from viewpoints a short drive away.

A proper look at Gorichen usually means a short morning outing — your driver will know the spots where the summit shows itself at dawn, before the clouds roll in. It’s one of those small moments our guests remember long after they go home.

Altitude21,286 ft / 6,488 m
DistanceShort drive from hotel
Best SeasonOct–Feb dawns
Best TimeFirst light
Don’t Worry, We’ve Got This

Permits made easy.

Arunachal Pradesh is a restricted-area state, so every visitor (Indian or foreign) needs a small travel permit. It’s simple — and if you’d like, we’ll take care of the whole thing for you before you arrive.

For Indian guests

Inner Line Permit (ILP)

If you’re an Indian citizen, you’ll need a simple Inner Line Permit to enter Arunachal Pradesh. The easiest way is the official online portal at arunachalilp.com — upload a photo ID, pay the small fee, and you’ll get the approved PDF in your email.

The fee is just ₹100 for a 15-day tourist ILP.

  • Please carry a printed ILP plus original photo ID at checkposts
  • We’re happy to help you apply — just let us know 24 hours ahead
  • Extensions are possible in Itanagar or Tawang if plans change
For international guests

Protected Area Permit (PAP)

Foreign passport holders need a Protected Area Permit, which is usually arranged through an approved tour operator before you travel (or with the FRRO after you arrive). The typical fee is around USD 50 per person for groups of four or more. We can recommend operators if needed.

One important note: Bum La Pass and Madhuri Lake are currently restricted to Indian citizens only, though the rules sometimes change by season. Do write to us before booking — we’ll confirm the current situation with the DC’s office.

  • Apply at least 4 weeks before you travel if you can
  • PIO/OCI card-holders — different rules, just ask us
  • SAARC nationals follow a separate process
When To Visit

The weather, month by month.

Tawang has four real seasons plus a monsoon. Here’s the quick rundown — temperatures are daytime ranges in town. The mountain passes run several degrees colder, so pack layers whatever month you come.

January -5 to 8 °C Snow & Torgya
February -3 to 10 °C Losar; photogenic
March 1 to 13 °C Last snow; Sela Tunnel open
April 4 to 16 °C Rhododendrons in bloom
May 7 to 18 °C Bum La opens
June 10 to 20 °C Pre-monsoon clarity
July 11 to 20 °C Monsoon; plan buffer
August 11 to 20 °C Monsoon peak
September 9 to 19 °C Monsoon retreats
October 5 to 17 °C Peak clarity
November 0 to 13 °C Light returns
December -4 to 10 °C Winter; Tunnel keeps road open

Good news: the Sela Tunnel, which opened on 9 March 2024, has changed winter travel to Tawang forever. It’s a 12-km all-weather passage that runs right through the mountain, below Sela Pass. You can now visit us year round — even in January, when the old pass is snowed in, the tunnel stays open. Book with confidence.

Getting Here

A beautiful two-day drive from Guwahati.

Stage One

Fly into Guwahati

Direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata. Our partner taxi will meet you at arrivals — just let us know your flight details.

Stage Two

Guwahati to Tezpur

Four pleasant hours through Assam’s green rice-paddy country. Cross the mighty Brahmaputra on the Kolia Bhomora bridge; stamp your permit at the Chariduar checkpost over chai.

Stage Three

Up to Bomdila (overnight)

The first real climb into the Himalayas. Spend the night at Bomdila (8,500 ft) — it breaks up the drive beautifully and helps your body get used to the altitude.

Stage Four

Through Dirang Valley

Apricot orchards, hot springs, and an old Monpa dzong above the river. A lovely lunch stop — or a second night, if you’d like to take your time.

Stage Five

Through the Sela Tunnel

Nine minutes straight through the mountain at 13,000 ft (or over the old pass in good weather). Stop at Jaswant Garh for a hot lunch with the Army.

You’re Here!

Welcome to Hotel Taktsang

Hot butter tea at reception, a hot shower in your room, and an early dinner whenever you’re ready. Rest well — the mountains are waiting.

The full drive from Guwahati is about 520 km and roughly 14 hours on the road — please don’t try to do it in a day. We recommend at least five nights in Tawang so you can rest, acclimatise, and enjoy everything without rushing. Donyi Polo Airport at Itanagar (opened 2022) can cut the first leg by a day if schedules work. There’s also an occasional Pawan Hans helicopter between Guwahati and Tawang — ask us about availability.

A Quick Word on Altitude

Take it easy on your first day.

Tawang sits at 10,000 ft, and Bum La is over 15,000 — that’s high. Most of our guests feel totally fine, but a few get a mild headache on day two. The trick is to take the first day slowly and drink plenty of water.

  • Spend two nights in Tawang before heading up to Bum La or Madhuri Lake
  • Drink lots of water — three litres a day is a good target
  • Go easy on the alcohol on arrival day (we know, we know)
  • If you want to take Diamox, please do so only on your doctor’s advice
  • We keep oxygen cylinders at reception, free of charge, just in case
  • Need a doctor? We’ve got one on call, five minutes away

Shall we plan your Tawang trip together?

Tell us your dates, how many days you’ve got, and what you want to see — monasteries, passes, lakes, local food, all of it. We’ll take care of the permits, the taxi, the day-by-day plan and the warm flask. You just bring yourself.