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. The HQ of this district is Tawang.
The name TAWANG derives from some bearings on surroundings. But people's interpretation is that the name TAWANG was given by Mera Lama in the 17th century.
One can reach Tawang from other parts of the country via Guwahati and Tezpur in Assam. From Guwahati or Tezpur, one has to go to Bhalukpong in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh and from there via Bomdila and Sela Pass one can go to Tawang by road.
1) THE DISTRICT AT A GLANCE:
Particulars as on 31-3-2001
Distance from HQ (in Kilometres)
1. Highest Peak
Gorithan (6858 Mts Mls.)
164
2. Important Places for tourist
a) Tawang Monastery
b) P.T. Tso Lake
c) Sela Pass
d) Banggangjang Lake
2
17
92
101
3. Tourist lodge/ circuit house/ hotel
a) Tourist lodge
b) Circuit House
c) Sangrila Hotel
4. Airports/Helipads
a) Tawang Heliped
b) Salonbari ( Tezpur ) airport
358
5. Nearest Railway station
a) Bhalukpong
b) Rangapara North
298
350
6. Nearest Authority of entry point(Check gate issuing ILP)
a) Dy. R.C. Tezpur.
b) E.A.C. Bhalukpong
164
7. Distance of District from state capital Itanagar
580
2) THE DISTRICT AT A GLANCE:
Total Area:
2085 sq.km.
Total forest area :
1230 sq.km.
Total villages :
163
Temperature
Maximum:29degree C Minimum:5.5 degreeC
Boundary:
North: Tibet South: Assam East: Sela South West: Bhutan
Main Rivers:
Tawang-Chu & Nyamjang-chu
Average annual rainfall:
2760 mm
Total population:
34705
Male
17676
Female
17209
Literacy
41.14%
Density of population:
16 per sq.km.
Sex Ratio:
1000 males per 963 female
Height:
Sela:3300 meters Tawang:3000 m Mukto: 2650 m Thingbu:3670m Zemithong: 2300m
Distance :
Tawang to Bandita-85 km;
Tawang to Dirang: 143 km;
Tawang to Jang:42 kms;
tawang to Lumla:45 kms; tawang to Zemithang: 93 kms;
Tribes:
Monpa
Nearest Railhead:
Bhalukpong:285 kms
Nearest airport:
Tezpur:345 kms
Tourist spots:
Tawang Gompa; Ani Gompa; P. Tso Lake; Sela Pass; War memorial;Jaswant Garh
Love stock:
Yak, Sheep, Pony, Cows, Goats
3) INDUSTRIES: Carpet Weaving
4) Geography and Administration
The Tawang district is roughly located around latitude 27º 45’ N and longitude 90º 15’ E at the northwest extremity of Arunachal Pradesh. Elevations range between 6,000 to 22,000 feet, and inhabitants are found in lower altitude, where they enjoy a cool temperate climate.
The district was carved out of the West Kameng district, that adjoins it to the south and east. Bhutan borders Tawang to the west whereas Tibet is to the north of the district. The district occupies an area of 2,085 square kilometers and has a population of 38,924 (as of 2001), almost 75% of which are considered "tribal", i.e. belonging to the native Monpa, Bhotia, Adi, etc. The sensitivity to the border area brings Tawang a heavy military presence. In winter, Tawang frequently experiences heavy snowfall.
Tawang district is further sub-divided into the Lumla, Jang and Tawang sub-divisions. The district itself has 3 principal monasteries as well.
5) PEOPLE
A sizeable population of 20,000 live in Tawang town. The dominant ethnic group are the Monpa, who inhabit 162 out of 163 villages. The Tibetan are also found in small scattered numbers throughout Tawang. Shyo village houses about 90 families of Tibetan origin. The Takpa, a small tribal group, are found in small, scattered numbers in the West and the North.
Most of the people, which includes the Monpa, Takpa and the Tibetans, are Tibetan Buddhist by religion. Pre-Buddhist Bön and Shamanist influence is also evident. Festivals that include Losar, Choskar, and Torgya are held annually. The Dungyur is also celebrated in every three years of the Torgya. Both the Dungyur and Torgya festivals are celebrated at the Tawang Monastery with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm.
6) ECONOMY
Most of the tribes depend on agriculture for a living. Owing to its cold weather, farmers breed yak and sheep herds, although in lower altitudes crops are planted as well.
7) HISTORY
Prior to the construction of the Tawang Monastery, Tawang was traditionally inhabited by the Monpa people, who reigned over the Mon Kingdom that stretches from Tawang right up to Sikkim. The Mon kingdom was later absorbed into the control of neighbouring Bhutan and Tibet.
Tawang Monastery was founded by the Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in 1681 in accordance with the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, and has an interesting legend surrounding its name, which means "Chosen by Horse". The sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, was born in Tawang.
Tawang was once a part of Tibet. In 1914, the McMahon line was drawn by the British and Tawang became a part of India. When the border known as the McMahon Line was drawn in 1914, Tibet gave up several hundred square miles of its territory, including the whole of the Tawang region and the monastery, to the British. It came under effective Indian administration on February 12, 1951, when Major R Khating led Indian Army troops to relocate Chinese squatters. India assumed sovereignty of the territory and established democratic rule therein to end the oppression of the Monpa.[8] Elections have taken place regulary and democratic state legislature elected peacefully.
During the Sino-Indian war of 1962, Tawang fell under Chinese control. The valiant last stand of Mahavir Chakra awardee Jaswant Singh Rawat took place in Tawang. After the voluntary withdrawal of Chinese troops, Tawang was once again under Indian administration. In recent years, China has occasionally voiced its claims on Arunachal Pradesh, especially Tawang, and Chinese troop incursions continue to occur frequently. India has rebutted these claims by Chinese government and the Indian prime minister has stated categorically that Tawang is an integral part of India. He repeated this to the Chinese prime minister when the two prime ministers met in Thailand in October 2009.
Today, Tawang serves as a center for tourist attractions, thanks to the well-preserved beauty of the Tawang Monastery.
8) TOURIST ATTRACTIONS :
Tawang Monastery was founded by the Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso in accordance to the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso. The monastery is of the Gelugpa sect is the largest Buddhist monastery in India. It is associated with Drepung Monastery in Lhasa.[9] The name Tawang means Chosen Horse. It is also known by another Tibetan name, Galden Namgey Lhatse, which means a true name within a celestial paradise in a clear night.
9) OTHER ATTRACTIONS :
In addition to the Tawang monastery, the town has a Handicrafts Center, which was started to promote the small-scale industries for local handicrafts. The center has a fine range of woolen carpets and shawls, amongst other things. People may also purchase rather inexpensive but good chubbas and shoes.
Sela Top Pass, just adjacent to Tawang rises steeply and is full of snow for most of the year.
In 1914, the McMahon line was drawn by the British India government and then de-facto independent Tibetan government .On that basis, Tawang became a part of India. Subsequently, China annexed Tibet and implemented an oppressive regime against the Tibetan people. His Holiness the Dalai Lama fled to India via Tawang.
