It offers a commanding and picturesque view of the Tawang-Chu
valley. From a distance it appears like a fort as if guarding
the votaries in the wide valley below. Tawang monastery
is the largest of its kind in the country and 2nd largest
in Asia. Though it has the capacity for housing about seven
hundred monks, the actual number of resident Lamas (Monks)
at present is a little more than 300. This monastery is
the fountainhead of the spiritual life of the people of
this region.
The Entrance
The approach to the monastery is from the north along
the ridge. Just near the entrance to the monastery there
is a building housing the "Dung-Gyur Mani" from
where the water is fetched for use in the monastery. To
the south of it is the 'Kakaling', the entrance gate. The
Kakaling is a hut-like structure with its two lateral walls
made of stone. It serves as a gate. The ceiling the Kakaling
is painted with Kying-khors (Mandalas). The inner walls
are painted with mural of divinities and saints. After passing
through the Kakaling there is a big gate further south which
is without any door.
Further south stands the main gate of the monastery, which
is fitted with huge doors and is set in the northern wall
of the monastery. The eastern wall starts from the open
outer gate and encloses the entire eastern side of the monastery.
It is about 925 feet long and the height varies from about
ten to twenty feet. There is another gate near the southern
and of this wall. It is fitted with a huge door.
Near it there are two slits in the wall to see out through
and for placing muzzle-loaded gun to fire upon the approaching
enemy. A narrow path runs all along the outer side of the
eastern wall connecting this gate with the Kakaling. It
is said that the yarn given by the Vth Dalai Lama to Merak
Lama enclosed the area bounded by the four walls.
The Court
A paved path runs from the main gate toward rear of the
monastery and leads to a stone slabs court. Religious dances
and outdoor ceremonies are held in this court. The entire
eastern half of the monastery is covered with sixty residential
quarters called "Sha"(hut) for housing the resident
monks. Each of these dormitories has been constructed by
a group of villagers on voluntary basis. They also carry
out the repairs and are responsible for its maintenance.
A three storied building stands on the western side of
the court. It is the "Par-khang" (Library). All
the Holy Scriptures including a long two-storied building
flanks the southern side of the court. A part of this building
is used as store for the provisions of the monks. The Dra-tsang
buk and his entourage occupy the other part. A two storied
building, on the eastern side of the court is called "Rhum-khang",
which is used for cooking the food-offerings for the rituals
as well as refreshments for the monks on ritual days.
Assembly Hall - Dukhang
The most imposing building of the monastery is the assembly
hall known as "Dukhang". It is a three-storied
building standing on the northern side of the court and
houses the temple and the "Labrang"
(The establishment of the Abbot).
The inner walls of the Dukhang are painted with murals
of various divinities and saints. The altar occupies the
entire northern wall of the hall. On the left of the alter
is the silver casket wrapped in silk containing the Thankas
(also spelt as Tankas or Thangkas) of Goddess Sri Devi ("Palden
Lhamo") the principal deity of the monastery, which
was given to Merak Lama by the Vth Dalai Lama. The Thankas
was painted with blood drawn from the nose of the Vth Dalai
Lama. The said painting came to be known as "Ja-Droi-ma",
which means it had warmth of a bird, which symbolized that
the Thanka was of a living type.
A colossal richly - gilded statue of Lord Buddha occupies
the middle of the northern side. It is seated on a platform
and its body, rising up, terminates in a huge head above
the first floor. It is the largest image of the monastery
and is about 26 feet high.
A Buddhist Cultural Centre
The monastery also has a Centre for Buddhist Cultural
Studies where young monks are taught Arithmetic, English,
and Hindi besides traditional monastic education.
In brief, this monastery is simply awe-inspiring and majestic
in its appearance and grandeur. A visit of Tawang Monastery
is most spiritually refreshing experience.
How to Get There
Road:
The only way out of the Tawang town leads back over the
Sela Pass and down to Bomdila. Arunachal State Transport
runs buses to Bomdila on Wednesday. Friday And Saturday
(8hr). Private buses also run daily via Bomdila to Tezpur
, departing round about noontime and arriving Tawang early
in the morning of the following day. Jeeps also leave daily
for Tezpur early in the morning from Tawang City Gate, 200m
downhill from the bus stand.
