TAWANG
TAWANG The land of the Monpa tribe and a major centre of Mahayana Buddhists, Tawang stands atop the spur of a hill at an altitude of 12,000 feet above the sea level, overlooking the wide Tawang Valley girdled by the East Himalayan Ranges. The road to this beautiful land passes through the picturesque Dirang Valley, the Paradise Lake and the second highest motorable pass in the world, Sela Pass, at 14,000 feet. Tawang is also one of the highest administrative headquarters in the world. The place encounters heavy snowfall throughout the winter with temperatures often dropping below the freezing point. The 400 year old Tawang Gumpha and the 350 year old Anne Gumpha dominates the valley. The 135sqm complex of the Tawang Gumpha, built in the 17 th century, hosts 65 residential buildings along with the main temple. The Anne Gumpha, however, is exclusively run by Buddhist nuns. It is worth spending a few days in Tawang, merely to enjoy its ethereal beauty apart from visiting the Buddh...