PLAN YOUR TOUR

Township Map of Tawang

Get in :

Permit

Foreign Tourists in a group of 2 or more persons need to obtain PAP (Protected Area Permit) for a period of 30 days from the following offices

Govt. of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi. The Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Phone: 011-230113915/23013956/26880901

The Commissioner (Home), Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar- 791111.

Commissioner and Secretary (Tourism), Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar- 791111.

Foreign Tourist visiting Arunachal Pradesh shall have to pay USD 50 per head as Royalty to the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and application for PAP are to be applied through local approved tour operators only.

Tawang is 326 kms from Tezpur, 447 kms from Itanagar and 488 kms from Guwahati

By Bus

There are frequent buses from Bomdila . It is a 11 hrs journey and cost is around 120 Rs . From Guwahati you can take buses for Bomdila (11 hrs , 160 Rs ) and break your journey at Bomdila , then take buses for Tawang

By car

The town is about a 16 hour drive from Guwahati. However, it is best to hire a Tata Sumo from Tezpur in Assam (4 hr. drive from Guwahati). From Tezpur you go to Bhalukpong (border of Assam and Arunachal) where Indian and Non Indian tourists have to show in permit (easily obtainable at either Guwahati or Tezpur) and proceed to a beautiful and rough drive up the mountains. It can take 12-14 hrs if you go at a stretch to Tawang. It is advisable to break your journey at either Bomdila or better still – charming little valley town of Dirang. Sela pass is notoriously difficult and heavy snowfall (during season) could force you to stay on either side.

By motorbike

As of October 2010, sections of the road after Balipara (where you divert from NH52) is work in progress and you will find mud roads with stones which are unpleasant to ride on. After Bhalukpong, BRO is widening the roads so expect slushy roads for around 15 kms. If you love your motorbike, travel by a taxi/bus from Tezpur.

Get around :

War Memorial

Getting around in Tawang can be divided into two categories. First one is travel to local sites like Tawang Monastery, War Memorial, Emporium etc. This can be done by booking a taxi (mostly Maruti OMNI) for half a day. Second one is travel to sites outside Tawang which includes P T So lake, Shungetsar (Madhuri) lake and visit to India-China border at Bumla. A bigger vehicle like Tata Sumo or Mahindra Bolero should be hired for the same as roads are in bad shape. An entire day is enough to cover these sites.

See :

Tawang Monastery : Tawang monastery is the largest of its kind in the country and is one of the largest monasteries 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 450. This monastery is the fountain-head of the spiritual life of the people of this region.
Jaswant Garh : An Indian Army War Memorial, commemorating the bravery of hundreds of soldiers who successively fought in the 1962 w
ar against the Chinese. Jaswant Singh Rawat, who along with two other soldiers bravely fought of the Chinese Army invading Tawang, during the battle of Nuranang. For his outstanding act of gallantry Rfn. Jaswant Singh Rawat was posthumously awarded with the Mahavir Chakra. His two colleagues L Nk. Trilok Singh Negi, along with Rfn Gopal Singh Gusain, were awarded with the Vir Chakra.
Jang falls : A beautiful waterfall just about a km away from the Jang town. It is quite spectacular
P.T.Tso Lake : This lake is situated above tawang and is frozen for about 4-5 months of a year. One can hire a local vehicle and go to this lake. The lake itself is splendid as well as the views from the lake are also unbelievable.

Do :

Zimithang Valley

Tawang is a much undiscovered Trekkers paradise, offering breath taking views, fresh mountain air, chill weather, and challenging or leisurely treks.

For a rigorous trek ( classified hard), take the Jang – Thingbu – Mago – Goi ichen Base Camp – Mago (Back) – Luguthang – Sena Chakra – RA-I route.

The softer trekking routes include the Mukto – Gongkhar – Gyamdong – Khet – Kharung – Bongleng – Kungba – Namsring – Kharteng – Lumla route, and the Tawang Gonpa – Gyangong Ani Gonpa – Bhramadongchung Ani Gonpa – Tawang routes.

You can also trek along the Namet Village – Zarmang Ani Gonpa – Khromten Gonpa – Geshila – Klimta – Bomla – Y. Junction – Tawang route, which takes you close to the Chinese border outpost at Bomla.

Trekkers are advised to come fully attired and prepared for the worst.

Take a walk around the charming town.

Pray at the 400 year old Tawang Gompa. Turn the prayer wheels dotted outside small gompas. Meet and chat with the friendly Lama monks. Take excursions around town to visit beautiful glacier lakes and smaller gompas with big histories.

Chat with friendly and beautiful locals.

Take a nap on a hillock if its sunny, be prepared to be awoken by a grazing Yak.

Buy :

Tawang has a good range of tourist souvenir shops which sell Budhdhist prayer wheels in colourful wood, chadars (wrap skirts worn by local women), beautiful bags, shawls, brassware, Budhdha statues. Look for shops in Old Market as well as Tibetan settlement.

Eat :

Chiken Momos

Tibetean delicacies like Thupka , momos or simple and delicious Paratha- Sabzi eaten hot from the roadside shacks on cold misty days are a treat !! Most restaurants in Tawang serve these. A small shack called Annapurna serves delicious alu ( potato) chips.

The traditional Monpa cuisine use a generous amount of chillies and fermented cheese which has a strong flavour and is not for the faint hearted.

Some traditional Arunachal dishes are, the famous Momo, widely eaten in the north east and other Himalayan regions. The Momo is made by stuffing minced Pork and Onions into a dough and then steamed in a three layer steamer, or fried.

The Thukpa is a soup filled with noodles, minced meat, and vegetables, also known as Der Thuk. Ashum Thukpa is made of Maize, beans and meat.

Zan is the staple dish of the Monpa tribes. It is usually made of Millet flour. It is usually had with vegetables or meat to which is added fermented cheese, soya bean or other herbs.

Khura is a pancake, had with tea.

Gyapa Khazi is a kind of Pulao made of rice, fermented cheese, small dried fish or shrimp, chillies ginger and other spices.

Like all places of travel, some of the best food is found at the small non descript, sometime not very hygenic, eateries, that serve authentic dishes at very affordable prices. They are sure to be authentic food of the region as they are most frequented by locals.

Drink :

Red wine, rum, antiquity

Sleep :

Unfortuntely Tawang like most hill stations in the North East is far from developed, so finding good accomodation here may be a challenge. However the flip side is the lack of tourism leaves the place more virgin and unexplored.

Apart from Tawang Inn which is the most modern and comfortable option in Tawang- most other options are pretty basic. Hotel Tawang View has the best views from their second floor basic rooms- of both the Gompa and snow topped mountains. Most hotels are in the market area. It is worth to try your luck at the government rest-house, or if you are lucky the Circuit house.