From Wikitravel

Tawang is the administrative headquarters of Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh. It has a population of around 5,000.

[edit] Get in

[edit] 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 ( a 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- but 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 could force you to stay on the either side.

[edit] Get around

• Kickstart Adventures- an adventure tourism firm, has pioneered motorcycle tours in North East India. This adventure motorbike tour covers the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, giving a traveller to visit to not only popular places but also rural parts of the region to experience first-hand of tribal cultures and traditions. The firm conducts tours all round the year.

[edit][add listing] See

• Tawang Monastery. A Tibetan Buddhist Monastery of the Gelugpa sect - constructed in 1681. It was the birth place of the celebrated 6th Dalai Lama, and is home to more than 500 lamas.

[edit][add listing] Do

Take a walk around the charming town. Pray at the Tawang Gompa. Turn the prayer wheels dotted outside small gompas. 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.

[edit][add listing] 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 Tibetean settlement.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Tibetean delicacis like Thupka , momos/ or simple and delicious Paratha- Sabzi eaten hot from the roadside shacks on cold misty days is a treat !! Most restaurants in Twanag serve these. A small shack called Annapurna serves delicious Alu ( potato) chops.

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

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.

[edit] Get out

• Bhalukpung Orchid Sanctuary in nearby Assam. An amazing variety of orchids grown in gardens and under glass.

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!