Tawang- A Certain Twang, a Certain Vibration!

Tawang this district spreads across an area of approximately 2085 km and is bordered by Tibet in the north and Bhutan in the southwest. This region also stands witness to the infiltration of the Chinese soldiers in the year 1962. The inhabitants of this district called ‘the mopa tribe' belong to Mongoloid stock. Well-built, fair and handsome features make a merry site to behold. I am on my way to explore this land of the rising sun.

Starting our journey from Tejpur in Assam, we drove to Tawang. But a word of caution from the locals to watch out for the snow-clogged path due to heavy snowing the previous night slowed our tempo. However the road was flung open for the tourists, as the Indian army's road maintenance crew had done their job. We set foot on Bomdilla a picturesque quaint town situated at a height of about 8000ft above sea level overlooking the snow-clad mountains of the Himalayan range. Apple orchards, artistic people, Himalayan peaks, Buddhist gompas all give the visitors a first feel of the local version of this place.

The historical invasion of the Chinese here and the fierce single handed retort of Jaswant Singh of 4 th battalion Garhwal rifle kept the enemy at bay for a stretch of record making 72 hrs. Haring off from one bunker to the other and incessantly he held off the enemy. The next stop being Sela pass is another important landmark in the 1962 India-China war. I jumped out of the jeep and walked in the snow. The place was too beautiful to mind the cold. This place is dotted with memorials to fallen soldiers.

We zoomed back to Tawang by dusk. Tawang was under Tibetan rule for a long time, till the year 1951. The name Tawang denotes, ‘founded by the horse'. The 400 years old Tawang monastery one of the star attractions of this place has to itself a legend, the 5 th Dalai Lama, Mera lama embarked on a search to build a monastery I 1681. One day after prayer he found his horse bolted at a spot on a hilltop and took that as a divine message and set things apace. The place is a beautiful and harmonious with positive vibrations. The locals here are called Monpas. They are an attractive tribes group who are peaceful and hospitable. The popular festival like Losar is held during the months of January and February. There are lama dances and many religious poojas. These festivities draw a lot of people from in and around Tawang. People wear dazzling colours consisting of an elegantly cut blouse teamed with a sarong-like skirt.

The ambience and the ethereal atmosphere of Tawang are clubbed with the Holy chants of the Monastery monks. There are numerous monasteries and religious shrines. The Buddhist nuns follow severe rules and schedules than their male counterparts. There is a museum displaying age-old manuscripts and artifacts of centurion old Tibetan cultures and trails. A great number of tourists come to this wonderful land, many filmy shots and pictures have been taken in the beautiful district, but the serenity and the innocence of the place is untouched by any modern influence. You may need special permits for visiting Tawang.