The
famous Golden Namgyal Lhatse, popularly known at Tawang Monastery was
founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in the year 1680-81. The monastery
stands on the spur of a hill, about 10,000 feet above sea level and
has ravines in the south and west, narrow ridge on the north and a gradual
slope on the east.
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 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.
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 of the kakaling is painted with Kying-Khors (Mandalas).
It
is a beautiful Stupa, dedicated to the memory of those brave soldiers
who made supreme sacrifice defending the frontiers of the Mother Land
during 1962 Indo-China War.
In the journey towards Tawang township from Bomdila, one
reaches Jaswant Garh after about half an hour drive from the Sela Pass.
lace
was given name after the death of a great Indian Warrior Jaswant Singh
Rana, who has fought alone against Chinese soldiers continuously for
72 hours in 1962 Indo-China Was and made supreme sacrifice for the country.
Who would not like to visit this place to pay tribute to this great
Son of India who is immortal among us?
