Tawang Monastery

Tawang Monastery, known as Galden Namgey Lhatse meaning Celestial Paradise in a Clear Night, was founded in 1680-81 by Merak Lama Lodre Gyamtso under the direction of the 5th Dalai Lama. Perched on a ridge at about 3,000 metres, the monastery complex covers several acres and includes a main prayer hall, residential buildings for over 300 monks, a library housing ancient manuscripts and thangkas, a museum, a school, and shops. The main prayer hall contains a 8-metre high gilded statue of Lord Buddha. The monastery has control over 17 smaller gompas in the Tawang district. From the monastery the views over the Tawang-Chu valley and the surrounding Himalayan peaks are extraordinary. It is the birthplace region of the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso.