Heritage Without Borders: Tawang Monastery

Tawang Monastery is generally described as the largest Buddhist monastery in India and one of the largest in the world, and it belongs to the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded in the seventeenth century by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso, and its Tibetan name, Galden Namgyal Lhatse, is often translated as the celestial paradise in a clear night. It sits at about 3,000 metres above sea level above the town of Tawang.

The monastery is a working religious community, with monks living, studying and praying there. Visitors are welcome in the courtyard and in parts of the prayer hall, and a small museum holds manuscripts, thangka paintings and other objects. Rules on photography inside prayer halls differ, so ask a monk or caretaker.

Go in the early morning, when prayers are under way, and wear warm clothes: stone halls are very cold. Dress modestly, remove shoes and hats at the entrance, move clockwise around the complex, and do not touch sacred objects. If you want to donate, use the official donation boxes.