Tawang District
| Total Population : 38,924 |
| Total literate : 15,337 |
| Rural : 30,548 |
Urban : 8,376 |
| Male : 21,846 |
Female : 17,078 |
| Area : 2,085-sq-kms |
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Collectorate
Shri.
K.Kholie
Office : 03794 - 222221 / Home : 03794 - 222222
Brief
about District
Mooreed
high up in the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, at
3500 meters above sea level is Tawang-the beautiful
land of Monpas. With sobriquets like :The Hidden Paradise
or Land of Dawn-lit mountains; this land evokes images
of awesome mountain views, remote hamlets, quaint
and sleepy villages, magical Gonpas, tranquil lakes
and allot more. At Tawang, you have a heavenly tryst
with nature at its best and the heady mixture of history,
religion and legends.
The
area of the district is approximately 2,085-sq-kms
bordered by Tibet in the North, Bhutan in the Southwest
and Sela ranges separate West Kameng district in the
East. The name Tawang derives from some bearings on
surroundings. But people's interpretation is that
the name Tawang was given by Merak Lama in the 17th
century.
The
inhabitants of the districts are all of Monpa tribes.
The Monpas belong to Mongoloid stock, are well built,
and fair in complexion. Their houses are built with
stones and timbers. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
are the fundamental means of the Monpas occupation.
Tawang
derived its name from the majestic Tawang Monastery.
Perched atop a ridge and surrounded by thick clouds
and perennial mist, the Tawang Monastery seems to
be suspended from heaven in an equally ethereal space.
About 400 years old the monastery is one of the oldest
and the largest in Asia and can house more than 700
monks. It controls 17 Gonpas and a few nunneries of
this region. Founded by Merag lama Lodre Gyatso in
1681 in accordance to the wishes of the 5th Dalai
Lama, Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso, the monastery has an
interesting legend surrounding its name, which means
chosen by horse. (Ta-horse, Wang–Chosen) As the legend
goes the site of the Monastery was chosen by the horse
of Merag Lama.
Merag
Lama, who had been unable to decide a site to establish
the monastery, was one day praying in cave, seeking
a divine guidance, when he came out after the prayers,
he found his horse missing. On search, the horse was
located standing quietly on a hilltop. Considering
this as a sign of devine blessing he decided to construct
the monastery at the very spot. The monastery was
built with the help of volunteers from the neighboring
villages. Even today, the villages are responsible
for the upkeep of the monastery. The monastery is
also grandiloquently called Galden Namgey Lhatse meaning
celestial paradise and one look at the monastery on
a clear night will make one realize how true its name,
it stands glowing like a phantasmagoria in the blue
of the night.
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