8 Offbeat Destinations To Explore In Tawang

Tawang, a quaint town in Arunachal Pradesh, offers a picture-perfect escape to every traveller. Bestowed with unique natural beauty and perched at 10,000 feet in the ranges of the Himalayas, Tawang is often referred to as the ‘New Ladakh’.

A destination that offers a lot of serenity, a trip to Tawang is marked by spellbinding views of valleys, lakes, snow-capped mountains, and dense forests. If you want to make the most of this place on a Tawang holiday package, we’d highly recommend you to go for a customized one. The best part of opting for customised holiday packages is that you can pick and choose from the best places to visit in Tawang to create a package that suits you best.

The best places to visit in Tawang are idyllic in every sense of the word. To help you plan the best vacation possible, here is a list of the top 8 offbeat places to visit in Tawang for a memorable holiday: –

# Taktsang Gompa

One of the best places to visit in Tawang for a completely offbeat experience is the famous monastery of Taktsang Gompa for some meditation. The monastery is located at a height of about 12,500 – 13,000 feet, atop a hillock in Tawang. The monastery is surrounded by lofty mountains and dense coniferous forests which effortlessly add to the ambience. We’ll take the liberty to retrofit what Master Shifu told Po in Kung Fu Panda 2 – “this is where you’ll find inner peace”.

Its surroundings maintain unperturbed tranquillity, and all that you get to hear are the sounds of the gushing winds and the beating of your heart. Fascinating isn’t it?!

# Sangestar Tso Lake

A beautiful tourist spot in Tawang, Sangestar Tso Lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and lush valleys to create a destination where you can kick back and relax as you experience the serenity of nature. Set out on a leisurely stroll along the lake and explore the picturesque surroundings en route! The lake is managed by the Indian Army and the best time to visit would be between April and October. Why? Because the area is frozen the rest of the year!

# The Yak Farms

Life in Tawang is a lot about the yaks that they keep; you can find a number of enchanting yak farms spread across the town amidst the rolling hills and the green pastures. One of the most interesting places to visit in Tawang, a yak farm would let you take a peek into the lifestyle of the locals. From small farms to huge ones, there are a lot of yak farms in Tawang for an interesting experience.

# Chagzam Bridge

At a distance of about 25 km from the main town, you can plan a visit to another Tawang tourist place, the Chagzam Bridge. The bridge was built by Tangton Gyalpo who was a disciple of the first Dalai Lama. An architect, philosopher, and iron chain bridge builder, Tangton Gyalpo, popularly known as Lama Chag-Zam Wangpo, is credited to have built more than a hundred iron bridges all over the region. Between 1420 and 1430, he built the Chagzam Bridge to connect Mukto and Kipti over the Tawang-chu River that is said to exemplify the finest metallurgy techniques known at the time.

# Nuranang Waterfalls

The Nuranang waterfalls can be counted among the best places to see in Tawang and are located at a distance of about 40 km from the town. The waterfalls are considered to be one of the most picturesque ones in Arunachal Pradesh. With milky white water gushing down from a height, the waterfall forms quite a scene that can calm down the trepidations of your soul and offer you the perfect break from your sightseeing schedule.

# Tibetan Settlement Market

Even if you are not into shopping, the Tibetan Settlement Market is still one of the best places to see in Tawang. In Tawang, the places to visit are aplenty. This market, though, is not just a great place to shop and stock up on souvenirs but is also quite a sight to gaze at. Also known as the Vihara market, this is a local area that has a number of roadside shacks and small shops with local eateries where you can buy some traditional items, Buddhist religious items, and Chinese crockery. This is one tourist place in Tawang where you can buy a lot of items that are unique to the area.

# Sela Pass

Maybe you have heard of it, maybe you haven’t, but for the people of the town, Sela Pass is nothing less than a lifeline. While most packages cover this tourist place in Tawang, make sure you don’t miss out on this one. Not just a tourist place in Tawang, Sela Pass is the only road that connects the town to the rest of the country and is counted amongst the highest motorable passes in the world. According to the locals, there are almost 101 lakes around the pass, among which, the Sela Lake is the most prominent one.

# Gorichen Peak

Another famous tourist place in Tawang is the Gorichen Peak which is at an altitude of about 22,500 feet. The highest peak in Arunachal and the third highest in the northeast, a trekking track leads up to the peak that offers hikers beautiful views and landscapes to truly enjoy the hike. Gorichen is one of the best places to see in Tawang as it offers 360° views of the surroundings, exemplifying the magnificent beauty of the place you are at.