Tawang Festival – Witness Dreams for Real

Arunachal Pradesh is an Indian state that is blessed with divine beauty and blossoming heritage. The state is home to several tribes that have rich culture and share great patronage of the mystic land which makes it an unmatched tourist destination. Tawang festival is named after the hill station, Tawang. One of the most scenic hill stations in India, Tawang is home to several tribes out of which Monpas are a majority. The sources of livelihood for Monpas are mainly agriculture and animal husbandry. The locals here are full of energy and happy people who celebrate with all their heart. Tawang Festival was first celebrated in year 2012 with the vision of organising a tourist festival and has been a great success since then. The festival showcases the vast tourism potential of the state, especially as an Adventure Tourism destination. With increasing tourism in the region, the locals enthusiastically welcome the tourists and showcase their rich culture.

A trip to Arunachal is definitely incomplete if you miss out on Tawang Festival. The exuberance of fun and celebration pumps up the air with youthful energy that will resonate within you for a time much longer than the number of days you would spend at the festival. Especially, if you are an adventure freak, this festival must find place on your calendar. This year, in 2015 the festival will be celebrated in month of May from 1st to 3rd. The dates fall on weekend and therefore, are ideal for tourists to fly in from anywhere in the world. During Tawang Festival 2015, the major attractions will include a street dance feat by 100 AJI-LHAMU dancers that will mesmerize the spectators with excusive feel of the land of dragons and monasteries. You may book your tents in advance and enjoy day tours, treks and bonfire on your trip to Tawang this year.

Since the past three years, the festival has been a roaring success with the quality of services and the events getting only better every passing year. The state administration and the local authorities ensure an absolutely pleasant experience for all the participants. Tawang festival is unique in the kind of activities that take place during the festival. It symbolises the ethnic youth of Arunachal Pradesh. That is why you may be grooving on western rock music while riding an elephant’s back or while enjoying a boat race. The experience at Tawang festival has been bringing back tourists from previous years. It is indeed amazing to soak in the feeling of joy, brotherhood and celebration with people from extremely different backgrounds and create memories forever.

Getting to Tawang is easy as it is well connected to all other places of Arunachal Pradesh through Indian Railways that offer a fun filled and comfortable ride to the tourists. The nearest railway station is Tezpur. So, block your dates, buy your tickets and get ready to be a part of an event that offers fun, food, art and music – a festival of dreams, indeed!

Tawang Festival 2015

Dates – 1st, 2nd, 3rd May

Place – Tawang

Activities – Camping, Day Tours, Treks, Bonfire

Tourist Attractions in and near Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

• Tawang Monastery – 2 km *
• Tawang Emporium – 1 km *
• Urgyenling Gompa – 4 km *
• War Memorial – 3 km *
• Khinmey Gompa – 8 km *
• Gyangong Ani Gompa – 15 km *
• Brahmdunchung Ani Gompa – 12 km *
• P.T.Tso Lake – 23 km *
• Bumla Pass – 38 km *
• Sangyetser Lake – 42 km *
• Taksang Gompa – 45 km *
• Dolma Lhagang (Lumla) – 47 km *
• BTK Waterfalls – 88 km *
• Gorsam Chorten – 98 km *
• Khushanang at Kitpi village – 18 km *
• Chaksam Bridge – 25 km *
• Jang Water Falls – 34 km *
• Nuranang Trout Hatchery Centre – 60 km *
• Sela Pass – 80 km *

* distance from main Tawang town

How to Reach Tawang from Guwahati

The nearest Railway Station to Tawang is Tezpur Railway Station in Assam, which is approximately 3.5hrs from Guwahati. Guwahati is well connected to all major cities via trains like Guwahati Express, Porvotr S Kranti, Guwahati Rajdhani and Sc Ghy Express etc.

The town of Tezpur is the nearest major transit point to Tawang and one can reach the place using hired Taxis and jeeps. The travel time from Tezpur to Tawang is around 12 hrs by road.

Take a Bus/taxi from Guwahati to Tezpur (around 3.5 hours). From Tezpur to Bhalukpong, it will take around 2 hours and then you can proceed to Bomdila (around 3 hours) So, it is necessary to halt on the way in Bomdila. Next Day you can proceed to Dirang (Around 2 hours) and then Sela Pass (Around 2 hours). From Sela it will take more 2.5 hours to reach Tawang.

Accommodation facilities like Government Rest house, Tourist Lodge and Hotels are available on the way in Bhalukpong Bomdila & Dirang. Apart from enjoying the breathtaking scenic drive, tourist can see a number of monasteries on the way.