Tawang Monastery is the largest Buddhist monastery in India, set at around 3,000 metres on a hill above the Tawang Chu river. Founded in the 17th century by Mera Lama, a disciple of the fifth Dalai Lama, it belongs to the Gelugpa tradition and remains an active centre of learning for around 450 monks. The main assembly hall holds a 8-metre gilded statue of the Buddha, and the monastery's library contains 108 rare handwritten manuscripts and 225 volumes of Tibetan scripture wrapped in silk.
The complex is built on a hillside in traditional Tibetan style: white-washed walls, red ochre trimmings, and layers of flat-roofed buildings rising steeply above a courtyard. The Parkhang — the old section — houses the most precious manuscripts and thangka paintings. Visiting monks and pilgrims arrive throughout the year, particularly for the Torgya festival in January, when monks perform ritual dances in the main courtyard over three days. Opening hours are roughly 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm; a nominal entry fee is charged for non-Buddhists.