The Tawang War Memorial stands in the centre of town, a stone and bronze monument dedicated to the Indian soldiers who died in the 1962 Sino-Indian War. The conflict reached its climax just outside Tawang, and the memorial lists the names of those who fell defending the Sela Pass and the town itself. A small museum attached to the memorial displays weapons, equipment, and photographs from the war.
The memorial is maintained by the Indian Army and is opened during daylight hours. The ceremony of lowering the flag at dusk is conducted with full military honours and is worth attending. Given Tawang's continued proximity to the Line of Actual Control — the de facto border with China — the memorial carries a weight that goes beyond ceremonial. The military presence in and around the town is significant and very visible.