- Where
- Tawang town, below the monastery
- Altitude
- About 2,900–3,000 m
- Distance
- About 2–3 km from Tawang market
- Timings
- Daytime roughly 7am–6pm; light and sound show in the evening (about 6:30pm reported)
- Entry fee
- Free by day; show about ₹50–100 (reported)
- Permit
- Arunachal Inner Line Permit for Indians, Protected Area Permit for foreigners
- Best time
- March–May and October–November
- Time needed
- 45 minutes; 1.5 hours with the show
Tawang War Memorial stands on a slope in Tawang town, facing the valley the 1962 war was fought over. It honours the Indian soldiers who died defending the Kameng sector, and it is the place to understand why Tawang, the Sela road and the border posts above the town matter so much to India.
The memorial
- Built as a stupa, a tall white chorten on a terrace, with Buddhist motifs and dragon pillars at the steps.
- The names of the fallen are inscribed in gold on black granite panels around it. Incredible India gives the number as 2,420 members of the armed forces; other sources give different figures.
- A small museum with photographs, letters, uniforms and weapons from the war.
Light and sound show
Each evening a light and sound show tells the story of the 1962 war in this sector. Travel guides report a single show at about 6:30pm, in Hindi and English on alternate days, with tickets of about ₹50–100 sold at the counter. We couldn't find an official timetable; ask at your hotel on the day.
How to reach
The memorial is in Tawang town, about 2–3 km from the market, 10 minutes by car or a walk downhill. Tawang is two days' drive from Guwahati via Sela Pass. See our Guwahati to Tawang cab, Tezpur to Tawang cab and Tawang tour packages.
| From | Road distance | Usual drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Tawang town | about 3 km | 10 min |
| Tezpur | about 325 km | 10–12 hrs, usually split at Dirang |
Road distances from OpenStreetMap routing. Drive times are what we see on these mountain roads, not map estimates.
Weather and best time
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5°C | -8°C | Light | Some |
| Feb | 6°C | -5°C | Wet | Heavy |
| Mar | 9°C | -1°C | Wet | Some |
| Apr | 13°C | 3°C | Wet | Light |
| May | 15°C | 5°C | Very wet | – |
| Jun | 18°C | 9°C | Very wet | – |
| Jul | 18°C | 12°C | Very wet | – |
| Aug | 18°C | 11°C | Very wet | – |
| Sep | 17°C | 10°C | Wet | – |
| Oct | 15°C | 5°C | Light | – |
| Nov | 11°C | 0°C | Light | Light |
| Dec | 8°C | -4°C | Light | Some |
Monthly averages for 2015–2024 from ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, at the site's elevation (about 2830 m). Rain and snow are rated relative to this location's own year.
- March–May and October–November: the clearest days.
- December–February: snow in town; the evening show is cold, so wrap up.
Things most guides don't tell you
- See it before Bum La. The memorial's story makes the border trip mean much more.
- Go at 5pm, look around in the last daylight, then stay for the show.
- The view from the memorial terrace across to the monastery is one of the best in town.
Nearby
- Tawang Monastery, above the town.
- Bum La Pass, the border, 37 km away.
- Jaswant Garh War Memorial, on the road in.
- Things to do in Tawang.
Tawang War Memorial: questions travellers ask
What is Tawang War Memorial?
A stupa-shaped memorial in Tawang town to the Indian soldiers who died defending the sector in the 1962 war, with their names inscribed in gold.
What is the timing of the Tawang War Memorial light and sound show?
Travel guides report one show at about 6:30pm. There is no official timetable online, so check locally.
What is the ticket price for the light and sound show?
About ₹50–100 per person is reported, bought at the counter.
Is there an entry fee for the Tawang War Memorial?
Daytime entry is free.
How many names are on the Tawang War Memorial?
Incredible India gives 2,420; other sources give different figures.
How far is the war memorial from Tawang Monastery?
A few kilometres, about 10–15 minutes by car.
Is the Tawang War Memorial worth visiting?
Yes, especially before a Bum La trip. The names, the museum and the evening show explain the 1962 war in this sector.
Sources
- Incredible India: Tawang War Memorial
- Explurger: Tawang War Memorial
- TravelTriangle: Tawang War Memorial
- Photo: Rohit Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Timings and fees change. Check on the day, or ask us when you book.
