15 Places to Visit in Tawang (2026): Tourist Spots, Timings & Entry Fees
Tawang sits at about 3,000 m near the Bhutan and Tibet borders, around India's largest Buddhist monastery. Day trips go up the Bum La road to PT Tso and Sangetsar (Madhuri) lakes and the border pass, and back down to Nuranang falls and Jaswant Garh. Further out are the Zemithang valley with Gorsam Chorten, and the remote Mago and Chuna valleys.
1.Tawang Monastery
Tawang town
Tawang Monastery, Galden Namgey Lhatse, is India's largest monastery, founded in 1680–81 on a ridge at about 10,000 ft. It's the reason most people make the drive over Sela Pass.
- Timings
- Roughly 7am–5pm or 6pm; museum about 9am–5pm
- Entry fee
- Monastery free; museum about ₹30 (reported)
- Distance
- About 2–3 km from Tawang market
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Best time
- March–May and October–November
2.Sela Pass
Tawang–West Kameng border, on NH-13
Sela Pass crosses the range between Dirang and Tawang at about 13,700 ft, beside a sacred lake that freezes in winter. Since the Sela Tunnel opened in 2024 you can skip it, but most travellers still drive over. Here's why and when.
- Timings
- Drive across in daylight; avoid after about 3pm in winter
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 60–80 km from Tawang; 60 km from Dirang
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes stop
- Best time
- March–May and October–November; snow December–March
3.Bum La Pass
Indo-China border, 37 km from Tawang
Bum La is the India–China border pass 37 km above Tawang, at about 15,200 ft, where the 1962 war began in this sector and where border meetings are still held. Visiting needs a special permit from the DC's office and the army.
- Timings
- Early morning start; army-escorted visits on permitted days
- Entry fee
- Permit plus a small visitor fee (about ₹50 reported); 4x4 hire extra
- Distance
- About 37 km from Tawang, 2–3 hours each way
- Time needed
- A full morning from Tawang
- Best time
- April–June and October–November
4.Sangetsar (Madhuri) Lake
On the Bumla road, about 35 km from Tawang
Sangetsar, nicknamed Madhuri Lake after a 1990s film shoot, is a high lake on the road to Bumla with dead tree trunks standing in the water. It's visited on the Bumla day from Tawang.
- Timings
- Day visits with the Bumla trip, in clear weather
- Entry fee
- None reported
- Distance
- About 35 km north of Tawang, 2–2.5 hours on a rough road
- Time needed
- Part of a 6–7 hour Bumla day
- Best time
- April–October
Sangetsar (Madhuri) Lake: full guide, how to reach and tips →
5.PT Tso Lake (Pankang Teng Tso)
Bum La road, above Tawang
PT Tso, short for Pankang Teng Tso, is a high lake about 16–18 km above Tawang on the road to Bum La, ringed by rhododendrons and often frozen in winter. It's the first big stop on the Bum La day.
- Timings
- Morning, as part of the Bum La day
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 16–18 km from Tawang
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Best time
- March–May and October–November; frozen December–February
PT Tso Lake (Pankang Teng Tso): full guide, how to reach and tips →
6.Nuranang (Jang) Falls
Near Jang, about 40 km from Tawang
Nuranang, or Jang Falls, is a 100-metre waterfall near Jang on the road down from Sela Pass to Tawang. It's a short detour and free to visit.
- Timings
- Daylight
- Entry fee
- No entry fee reported
- Distance
- About 39–40 km from Tawang, around 1.5 hours
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1 hour
- Best time
- May–October for the fullest flow
7.Jaswant Garh War Memorial
On the Sela–Jang road, Tawang district
Jaswant Garh honours Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, who held off the Chinese advance near Nuranang in November 1962. The army still keeps his room, and serves free tea to travellers on the Tawang road.
- Timings
- Daylight
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- On the Sela–Jang stretch, roughly 1.5–2 hours before Tawang
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Best time
- March–May and October–November
Jaswant Garh War Memorial: full guide, how to reach and tips →
8.Tawang War Memorial
Tawang town
Tawang War Memorial is a stupa-shaped memorial in town to the soldiers who died defending this sector in 1962, with their names in gold and an evening light and sound show.
- 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)
- Distance
- About 2–3 km from Tawang market
- Time needed
- 45 minutes; 1.5 hours with the show
- Best time
- March–May and October–November
9.Zemithang
Pangchen valley, western Tawang district
Zemithang is the last village before Tibet in the Pangchen valley, about 85–90 km from Tawang, where the Dalai Lama first entered India in 1959. It's home to the giant Gorsam Chorten and the Gorsam Kora festival.
- Timings
- Long day trip, better as an overnight
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 85–90 km from Tawang via Lumla
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
- Best time
- October–April; Gorsam Kora festival in spring
10.Gorsam Chorten
Zemithang, western Tawang district
Gorsam Chorten is a whitewashed stupa about 90 ft high near Zemithang, built by a local monk sometime between the 12th and 16th centuries on the model of Boudhanath in Kathmandu. It's the focus of the spring Gorsam Kora festival.
- Timings
- Open daylight hours
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 90 km from Tawang
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Best time
- October–April; Gorsam Kora in spring
11.Bap Teng Kang Falls
Lumla–Zemithang road, Tawang district
Bap Teng Kang (BTK) Falls is a roaring 100 ft waterfall on the road from Lumla to Zemithang, about 80–85 km from Tawang. It's the best stop on the way to Gorsam Chorten.
- Timings
- Daylight
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 80–85 km from Tawang
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Best time
- September–November (full falls, dry road)
12.Mago Valley
Thingbu circle, eastern Tawang district
Mago is a yak-herders' village at about 11,500 ft in the far east of Tawang district, with two hot springs, a river confluence and almost no tourists. Here is how to get there from Jang, the permits, the road and when to go.
- Timings
- Day trip from Tawang is very long; plan a night at Mago
- Entry fee
- Free; hot springs free
- Distance
- About 59 km from Jang, 85 km from Tawang
- Time needed
- 1–2 days with Chuna
- Best time
- April–June and October–November
13.Chuna Valley
Above Mago, Thingbu circle, Tawang district
Chuna is a high, open valley about 12 km above Mago in eastern Tawang, at roughly 3,900 m, with yak pastures, an army camp and the rough road on to Gongkar La. It's as remote as a Tawang trip gets.
- Timings
- Visit in the morning; return to Mago or Tawang before dark
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 12 km from Mago, roughly 97 km from Tawang
- Time needed
- Half a day from Mago
- Best time
- May–June and October
14.Chumi Gyatse Falls (Holy Waterfalls)
Yangtse, north-east Tawang district
Chumi Gyatse, the 'holy waterfalls' of Tawang, are a curtain of streams said to number 108, falling from the Yangtse cliffs close to the Line of Actual Control. They're sacred to Guru Padmasambhava and need army clearance to visit.
- Timings
- Day visit, by army clearance
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 90–100 km from Tawang
- Time needed
- Full day from Tawang
- Best time
- May–October (road closed by snow in winter)
Chumi Gyatse Falls (Holy Waterfalls): full guide, how to reach and tips →
15.Gongkar La Lake
Beyond Chuna, Thingbu circle, Tawang district
Gongkar La (also spelt Gonkarla) is a high pass at about 15,600 ft beyond Mago and Chuna, with a glacial lake below it. It's reached by a rough army road, open only some days, and it's the hardest drive in Tawang.
- Timings
- Mornings only; weather turns by noon
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- Beyond Chuna; a full day from Mago and back
- Time needed
- Full day from Mago
- Best time
- Late May–June and October
Best time to visit Tawang
October to April. Expect snow at Sela, Bum La and the high lakes from December to March, which can close roads for a day or two. March to June is pleasant, and the Torgya festival at the monastery is usually in January.
Tawang weather month by month →How to reach Tawang
Tawang is about 450 km from Guwahati, usually a two-day drive via Bhalukpong and Dirang or Bomdila, crossing Sela Pass. Tezpur is the nearest airport. An Inner Line Permit is required.
See Tawang with a local team
Private trips with a driver, hotels and permits arranged, built around the places above.
Tawang tour packages →Tawang: frequently asked questions
How many days are enough for Tawang?+
Plan six to seven days from Guwahati: two days each way on the road and two or three days in Tawang for the monastery, Bum La and the lakes.
Do I need a permit for Tawang and Bum La?+
Yes. Indian travellers need an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh, and Bum La needs an additional army permit arranged in Tawang. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit and cannot visit Bum La.
When does it snow in Tawang?+
Usually from December to March, especially at Sela Pass, Bum La and the high lakes. Tawang town gets lighter snow.
What are the top places to visit in Tawang?+
Tawang Monastery, Sela Pass, Bum La, Sangetsar (Madhuri) Lake, PT Tso Lake, Nuranang falls and the Tawang War Memorial.
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