Tawang Monastery, Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Tawang district, India

Tawang Monastery, known in Tibetan as Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, stands near the top of a mountain at about 3,000 metres. Its three-storey white buildings, with dark tiered roofs and a golden finial, are enclosed by a 282-metre compound wall and include 65 residential buildings. The complex is entered from the north along a sloping spur.

The monastery was founded in 1680 by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso with strong backing from the 5th Dalai Lama. It became an important center of the Gelug school of Buddhism and shaped the region's spiritual life for centuries to come.

The monastery's name, Tawang Galdan Namgye Lhatse, means "the site chosen by the horse is the divine paradise of complete victory": ta is horse, wang chosen, Gadan paradise, Namgyal complete victory, Lhatse divine. A second legend links the name to Terton Pemalingpa, who gave Tamdin and Kagyad initiations here, ta abbreviating Tamdin and wang meaning initiation. Its library keeps old Kangyur and Tengyur scriptures.

The monastery is entered from the north along a sloping spur with alpine vegetation; the entrance gate is called Kakaling, built of stone with painted walls. The complex sits at about 3,000 m, bounded by steep ravines on the south and west. Paths and staircases link the 65 residential buildings, so wear sturdy shoes for uneven ground.

The full Tibetan name, Tawang Galdan Namgye Lhatse, packs the founding legend into a phrase: ta (horse) and wang (chosen) give Tawang, while Gadan means paradise, Namgyal complete victory and Lhatse divine. A second legend credits Terton Pemalingpa, who gave Tamdin and Kagyad initiations here, with the name. A third tells of a white horse of the Prince of Lhasa that strayed into the Monpa region and was found grazing on this spot, which locals venerated yearly.