39-527: The Buguns (formerly Khowa ) are one of the earliest recognized schedule tribes of India, majority of them, inhabiting the Singchung Sub-Division of West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh . Buguns live in several exogamous clans. Traditionally, the predominant occupation was agriculture, supported with other allied activities like fishing and hunting, cattle rearing etc. Buguns have their own folklores, songs, dances, music and rituals. A rare bird,
78-399: A literacy rate of 69.4%. West Kameng comprises five major tribes: Monpa (which includes Dirang, Bhut, Lish, and Kalaktang Monpa), Miji (Sajolang), Sherdukpen , Aka (Hrusso), and Bugun (Khowa). Minority tribes include Takpa , Lishipa , Chugpa , and Butpa. All of these indigenous communities use Hindi to communicate with each other. Languages of West Kameng (2011) Most of
117-556: A decisive change in 1950 when Tibet lost its autonomy and was annexed into the newly established People's Republic of China. In February 1951, India sent an official with a small escort and several hundred porters to Tawang and took control of the remainder of the Tawang tract from the Tibetans, removing the Tibetan administration. The Indian efforts were warmly welcomed by the native population as
156-615: A respite from an oppressive feudal regime. During the Sino-Indian war of 1962, Tawang was briefly under Chinese control, but China voluntarily withdrew its troops at the end of the war, and Tawang returned to Indian administration. But China has not relinquished its claims on most of Arunachal Pradesh including Tawang. Tawang town is located approximately 555 kilometres (345 mi) from Guwahati and 320 kilometres (200 mi) from Tezpur . Tawang has an average elevation of 2,669 metres (8,757 ft). Tawang, north of Sela Pass / Tunnel ,
195-765: A tributary of the Brahmaputra , that flows through the district. The area around the Kameng river has traditionally come under the control of the Mon kingdom, Bhutan, Tibet and the Ahom kingdom . Tibetan Buddhism got a strong foothold among the tribal groups as early as in the 7th century, where the Kachen Lama constructed the Lhagyala Gompa in Morshing . Whenever loose control was exerted over
234-543: Is Kangto . Like East Kameng , the West Kameng district experiences an arid tundra or a cool temperate climate in the north. Snow fall occurs from mid-November to February. Snow can be also seen in Khupi, Bomdila, Sela. Sela range is the highest place in the district, situated at 13,714 feet above sea level. The 2,000-kilometre-long (1,200 mi) proposed Mago- Thingbu to Vijaynagar Arunachal Pradesh Frontier Highway along
273-782: Is booming in this district along Tawang district. With the improving of roads condition and investment in hospitality sectors the flow of tourists can be seen round the year. The district is divided into three subdivisions, Thrizino , Rupa and Bomdila , which are further divided into twelve administrative circles, namely, Dirang , Bomdila, Kalaktang , Balemu, Bhalukpong, Jameri, Singchung, Nafra, Thrizino, Rupa, Thembang and Shergaon. The four development blocks in this district are Dirang, Kalaktang, Nafra-Buragaon, and Thrizino. There are 4 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly constituencies located in this district: Dirang , Kalaktang , Thrizino-Buragaon and Bomdila . All of these are part of Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency . According to
312-603: Is connected to major cities. A broad-gauge railway line connecting Missamari in Assam with Tawang has been proposed and a survey for the line was sanctioned in 2011. The proposed 166 km long Bhalukpong–Tawang railway link from the existing Bhalukpong railway station to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh being undertaken as the national project will boost tourism and enhance the national security with faster movement of troops, it will pass through elevations of over 10,000 feet, 80% of
351-438: Is in the basin of Tawang Chu . The climate is cold in Tawang. In winter, there is much less rainfall in Tawang than in summer. According to Köppen and Geiger, this climate is classified as warm-summer humid continental climate (Dwb). The average temperature in Tawang is 5.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 3,080 millimetres (121 in). As of the 2011 census , Tawang had a population of 11,202. Tawang Monastery
390-479: The 2011 census West Kameng district has a population of 83,947, roughly equal to the nation of Antigua and Barbuda . This gives it a ranking of 618th in India (out of a total of 640 ). The district has a population density of 12 inhabitants per square kilometre (31/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 16.64%. West Kameng has a sex ratio of 755 females for every 1000 males, and
429-576: The Bugun liocichla , was named after the tribe. They live mainly in the subtropical Singchung Administrative Sub-Division of West Kameng district with its, almost whole, native population under 6-Thrizino-Buragaon ST Assembly Constituency of the state of Arunachal Pradesh . The Bugun language , one two of the Bugunish/Kamenic language under Kho-Bwa languages is considered endangered by UNESCO , with only around 10,000 speakers mainly concentrated in
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#1732843949177468-458: The Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh , India. The Buguns are traditionally followers of the animistic religion However, the early 20th century witnessed the gradual penetration of some dominant religions like Buddhism ( Mahayana ), particularly from the neighbouring ethnic group Sherdukpen , and Hinduism . Some have come under Tibetan Buddhist influence. Profound Buddhist influence has led to
507-603: The Line of Actual Control with China . It is the site of a famous Gelugpa Buddhist Monastery . Tawang is inhabited by the Monpa people . The Tawang Monastery was founded by the Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in 1681 in accordance with the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso , and has a legend surrounding its name. Ta means "horse" and wang means "chosen". So, the word Tawang means "chosen by horse". As per legend,
546-562: The McMahon Line , (will intersect with the proposed East-West Industrial Corridor Highway ) and will pass through this district, alignment map of which can be seen here and here . Like most of Arunachal Pradesh , Jhum , or shifting cultivation , is practised among the tribes who live in lower elevations where there is a temperate or subtropical climate. Horticulture is practised as well. Small industries such as textile and handicraft factories can be found. Nowadays tourism industries
585-499: The NH13 an all-weather road to access Tawang which usually gets disconnected during winter. Pass itself is located at 13,700 feet, but the tunnel will pass through at the height of 10,000 feet. BRO is also improving the road from Sangestar Tso (north of Tawang) to Bum La Pass on India–China Line of Actual Control (disputed parts of McMahon Line ). The tenders for construction were floated in 2018, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid
624-617: The British botanist Frank Kingdon-Ward crossed the Sela Pass and entered Tawang in 1935 without permission from Tibet, he was briefly arrested. The Tibetan government lodged a formal complaint against Britain. This drew the attention of the British, who re-examined the Indo-Tibetan border, and attempted to revive the McMahon Line. In November, the British government demanded that Tibet implement
663-584: The British. The agreement was not recognized by China. According to Tsering Shakya , the British records show that the Tibetans regarded the border agreed in 1914 as being conditional upon China accepting the Simla Convention. Since the British were unable to get China's acceptance, the Tibetans regarded the MacMahon line "invalid". The British did not implement the McMahon Line for over two decades, during which Tawang continued to be administered by Tibet. When
702-905: The Indian Army and Bhutan Army ) in eastern Bhutan via Yabab in India and Trashigang in Bhutan. Located on the northernmost end of NH 13 of Trans-Arunachal Highway network, Tawang is 447.5 kilometres (278.1 mi) from state capital Itanagar and is connected with buses run by APSRTC and private services. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was tasked in July 2020 to build the strategic road from Lumla west of Tawang in India Trashigang in Bhutan through Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary which will reduce Guwahati to Tawang by 150 km and enable rapid deployment of troops in eastern Bhutan and in Tawang sector of India–China–Bhutan border . This will be an upgrade of
741-577: The Kameng Frontier Division. Its headquarters were later transferred to Bomdila in 1954. However, with the invasion of Tibet in 1950, Tibetan refugees started populating the area. Furthermore, with the invasion of the Chinese troops into this area, many historical monuments were either destroyed or defaced. The Kameng Frontier Division was renamed as the Kameng District . The Political Officer
780-406: The adoption of many Buddhist rituals and the invitation of Buddhist lamas to participate in their communal rituals. As a result, many Buguns declared themselves as Buddhist in censuses. West Kameng West Kameng (pronounced ˈkæmɛŋ ) is a district of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India. It accounts for 8.86% of the total area of the state. The name is derived from the Kameng river ,
819-658: The area, small, feudal chiefdoms ruled by the Miji and the Aka chiefs dominated control over the area. This can be evidenced in the fact that ruined fortresses like those in Bhalukpong constructed in the 10th to 12th century and the Dirang fort, which was constructed in the 17th century to defend against invasions from neighbouring chiefdoms. Upon the arrival of the British , the present-day West Kameng
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#1732843949177858-493: The border agreement. This met with resistance from the Tibetan government which implied that China's acceptance of the Simla Convention was a prerequisite to all such concerns. Tibet refused to surrender Tawang, partly because of the importance attached to the Tawang Monastery. In 1938 the British made a move to assert sovereignty over Tawang by sending a small military column under Capt. G.S. Lightfoot to Tawang. The invasion
897-645: The distance between Dirang and Tawang by 10 km. The Government of India announced the funding for construction of all weather transport tunnel in 2018-19 budget. Construction started in Jan/Feb 2019 and ends by December 2022. The tunnel which is being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will cut the travel time from the Indian Army 's IV Corps headquarter at Tezpur to Tawang by at least 10 km or 1 hour, and it will also help make
936-470: The existing Malo Road along Manas River (Dangme Chu River in Bhutanse) to National Highway standards, of this 40 km new winding road the 11 km Khitshang Road–Manlo Road stretch from Duksum on Trashiyangtse–Tashigang Road to Bhutan-India border in the east as well Lumla in India to Bhutan-India border already exists, only 10 km of new road needs to be constructed and the rest will be an upgrade of
975-818: The existing roads. There are proposals to build more roads to connect eastern Bhutan with western Tawang such as Trashigang– Namshu Road, the Chorten Kora – Zemithang Road, road upgrade in Bhutan to Singye Dzong on Bhutan-China border, and an advance landing ground airstrip near Singye Dzong area along with more helipads in this area. Sela Tunnel through Sela Pass is an under-construction road tunnel project to ensure all-weather connectivity between Guwahati in Assam and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh state of India . The tunnel gets its name from 4170 m (13,700 ft) Sela Pass which this tunnel will cut across and reduce
1014-576: The foundation stone in Feb 2019 to commence the construction. Tawang receives snowfall every year during December–January. There is also a ski lift in town. Tawang is the most famous tourist destination in Arunachal Pradesh. Visitors to Tawang, as is the case with the entire Arunachal Pradesh, require special Inner Line Permit (ILP) issued by the concerned government body and can be obtained from offices based in Kolkata , Guwahati , Tezpur , and New Delhi . Most of
1053-511: The headquarters of the former. Tawang is the number one tourist destination of Arunachal Pradesh. India occupied Tawang in 1951 and removed Tibetan administration from the area. China continues to claim Tawang as its territory. It is situated 448 km north-west of state capital Itanagar at an elevation of approximately 3,048 metres (10,000 ft). It lies to the north of the Tawang Chu river valley, roughly 10 miles (16 km) south of
1092-594: The inhabitants are Buddhist , though the Aka, Bugun (Khowa), and Miji have indigenous religions and those tribe members follow a mix of Buddhism, Hinduism , and Donyi-Polo (a form of Animism ). In 1989 West Kameng district became home to the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary , which has an area of 217 km (83.8 sq mi). It is also home to the Sessa Orchid Wildlife Sanctuary , which
1131-560: The monastery is believed to have been chosen by a horse owned by Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso. The sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso , was born in Tawang. Tawang was historically under the control of Tibet. During the 1914 Simla Conference , Tibet and British India signed an agreement delineating their common boundary in the Assam Himalaya region, which came to be known as the McMahon Line . By this agreement, Tibet relinquished several hundred square miles of its territory, including Tawang, to
1170-458: The north, Bhutan in the west, Tawang District in the northwest, and East Kameng district in the east. The southern border is shared with Sonitpur district and Udalguri district of Assam . The Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is located in West Kameng. The topography is mostly mountainous. Much of the West Kameng area is covered with the Himalayas . The highest peak in the district and state
1209-447: The tracks will be through tunnels and the longest tunnel will be 29.48 km long. This link will reduce the existing 285 km Bhalukpong-Tawang road distance by 119 km, and shorten the road distance. As well as the railway, a 2 lane road highway will also be developed along the rail line. Once completed, further extension plans include a 100 km long western spur to Yongphulla Airport (upgraded by India and jointly used by
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1248-507: The upgraded ALG in Tawang for the operation of civil helicopter and flights for the tourism and UDAN scheme. The nearest functional civil airports with scheduled flights are the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at Guwahati and Salonibari Airport at Tezpur located at a distance of 450 and 325 kilometers, respectively. The nearest existing railway station is at Naharlagun , which
1287-848: Was also redesignated as the Deputy Commissioner of Kameng . However, due to political reasons, the Kameng district was bifurcated between East Kameng and West Kameng on 1 June 1980. Tawang district, which initially belonged to part of the district, was separated on 6 October 1984. In 2023, Bichom district was carved out from West Kameng district. It comprises all the regions inhabited by the Miji community West Kameng district occupies an area of 7,442 square kilometres (2,873 sq mi), comparatively equivalent to Papua New Guinea 's New Ireland . It lies approximately between 91° 30' to 92° 40' East longitudes and 26° 54' to 28° 01' North latitudes. The district shares an international border with Tibet in
1326-637: Was established in 1989 and has an area of 100 km (38.6 sq mi). Tawang Tawang is a town and administrative headquarter of Tawang district in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh . It lies on NH-13 section of Trans-Arunachal Highway . The town was once the headquarter of the Tawang Tract, which is now divided into the Tawang district and the West Kameng district . Tawang continues as
1365-405: Was extended over the area of the Tawang tract lying south of the Sela Pass when J.P. Mills set up an Assam Rifles post at Dirang Dzong and sent the Tibetan tax-collectors packing. Tibetan protests were brushed aside. However, no steps were taken to evict Tibet from the area north of the pass which contained Tawang town. The situation continued after India's independence from Britain but underwent
1404-541: Was founded by the Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso in accordance to the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama , Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso. It belongs to the Gelugpa sect and is the largest Buddhist monastery in India. The name Tawang ( Tibetan : རྟ་དབང་ , Wylie : Rta-dbang ) means "horse chosen". It is said to be the biggest Buddhist monastery in the world outside of Lhasa , Tibet. It is a major holy site for Tibetan Buddhists as it
1443-533: Was met with strong resistance from the Tibetan government, a serious protest was lodged against the British Indian government. After the outbreak of the war between China and Japan in 1941, the government of Assam undertook a number of 'forward policy' measures to tighten their hold on the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) area, which later became Arunachal Pradesh . In 1944 administrative control
1482-650: Was placed under what was known as the North-East Frontier Agency (later, Arunachal Pradesh). It was renamed as the Balipara Frontier tract in 1919, with its headquarters at Charduar in Assam. In 1946, the district area was carved out of the Balipara, with the name Sela Sub-Agency and its headquarters continued to be Charduar of Assam. Following the independence of India, the Sela Sub-Agency was renamed as
1521-687: Was the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama. When the 14th Dalai Lama fled from Tibet to escape from the Chinese army, he crossed into India on 30 March 1959 and spent some days at the Tawang Monastery before reaching Tezpur in Assam on 18 April. In 2007, the Dalai Lama acknowledged that both the Tibetan government and Britain recognized the McMahon Line in 1914. He visited Tawang on 8 November 2009. About 30,000 people, including those from neighbouring Nepal and Bhutan , attended his religious discourse. Tawang Air Force Station has an already functional heliport .The Indian Airforce (IAF) has offered
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