Overview
Erstwhile Tawang District was a Sub-Division of West Kameng District till 5th October 1984. This district is situated in the westernmost of Arunachal Pradesh. The area of this district is approximately 2,172 Sq.km, bounded by Tibet (China) to the north, Bhutan to the southwest and Sela ranges separated from West Kament district in the east.
The name of Tawang is believed to have derived from the majestic Tawang Monastery perched on the edge of the ridge running along the western part of Tawang township. The popular interpretation is that the name “Tawang” was given by his holiness the Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso.
“TA” means Horse and “Wang” means Chosen. As legend goes the site of the present Monastery is believed to have been chosen by a Horse owned by Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso. Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso was in search of an appropriate place to establish a Monastery and was unable to locate any appropriate site. Finally, he decided to sit in prayer for the guidance of a divine power. As he opened his eyes after prayer, he found his horse missing.
So wearily he went out for his horse and found it on top of the hill calm and quiet. Believed it was a good omen, Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso decided to initiate work for building up of Monastery with the help of people living across the land of Monpa in the later part of the 17th century according to the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama.