Tawang Monastery

Tawang Monastery, also known as Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, is a prominent and historically significant Buddhist monastery located in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India. It holds the distinction of being the largest monastery in India and the second largest in the world, after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.

Situated at an elevation of about 10,000 feet, the monastery offers a commanding view of the Tawang Chu valley and the surrounding snow-capped mountains.

The monastery is a three-story structure surrounded by a long wall. It includes a large assembly hall, residential quarters for over 450 monks, a library, and a museum.

The main prayer hall, known as the Dukhang, houses a colossal, richly gilded statue of Lord Buddha, standing approximately 25 feet high.

The entrance gate, called the Kakaling, is a colorful, hut-like structure with murals of divinities and saints.