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Administrative divisions: map

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{{About|the district|its eponymous headquarters|Tawang Town}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Tawang district
| settlement_type = [[List of districts of Arunachal Pradesh|District]] of [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
| total_type = Total
| native_name =
| image_map = Arunachal Pradesh Tawang district locator map.svg
| map_caption = Location of Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh
| coordinates = {{coord|27|35|11.6|N|91|51|28|E}}
| coor_pinpoint = Tawang
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
| subdivision_type2 =
| subdivision_name2 =
| established_title = Established
| established_date =
| seat_type = Headquarters
| seat = [[Tawang]]
| parts_type = [[Tehsils of India|Tehsils]]
| parts_style = para
| p1 =
| area_total_km2 = 2085
| area_footnotes =
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_total = 49,977<ref name=districtcensus/>
| population_footnotes =
| population_urban =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = Demographics
| demographics1_title1 = [[Literacy in India|Literacy]]
| demographics1_info1 = 60.6%<ref name=districtcensus />
| demographics1_title2 = Sex ratio
| demographics1_info2 = 701<ref name=districtcensus />
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +05:30
| registration_plate =
| blank_name_sec1 =
| blank_info_sec1 =
| blank_name_sec2 =
| blank_info_sec2 =
| website = {{url|tawang.nic.in}}
| official_name =
| image_skyline = The Tawang Monastery.jpg
| image_caption = [[Tawang Monastery]]
}}

'''Tawang district''' (Pron:/tɑ:ˈwæŋ or təˈwæŋ/) is the smallest of the 16 [[Districts of Arunachal Pradesh|administrative districts]] of [[Arunachal Pradesh]] state in northeastern [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/history-amid-natural-beauty-tawang-in-arunachal-pradesh-has-a-culture-of-its-own/articleshow/51297423.cms|title=History amid natural beauty: Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh has a culture of its own|first=Rajesh|last=Dutt|work=The Economic Times}}</ref> With a population of 49,977,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/1201_PART_B_DCHB_TAWANG.pdf |title=Tawang data|date=2011 |website= censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2020-11-08}}</ref> it is the eighth least populous district in the country (out of [[Districts of India|707]]).<ref name="districtcensus">{{cite web | url = http://www.census2011.co.in/district.php | title = District Census 2011 | access-date = 2011-09-30 | year = 2011 | publisher = Census2011.co.in}}</ref>

== History ==
{{historical populations|23=1961|24=14,807|25=1971|26=18,754|27=1981|28=21,735|29=1991|30=28,287|31=2001|32=38,924|33=2011|34=49,977|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]</ref>|align=right}}
Tawang is inhabited by the [[Monpa people]]. From 500 BC to 600 AD a kingdom known as Lhomon or Monyul ruled the area.<ref>{{cite book |title=Nepal and Bhutan: Country Studies |author=Andrea Matles Savada |publisher=Federal Research Division, Library of Congress |year=1993 |isbn=0-8444-0777-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/nepalbhutancount00sava/page/21 21] |url=https://archive.org/details/nepalbhutancount00sava/page/21 }}</ref> The Monyul kingdom was later absorbed into the control of neighbouring [[Bhutan]] and [[Tibet]].

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 an interesting legend surrounding its name, which means "Chosen by Horse". The sixth Dalai Lama, [[Tsangyang Gyatso, 6th Dalai Lama|Tsangyang Gyatso]], was born in Tawang.

Tawang was historically part of Tibet. The [[Simla Accord (1914)|1914 Simla Accord]] defined the [[McMahon Line]] as the new boundary between British India and Tibet. By this treaty, Tibet relinquished several hundred square miles of its territory, including Tawang, to the British, but it was not recognised by China.<ref>Shakya (1999), p. 279.</ref> When Tibet was not governed by mainland China, Tawang was easily accessible to Tibetans.

In 1938, the British made a cautious move to assert sovereignty over Tawang by sending a small military column under Capt. G.S. Lightfoot to Tawang.

After the outbreak of the war with 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 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. However, no steps were taken to evict the Tibetan from the area North of the pass which contained Tawang town.<ref>India's China War by Neville Maxwell (Anchor Books, 1972), pp.50–51.</ref>

Tibet lost its independence in 1950's and was [[Incorporation of Tibet into the People's Republic of China|annexed]] into the newly established People's Republic of China. Tibet also lost its independent diplomatic freedom and Tawang was now a stress point between India and China.

During the [[Sino-Indian war]] of 1962, Tawang fell briefly under Chinese control, but China withdrew its troops at the end of the war. Tawang again came under Indian administration.

Tawang district was formed in 1989, when it was split from [[West Kameng district]].<ref name='Statoids'>{{cite web | url = http://www.statoids.com/yin.html | title = Districts of India | access-date = 2011-10-11 | last = Law | first = Gwillim | date = 25 September 2011 | work = Statoids}}</ref>

==Geography==
Tawang district occupies an area of {{convert|2172|km2|sqmi}},.<ref name='Reference Annual'>{{cite book | last1 = Srivastava, Dayawanti et al. (ed.) | title = India 2010: A Reference Annual | chapter = States and Union Territories: Arunachal Pradesh: Government | edition = 54th | publisher = Additional Director General, Publications Division, [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)]], [[Government of India]] | year = 2010 | location = New Delhi, India | page = 1113 | isbn = 978-81-230-1617-7}}</ref> The district is roughly located around latitude 27° 45’ N and longitude 90° 15’ E at the northwest extremity of South Tibet. Elevations range between 6,000 and {{convert|22000|ft|m}}, and inhabitants are found at lower altitude, where they enjoy a cool temperate climate.

The district was carved out of the [[West Kameng]] district, which adjoins it to the south and east. [[Bhutan]] borders Tawang to the west whereas [[Tibet]] is to the north of the district. The district occupies an area of 2,085 square kilometres and has a population of 38,924 (as of 2001), almost 75% of which are considered "tribal", i.e. belonging to the native [[Monpa people|Monpa]], [[Bhotia people|Bhotia]], [[Adi people|Adi]], etc.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Dist_File/datasheet-1201.pdf |title= Datasheet |website=censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2020-11-08}}</ref> The sensitivity of the border area brings Tawang a heavy military presence.
In winter, Tawang frequently experiences heavy snowfall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newkerala.com/news/|title=Live Latest News Headlines at newkerala.com News Channel|website=newkerala.com}}</ref>

[[File:Tawang-monastry.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Tawang Town]] with monastery in background.]]

==Administrative divisions==
The district is divided into 3 sub-divisions: Tawang, [[Lumla]] and Jang. Tawang sub-division is divided into 2 administrative circles: [[Tawang Town|Tawang]] and Kitpi. Lumla sub-division is divided into 4 administrative circles: Bongkhar, Dudunghar, Lumla and Zemithang. Jang sub-division is divided into 4 administrative circles: Jang, Mukto, Thingbu and Lhou.
[[File:Tawang district with labels.png|center|thumb|563x563px|Tawang district with administrative circles]]
[[File:Tawang Gate.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Tawang Gate]] with prayer flags.]]

There are 3 [[Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] constituencies located in this district: Lumla, Tawang and Mukto. All of these are part of [[Arunachal West (Lok Sabha constituency)|Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency]].<ref name="ceo1">{{cite web|url=http://ceoarunachal.nic.in/Information/ACwiseDistrictwisePCwise.htm|title=Assembly Constituencies allocation w.r.t District and Parliamentary Constituencies|publisher=Chief Electoral Officer, Arunachal Pradesh website|access-date=21 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813085549/http://ceoarunachal.nic.in/Information/ACwiseDistrictwisePCwise.htm|archive-date=13 August 2011}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Tawang district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 49,977,<ref name="districtcensus"/> roughly equal to the nation of [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]].<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | access-date = 2011-10-01 | quote =Saint Kitts and Nevis 50,314 July 2011 est.
}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 633rd in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name="districtcensus" /> The district has a population density of {{convert| 23 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}} .<ref name="districtcensus" /> Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001–2011 was 28.33%.<ref name="districtcensus" /> Tawang has a [[sex ratio]] of 701 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males,<ref name="districtcensus" /> and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 60.61%.<ref name="districtcensus" />

A sizeable population of 20,000 live in Tawang town. The dominant ethnic group are the [[Monpa people|Monpa]], who inhabit all of the 163 villages. The Tibetan are also found in small scattered numbers throughout Tawang. The [[Takpa]], a small tribal group, are found in small, scattered numbers in the West and the North.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hvk.org/hvk/articles/0803/112.html|title=About Tawang}}</ref><ref>[http://www.dailypioneer.com/displayit1.asp?pathit=/index_archives/oped/opd3652.txt Injustice in India's east]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://arunachalphed.nic.in/map/twang.htm|title=PHED Map - Tawang|website=arunachalphed.nic.in}}</ref>
===Religion===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Tawang District (2011)<ref name=Census>{{Cite news|url=https://www.census2011.com/data/religion/district/465-tawang.html|title=2011 Religion Census|access-date=13 March 2021}}</ref>
|label2 = [[Hinduism]]
|value2 = 23.69
|color2 = Orange
|label4 = [[Islam]]
|value4 = 1.57
|color4 = Green
|label6 = [[Jainism]]
|value6 = 0.14
|color6 = Blue
|label5 = [[Christianity]]
|value5 = 1.55
|color5 = Red
|label3 = [[Sikhism]]
|value3 = 2.33
|color3 = Pink
|label1 = [[Buddhism]]
|value1 = 70
|color1 = Yellow
|value7=0.83|color7=Grey|label7=Others}}

Most of the people, which includes the Monpa, Takpa and the Tibetans, are [[Tibetan Buddhist]] by religion. Pre-Buddhist [[Bön]] and [[Shamanism|Shamanist]] influence is also evident. Festivals that include [[Losar]], Choskar, and Torgya are held annually. The Dungyur is also celebrated in every three years of the Torgya. Both the Dungyur and Torgya festivals are celebrated at the Tawang Monastery with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm.

==Transport==
The {{convert|2000|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} proposed Mago-[[Thingbu]] to [[Vijaynagar, Changlang|Vijaynagar]] [[Mago-Thingbu to Vijaynagar Border Road|Arunachal Pradesh Frontier Highway]] along the [[McMahon Line]],<ref name=BR1>{{cite web|title=Top officials to meet to expedite road building along China border|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Top-officials-to-meet-to-expedite-road-building-along-China-border/articleshow/44831871.cms|author=Dipak Kumar Dash|work=The Times of India|access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref><ref name=BR2>{{cite web|title=Narendra Modi government to provide funds for restoration of damaged highways|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-narendra-modi-government-to-provide-funds-for-restoration-of-damaged-highways-2020106|work=Daily News and Analysis|access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref><ref name=BR3>{{cite web|title=Indian Government Plans Highway Along Disputed China Border|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/10/indian-government-plans-highway-along-disputed-china-border/|work=Ankit Panda|publisher=thediplomat.com|access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref><ref name=BR4>{{cite web |url= http://www.livemint.com/Politics/nqEwdXxkIgrSHPpTSzsFRN/Govt-planning-road-along-McMohan-line-in-Arunachal-Pradesh.html |title= Govt planning road along McMohan line in Arunachal Pradesh: Kiren Rijiju |publisher= Live Mint |access-date= 2014-10-26}}</ref> (will intersect with the proposed [[East-West Industrial Corridor Highway, Arunachal Pradesh|East-West Industrial Corridor Highway]]) and will pass through here, alignment map of which can be seen [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141016/nat7.jpg here] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20160306112247/http://arunachalpradesh.nic.in/images/state_map.jpg here].<ref name=BR5>{{cite web |url= http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141016/nation.htm|title=China warns India against paving road in Arunachal|work=Ajay Banerjee|publisher=tribuneindia.com|access-date= 2014-10-26}}</ref>

== Economy ==
Most of the tribes depend on agriculture for a living. Owing to Tawang's cold climate, farmers breed [[yak]] and sheep, although in lower altitudes crops are also planted.

===Tourism===
Tawang is a popular tourist destination thanks to the well-preserved [[Tawang Monastery]]. The [[Sela Pass]] rises steeply and is covered with snow for most of the year. Jang waterfall is a big tourist attraction.

Tawang district has a handicrafts centre that promotes the small-scale industries for local handicrafts.

Visitors to Tawang district require a special [[Inner Line Permit]] from the government which are available in [[Kolkata]], [[Guwahati]], [[Tezpur]], and [[New Delhi]]. Most of the travel from the plains is on a steep hill road journey, crossing Sela Pass at {{convert|4176|m}}. Tourists can travel to Tawang from Tezpur, [[Assam]] by road. Tezpur has direct flights from Kolkata. Guwahati, Assam, is 16 hours by road. In June 2008, a daily helicopter service from Guwahati was started by the Arunachal Pradesh government.

Road travel to Tawang from Tezpur, Assam, is by buses, private taxis and shared taxis. It is an arduous journey: most of the road is loose tarmac and gravel giving way to mud in many places. However, it is a scenic journey of nearly 12 hours, crossing [[Bomdila]] Pass 2,438 metres (8,000 feet), peaking at Sela Pass 4,176 metres (13,700 feet), Jaswant Garh and, finally, Tawang. Government buses often break down (usually on the way up) and passengers end up hitchhiking in private cars and taxis. En route, local food is available, especially meat and vegetarian momos and cream buns.

Tawang also hosted the 2nd International Tourism Mart in October 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=International Tourism Mart begins today at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2013/10/international-tourism-mart-begins-today-at-tawang-in-arunachal-pradesh/|access-date=18 October 2013}}</ref>

==Culture==

===Tawang Monastery===
{{main|Tawang Monastery}}

{{Tibetan Buddhism}}

The [[Tawang Monastery]] was founded by the Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso in accordance to the wishes of the [[5th Dalai Lama]], Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso. The monastery belongs to the [[Gelugpa]] sect and is the largest [[Buddhist]] monastery in India. It is associated with [[Drepung Monastery]] in [[Lhasa]].<ref>''Footprint Tibet Handbook with Bhutan'', p. 200. Gyume Dorje. (1999) Footprint Handbooks, Bath, England. {{ISBN|0-8442-2190-2}}.</ref> The name Tawang means ''Chosen Horse''. It is also known by another Tibetan name, Galden Namgey Lhatse, which means a true name within a celestial paradise in a clear night.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}

===Dalai Lama===
When the current Dalai Lama (14th Dalai Lama) fled from Tibet in 1959 to escape from the Chinese army, he crossed into India on 30 March 1959 and spent some days resting at Tawang Monastery before reaching [[Tezpur]] in [[Assam]] on 18 April.<ref>Richardson (1984), p. 210</ref> As recently as 2003, the [[Dalai Lama]] said that Tawang was "actually part of Tibet". He reversed his position in 2008, acknowledging the legitimacy of the McMahon Line and the Indian claim to the region.<ref name="tpt">{{cite news |title= Tawang is part of India: Dalai Lama |publisher=TNN |date=4 June 2008 | url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Tawang_is_part_of_India_Dalai_Lama_/articleshow/3097568.cms |access-date=20 August 2012}}</ref>

The Dalai Lama visited Tawang district on 8 November 2009. About 30,000 persons, including those from neighbouring [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]], attended his religious discourse.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/india/2009/11/10/232126/Thousands-flock.htm|title=chinapost.com.tw}}</ref>

{{clear}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/3841145#map=10/27.6736/92.0096 Tawang district marked on OpenStreetMap]
*[http://tawang.site Tawang] multilingual site
* [http://tawang.nic.in/ Tawang District Government Website]
*[[wikivoyage:Tawang|Tawang travel guide from Wikivoyage]]

{{Geographic location
|state = expanded
|Centre = Tawang district
|North = [[Cona County]]
|Northeast =
|East = [[East Kameng district]]
|Southeast = [[West Kameng district]]
|South =
|Southwest = {{flag|Bhutan}}
|West = {{flag|Bhutan}}
|Northwest =
}}

{{Arunachal Pradesh}}
{{Minority Concentrated Districts in India}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tawang district| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Minority Concentrated Districts in India]]
[[Category:1989 establishments in Andhra Pradesh]]

Tawang district - Revision history

imported>DiplomatTesterMan: /* Administrative divisions */ map