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| coordinates            = {{coord|27|35|18|N|91|51|55|E|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates            = {{coord|27|35|18|N|91|51|55|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_name        = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1      = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type1      = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2      = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_type2      = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1      = {{flagicon image|..Arunachal Pradesh Flag(INDIA).png}} [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[Tawang district|Tawang]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[Tawang district|Tawang]]
| established_title      = <!-- Established -->
| established_title      = <!-- Established -->
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'''Tawang''' is a town and the headquarters of an eponymous [[Tawang district|district]] in the Indian state of [[Arunachal Pradesh]]. China claims the region as part of the [[Tibet Autonomous Region]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Behind Tawang row, two nations enslaved by history|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/web-edits/behind-tawang-row-two-nations-enslaved-by-history-dalai-lama-arunachal-pradesh-tenzin-gyatso-4602552/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=J Michael Cole|date=27 November 2012|title=China's New Passport Sparks Controversy|url=https://thediplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2012/11/27/chinas-new-passport-sparks-controversy/|access-date=25 May 2013|publisher=The Diplomat}}</ref>  
Tawang is a town in the Indian state of [[Arunachal Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Praveen Swami |title=Behind Tawang row, two nations enslaved by history |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=6 April 2017 |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/web-edits/behind-tawang-row-two-nations-enslaved-by-history-dalai-lama-arunachal-pradesh-tenzin-gyatso-4602552/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=J Michael Cole |title=China's New Passport Sparks Controversy |newspaper=The Diplomat |date=27 November 2012 |url=https://thediplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2012/11/27/chinas-new-passport-sparks-controversy/}}</ref>


Tawang is situated 448&nbsp;km north-west of state capital [[Itanagar]] at an elevation of approximately {{convert|3,048|m}}. The town lies to the north of the [[Tawang Chu]] river valley, roughly {{conv|10|mi}} south of the [[Line of Actual Control]] with China. The town once served as the district headquarters of [[West Kameng]] district. In 1989, the present day [[Tawang district]] to the north of the [[Sela Pass]] was split off as a separate 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>
Tawang is situated 448&nbsp;km north-west of state capital [[Itanagar]] at an elevation of approximately {{convert|3,048|m}}. The town lies to the north of the [[Tawang Chu]] river valley, roughly {{convert|10|mi}} south of the [[Line of Actual Control]] with China. The town once served as the district headquarters of [[West Kameng]] district. In 1989, the present day [[Tawang district]] to the north of the [[Sela Pass]] was split off as a separate 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>


==History==
==History==
[[File:Tsangyang Gyatso birth place.jpg|thumb|Birthplace of [[6th Dalai Lama]], Ugyenling Monastery,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.beontheroad.com/2012/06/ugyenling-monastery-birth-place-of-6th.html#|title=Ugyenling Monastery: Birth Place of the 6th Dalai Lama|date=10 June 2012|work=Be On The Road {{!}} Live your Travel Dream!|access-date=2017-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228034019/http://www.beontheroad.com/2012/06/ugyenling-monastery-birth-place-of-6th.html|archive-date=28 December 2016|url-status=dead|language=en-US|df=dmy-all}}</ref> near Tawang|280x280px]]
[[File:Tawang Monyul region from 1936 Survey of India map.jpg|thumb|left|The Monyul region covering Eastern Bhutan and the Tawang tract ([[Survey of India]], 1936)]]
Tawang was historically part of Tibet, 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 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.
[[File:Tsangyang Gyatso birth place.jpg|thumb|Birthplace of [[6th Dalai Lama]], Ugyenling Monastery, near Tawang<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ugyenling Monastery: Birth Place of the 6th Dalai Lama |date=10 June 2012 |website=Be On The Road |access-date=2017-04-22 |url=http://www.beontheroad.com/2012/06/ugyenling-monastery-birth-place-of-6th.html#  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228034019/http://www.beontheroad.com/2012/06/ugyenling-monastery-birth-place-of-6th.html |archive-date=28 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>|280x280px]]
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 an interesting legend surrounding its name. ‘TA’ means 'Horse' and ‘WANG’ means 'Chosen'. So, the word 'Tawang' means "Chosen by Horse". As per a legend, the Monastery is believed to have been chosen by a Horse Owned by Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census {{!}} Tawang District, Government of Arunachal Pradesh {{!}} India |url=https://tawang.nic.in/document-category/census-en/ |access-date=2022-06-13 |language=en-US}}</ref> The sixth Dalai Lama, [[Tsangyang Gyatso, 6th Dalai Lama|Tsangyang Gyatso]], was born in Tawang.


During the [[Simla Accord (1914)|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 the British. The agreement was not recognized by China.<ref name=Shakya>{{cite book|last=Shakya |first=Tsering |author-link=Tsering Shakya |title=The Dragon in the Land of Snows: A History of Modern Tibet Since 1947 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dosnYnxzTD4C&pg=PA279 |year=1999 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-11814-9 |page=279}}</ref> According to [[Tsering Shakya]], the British records show that the border agreed in 1914 was conditional upon China accepting the Simla Convention. Since the British were unable to get China's acceptance, the Tibetans regarded the MacMahon line "invalid".<ref name=Shakya/> The British did not implement the McMahon Line for over two decades, during which Tawang continued to be administered by Tibet. When 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 rediscovered that Tibet had ceded Tawang to British India, and attempted to revive the McMahon Line. In November, the British government demanded that Tibet implement the [[Simla Accord (1914)|1914 Simla Accord]]; this met with rejection from the Tibetan government, which rejected the validity of the McMahon Line. 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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Goldstein |first=Melvyn C.|title=A History of Modern Tibet, 1913-1951: The Demise of the Lamaist State |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Upwq0I-wm7YC|year=1991|publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-91176-5|pages=299–307}}</ref> This expedition was met with strong resistance from the Tibetan government and local people; a protest was lodged against the British Indian government.
Tawang was historically under the control of Tibet. During the [[Simla Accord (1914)|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 the British. The agreement was not recognized by China.{{sfn|Shakya|1999|p=279}} 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".{{sfn|Shakya|1999|p=279}}{{pov-inline|date=November 2021|talk=According to Tsering Shakya}}


Lightfoot's brief visit elicited a strong diplomatic protest from Tibet but did not cause any territorial change. 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 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.<ref name=Maxwell>{{cite book|title=India's China War|first=Neville|last=Maxwell|publisher=Anchor Books|year=1972}}</ref>{{rp|50–51}}
The British did not implement the McMahon Line for over two decades, during which Tawang continued to be administered by Tibet. When 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.{{sfn|Goldstein|1991|pp=301–302}} This drew the attention of the British, who re-examined the Indo-Tibetan border, and attempted to revive the McMahon Line.{{sfn|Goldstein|1991|pp=301–302}} In November, the British government demanded that Tibet implement 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.{{sfn|Goldstein|1991|p=302}} Tibet refused to surrender Tawang, partly because of the importance attached to the Tawang Monastery.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} 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.{{sfn|Goldstein|1991|pp=299–307}} The invasion was met with strong resistance from the Tibetan government, a serious protest was lodged against the British Indian government.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}


The situation continued after India's independence but underwent a decisive change in 1950 when Tibet lost its autonomy and was [[Incorporation of Tibet into the People's Republic of China|incorporated]] into the newly established People's Republic of China. In February 1951, [[Ralengnao Khathing|Major Ralengnao 'Bob' Khathing]] led an Assam Rifles column to Tawang town and took control of the remainder of the Tawang tract from the Tibetans, removing the Tibetan administration.<ref>''India's China War'', Neville Maxwell (Anchor Books, 1972), page 66</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://assamrifles.gov.in/news_view.aspx?id=1300|title=Assam Rifles|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529195802/http://assamrifles.gov.in/news_view.aspx?id=1300|archive-date=29 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> During the [[Sino-Indian war]] of 1962, Tawang fell briefly under Chinese control, but China voluntarily withdrew its troops at the end of the war.  Tawang again came under Indian administration, but China has not relinquished its claims on most of [[Arunachal Pradesh]] including Tawang.<ref name=Maxwell/>{{rp|384–502}}
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 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.<ref name=Maxwell>{{harvnb|Maxwell|1972|pp=50–51}}</ref>


The MLA (August 2016) of Tawang constituency is [[Tsering Tashi]].
The situation continued after India's independence but underwent a decisive change in 1950 when Tibet lost its autonomy and was [[Incorporation of Tibet into the People's Republic of China|incorporated]] 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Maxwell|1972|p=66}}</ref>{{efn|The official was [[Ralengnao Khathing]] of [[Manipur]], the Assistant Political Officer of the Sela subagency (now [[West Kameng district]]). He was accompanied by two platoons of [[Assam Rifles]].<ref>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Manipur-remembers-man-who-won-Tawang/articleshow/45859646.cms Manipur remembers man who won Tawang], The Times of India, 13 January 2014.</ref>}} The Indian efforts were warmly welcomed by the native population as a respite from an oppressive feudal regime. During the [[Sino-Indian war]] of 1962, Tawang fell 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.{{sfn|Maxwell|1972|pp=384–502}}


==Geography==
==Geography==
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==Tawang Monastery==
==Tawang Monastery==
[[File:Sakyamuni Buddha.jpg|thumb|The 8m tall statue of the Shakyamuni [[Buddha]] in the Tawang Monastery|280x280px]]
[[File:Sakyamuni Buddha.jpg|thumb|The 8m tall statue of the Shakyamuni [[Buddha]] in the Tawang Monastery|280x280px]]
[[Tawang Monastery]] 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 ({{bo|t=རྟ་དབང་|w=Rta-dbang}}) means ''Horse Chosen''.<ref name=monpas>{{cite web|url=http://tawang.nic.in/history.htm|title=Tawang District: The Land of Monpas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410022324/http://tawang.nic.in/history.htm |archive-date=10 April 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is said to be the biggest Buddhist monastery in the world outside of [[Lhasa]], Tibet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=1,2720,0,0,1,0|title=Young Buddhist monks lead insular lives in India|publisher=Buddhist Channel}}</ref> It is a major holy site for Tibetan Buddhists as it was the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama.<ref name="tpt1">{{cite news |title= Tawang is part of India: Dalai Lama |date=4 June 2008 | url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-06-04/india/27742278_1_tawang-dalai-lama-tibetan-spiritual-leader | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121024093427/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-06-04/india/27742278_1_tawang-dalai-lama-tibetan-spiritual-leader | url-status= dead | archive-date= 24 October 2012 |work= [[The Times of India]] |access-date=20 August 2012}}</ref>
[[Tawang Monastery]] 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 ({{bo|t=རྟ་དབང་|w=Rta-dbang}}) means ''Horse Chosen''.<ref name=monpas>{{cite web |title=Tawang District: The Land of Monpas |url=http://tawang.nic.in/history.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410022324/http://tawang.nic.in/history.htm |archive-date=10 April 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It is said to be the biggest Buddhist monastery in the world outside of [[Lhasa]], Tibet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Young Buddhist monks lead insular lives in India |publisher=Buddhist Channel |url=http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=1,2720,0,0,1,0}}</ref> It is a major holy site for Tibetan Buddhists as it was the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama.<ref name="tpt1">{{cite news |title= Tawang is part of India: Dalai Lama |work= [[The Times of India]] |date=4 June 2008 |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-06-04/india/27742278_1_tawang-dalai-lama-tibetan-spiritual-leader |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121024093427/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-06-04/india/27742278_1_tawang-dalai-lama-tibetan-spiritual-leader |url-status= dead |archive-date= 24 October 2012}}</ref>


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.<ref>*{{cite book|author-link=Hugh E. Richardson|first=Hugh|last=Richardson|year=1984|title=Tibet & Its History|edition=2nd|publisher=Shambhala Publications|location=Boston|isbn=0-87773-376-7|page=210}}</ref> Prior to 1959, the Dalai Lama refused to recognize India's sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, including Tawang.  In 2003, the Dalai Lama said that "Arunachal Pradesh was actually part of Tibet" (No reference). In January 2007, he said that in 1914, both the Tibetan government and Britain recognized the McMahon Line. In 2008, he said that "Arunchal Pradesh was a part of India under the [[Simla Accord (1914)|agreement]] signed by Tibetan and British representatives".<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 on 8 November 2009.  About 30,000 people, including those from neighbouring [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]], attended his religious discourse.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/india/2009/11/10/232126/Thousands-flock.htm Thousands flock to see Dalai Lama in Indian state]</ref>
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.{{sfn|Richardson|1984|page=210}} In 2007, the Dalai Lama acknowledged that both the Tibetan government and Britain recognized the McMahon Line in 1914.<ref name="tpt1"/><ref name=OPEN>Jaideep Mazumdar, [https://openthemagazine.com/features/india/loyalty-and-its-symbols/ Loyalty and Its Symbols], OPEN Magazine, 12 November 2009.</ref> He visited Tawang on 8 November 2009.  About 30,000 people, including those from neighbouring [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]], attended his religious discourse.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/india/2009/11/10/232126/Thousands-flock.htm Thousands flock to see Dalai Lama in Indian state]</ref>


==Transportation==
==Transportation==
{{ see also | Ministry_of_Development_of_North_Eastern_Region#Projects | l1 = Northeast Connectivity projects | India–Myanmar_barrier#Look-East_Connectivity | l2= Look-East Connectivity projects }}
===Airport===
===Airport===
[[Tawang Air Force Station]] has an already functional [[heliport]] and fixed-wing "''Advanced Landing Ground"'' (AGL) capable of handling [[Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules]] transport aircraft.<ref name=twet1>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/iaf-to-have-7-operational-advanced-landing-grounds-in-arunachal-pradesh-in-a-month/articleshow/49809013.cms?from=mdr|title=IAF to have 7 operational Advanced Landing Grounds in Arunachal Pradesh in a month]|newspaper=Economic Times|date=12 July 2018}}</ref><ref name=twet2>{{cite web|url=https://www.eastmojo.com/arunachal-pradesh/2019/09/18/arunachals-vijaynagar-advanced-landing-ground-dedicated-to-nation|title=Arunachal's Vijaynagar Advanced Landing Ground dedicated to nation|publisher=East Mojo|date=18 Sep 2019}}</ref> The [[Indian Airforce]] (IAF) has offered the upgraded ALG in Tawang for the operation of civil helicopter and flights for the tourism and [[UDAN]] scheme.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uniindia.com/advanced-landing-ground-open-for-civil-flights-air-marshal-nambiar/east/news/1409729.html|title=AGL open for civil flights|publisher=UNI India|date=19 Nov 2018}}</ref>
[[Tawang Air Force Station]] has an already functional [[heliport]] .The [[Indian Airforce]] (IAF) has offered the upgraded ALG in Tawang for the operation of civil helicopter and flights for the tourism and [[UDAN]] scheme.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uniindia.com/advanced-landing-ground-open-for-civil-flights-air-marshal-nambiar/east/news/1409729.html|title=AGL open for civil flights|publisher=UNI India|date=19 Nov 2018}}</ref>


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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiamapped.com/air-force-station-in-india/tawang-air-force-station/|title=Tawang AFS, Air Force Station Tawang|website=www.indiamapped.com|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiamapped.com/air-force-station-in-india/tawang-air-force-station/|title=Tawang AFS, Air Force Station Tawang|website=www.indiamapped.com|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref>


===Railway===
===Railway===
{{anchor | Rail }}
{{anchor |Rail }}
{{see also | Future_of_rail_transport_in_India#Geo | l1= Geostrategic rail lines of India }}
{{see also |Future_of_rail_transport_in_India#Geo |l1=Geostrategic rail lines of India }}


The nearest existing railway station is at [[Naharlagun railway station|Naharlagun]], which 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.<ref name="rail">{{cite news |title= Defence Ministry allots 4 more strategic rail lines to NE|publisher=newsbharati |date=21 June 2013| url= http://en.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2013/6/21/Defence-Ministry-allots-4-more-strategic-rail-lines-to-NE.aspx|access-date=21 June 2013}}</ref>
The nearest existing railway station is at [[Naharlagun railway station|Naharlagun]], which 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.<ref name="rail">{{cite news |title=Defence Ministry allots 4 more strategic rail lines to NE|publisher=newsbharati |date=21 June 2013|url=http://en.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2013/6/21/Defence-Ministry-allots-4-more-strategic-rail-lines-to-NE.aspx|access-date=21 June 2013}}</ref>


{{anchor | TR | Tawang railway | Bhalukpong-Tawang railway }}
{{anchor |TR |Tawang railway |Bhalukpong-Tawang railway }}
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, the 80% of the tracks will be through tunnels and the longest tunnel will be 29.48 km long.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2020-04-21|title=New Indian Railways line close to China: This railway link to Tawang is coming up at a height of 10,000 feet!|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/new-indian-railways-line-close-to-china-this-railway-link-to-tawang-is-coming-up-at-a-height-of-10000-feet/1229647/|date=3 July 2018|website=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]]|first=Devanjana|last=Nag}}</ref> This link will reduce the existing 285 km Bhalukpong-Tawang road distance by 119 km, and to shorten the road distance as well the railway will also develop 2 lane road highway along the rail line.<ref name=twanagrail1>[https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/new-indian-railways-line-close-to-china-this-railway-link-to-tawang-is-coming-up-at-a-height-of-10000-feet/1229647/ New Indian Railways line close to China: This railway link to Tawang is coming up at a height of 10,000 feet!], Financial Express, 2 July 2018.</ref> Once completed, further extionsion plans include a 100 km long western spur to [[Yongphulla Airport]] (upgraded by [[Royal Bhutan Army#Relationship with the Indian Armed Forces|India and jointly used by the Indian Army and Bhutan Army]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Dantak|work=Border Roads Organisation|publisher=[[Government of India]]|url=http://www.bro.nic.in/indexmain.asp?projectid=23|access-date=1 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927154718/http://www.bro.nic.in/indexmain.asp?projectid=23|archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref> in eastern Bhutan via Yabab in India and [[Trashigang]] in Bhutan.
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, the 80% of the tracks will be through tunnels and the longest tunnel will be 29.48 km long.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2020-04-21|title=New Indian Railways line close to China: This railway link to Tawang is coming up at a height of 10,000 feet!|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/new-indian-railways-line-close-to-china-this-railway-link-to-tawang-is-coming-up-at-a-height-of-10000-feet/1229647/|date=3 July 2018|website=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]]|first=Devanjana|last=Nag}}</ref> This link will reduce the existing 285 km Bhalukpong-Tawang road distance by 119 km, and to shorten the road distance as well the railway will also develop 2 lane road highway along the rail line.<ref name=twanagrail1>[https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/new-indian-railways-line-close-to-china-this-railway-link-to-tawang-is-coming-up-at-a-height-of-10000-feet/1229647/ New Indian Railways line close to China: This railway link to Tawang is coming up at a height of 10,000 feet!], Financial Express, 2 July 2018.</ref> Once completed, further extionsion plans include a 100 km long western spur to [[Yongphulla Airport]] (upgraded by [[Royal Bhutan Army#Relationship with the Indian Armed Forces|India and jointly used by the Indian Army and Bhutan Army]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Dantak|work=Border Roads Organisation|publisher=[[Government of India]]|url=http://www.bro.nic.in/indexmain.asp?projectid=23|access-date=1 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927154718/http://www.bro.nic.in/indexmain.asp?projectid=23|archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref> in eastern Bhutan via Yabab in India and [[Trashigang]] in Bhutan.


===Road===
===Road===
{{see also | India-China Border Roads }}
{{see also |India-China Border Roads }}


Located on the northern most end of [[National Highway 13 (India)|NH 13]] of [[Trans-Arunachal Highway]] network, Tawang is {{convert|447.5|km}} from state capital [[Itanagar]] and is connected with buses run by [[Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Services|APSRTC]] and private services.
Located on the northern most end of [[National Highway 13 (India)|NH 13]] of [[Trans-Arunachal Highway]] network, Tawang is {{convert|447.5|km}} from state capital [[Itanagar]] and is connected with buses run by [[Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Services|APSRTC]] and private services.


{{anchor | Lumla | Trashigang | Lumla-Trashigang Road | Luma-Trashigang road}}
{{anchor |Lumla |Trashigang |Lumla-Trashigang Road |Luma-Trashigang road}}
[[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 [[Line of Actual Control|India-China-Bhutan boder]].<ref>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-proposes-to-build-road-via-bhutans-wildlife-park/articleshow/76950740.cms India proposes to build road in Bhutan’s ‘Yeti territory’ which China claimed recently], Economic Times, Jul 15, 2020.</ref> This will be an upgrade of 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 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.
[[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 [[Line of Actual Control|India-China-Bhutan boder]].<ref>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-proposes-to-build-road-via-bhutans-wildlife-park/articleshow/76950740.cms India proposes to build road in Bhutan’s ‘Yeti territory’ which China claimed recently], Economic Times, Jul 15, 2020.</ref> This will be an upgrade of 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 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.


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* [[China–India relations]]
* [[China–India relations]]
* [[Tourism in North East India]]
* [[Tourism in North East India]]
==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
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==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
* Gyume Dorje. (1999). ''Footprint Tibet Handbook with Bhutan''. Footprint Handbooks, Bath, England. {{ISBN|0-8442-2190-2}}.
* Gyume Dorje. (1999). ''Footprint Tibet Handbook with Bhutan''. Footprint Handbooks, Bath, England. {{ISBN|0-8442-2190-2}}.
* {{citation |last=Goldstein |first=Melvyn C. |title=A History of Modern Tibet, 1913-1951: The Demise of the Lamaist State |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Upwq0I-wm7YC |year=1991 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-91176-5}}
* {{citation |last=Maxwell |first=Neville |author-link=Neville Maxwell |title=India's China War |publisher=Pantheon Books |year=1970  |isbn=978-0-394-47051-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/indiaschinawar0000maxw |via=archive.org}}
** {{cite book |first=Neville |last=Maxwell |title=India's China War |publisher=Anchor Books |year=1972}}
* {{citation |editor-last1=Mayilvaganan |editor-first1=M. |editor-last2=Khatoon |editor-first2=Nasima |editor-last3=Bej |editor-first3=Sourina |title=Tawang, Monpas and Tibetan Buddhism in Transition: Life and Society along the India-China Borderland |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8i3rDwAAQBAJ |year=2020 |publisher=Springer Singapore |isbn=9789811543463}}
** {{citation |last=Nanda |first=Neeru |chapter=Tawang and the Mon in their Borderlands: A Historical Overview |editor1=M. Mayilvaganan |editor2=Nasima Khatoon |editor3=Sourina Bej |title=Tawang, Monpas and Tibetan Buddhism in Transition: Life and Society along the India-China Borderland |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8i3rDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA29 |year=2020 |publisher=Springer Singapore |isbn=9789811543463 |pages=29–44}}
* {{citation |last=Mehra |first=Parshotam |title=The McMahon Line and After: A Study of the Triangular Contest on India's North-eastern Frontier Between Britain, China and Tibet, 1904-47 |year=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=9780333157374 |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.pahar.3459 |via=archive.org}}
* {{cite book |last=Richardson |first=Hugh |author-link=Hugh E. Richardson  |year=1984 |title=Tibet & Its History |edition=2nd |publisher=Shambhala Publications |location=Boston |isbn=0-87773-376-7}}
* {{citation |last=Shakya |first=Tsering |authorlink=Tsering Shakya |title=The Dragon in the Land of Snows: A History of Modern Tibet Since 1947 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dosnYnxzTD4C&pg=PA279 |year=1999 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-11814-9 |pages=279–}}
** {{citation |last=Shakya |first=Tsering |authorlink=Tsering Shakya |title=Dragon In The Land Of Snows: The History of Modern Tibet since 1947 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WWjMMS7dHc0C |year=2012 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-1-4481-1429-0 }}
* {{citation |first=Lobsang |last=Tenpa |title=An Early History of the Mon Region (India) and its Relationship with Tibet and Bhutan |series=South & Inner Asian Studies/ Tibetan & Himalayan Studies  |publisher=Library of Tibetan Works and Archives |year=2018 |isbn=9789387023345 |ref={{sfnref|Tenpa, An Early History of the Mon Region|2018}}
* {{citation |last1=Van Eekelen |first1=Willem Frederik |title=Indian Foreign Policy and the Border Dispute with China |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8eTzBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA163 |year=1967 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-94-017-6555-8}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
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