Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh

In the magnificent highlands of the high-eastern Himalayas, Tibetan Buddhism has for ages survived and progressed true to its essence. Once contingent to that glorious free Tibet and ruled from Lhasa, the region today forms the western part of the forested state of Arunachal Pradesh. This land is proverbially beautiful; where the forests are massive, plentiful with fruits and flowers, high mountains, large rivers, and where humble cultures come alive in awe and simplicity.

Old as the land, the region has its earliest inhabitants in the Monyul Kingdom which ruled over the land for over a thousand years till the 6th century. The Monpa people of this kingdom eventually adopted Buddhist practices over the later centuries and in the 17th century the mesmerizing Galden Namgey Lhatse Monastery which translates to 'celestial paradise in a clear night' was built in the settlement of Tawang as per the wishes of His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, and belongs to the Gelug school of Mahayana Buddhism. Ever since, the landscape of the region has shined further gloriously, as a center of deep Buddhist studies and thriving cultural practices. In some essence, the region is also an example of Buddhism’s ability to absorb and integrate native faiths to create prosperity and unity. As such, Monpas and other tribes such as Aka and Sherdukpen who reside in the western cultural sphere of Arunachal Pradesh follow a culture that has integrated Buddhism with some of their pre-Buddhist Bon and animist elements of faith.

The trip climbs from the Assam plains into West Kameng and stops first at Shergaon, a Sherdukpen village among apple orchards, named one of India’s Best Tourism Villages in 2023. You will drive as far as the holy lands of Tawang and even beyond to the paradisiacal landscapes of the mysterious high eastern Himalayas. In the verdant village of Thembang, you will come across and participate in the village life of the Monpa people and be introduced to their Bon-Buddhist culture. A responsible tourism project in the village ensures visitors get to stay in homestays and benefits remain at a grassroots level. In the medieval era, the village was a headquarter of a large territory ruled by the powerful Thembang Bapu, a direct descendant of the king of Tibet. The fortification remains of this kingdom are still found in the village.

Moving further high in the mountains towards the frontier borderlands with Tibet, the tour will reach the holy town of Tawang where the Galden Namgey Lhatse Monastery sits overlooking atop the hill and appears radiant, like a beacon of higher consciousnesses. The town is both a cultural and commercial hub in this remote region. Numerous important monasteries and nunneries have been established in and around. Such as the 15th century Urgelling Monastery which is the birthplace of His Holiness the 6th Dalai Lama Gyalwa Tsangyang Gyatso.

The Anni Gompa is the oldest nunnery in the vast area with several quarters housing many Buddhist nuns, built around five hundred years ago by a Tibetan lama. The newly opened ropeway between Tawang Monastery and Anni Gompa is an enjoyable ride. The large and artistic Khinmey monastery is the only major shrine of the Nyingmapa sect (red hat) of the Tawang region, where according to legend, the great hermit Kudun Sangey Rinpoche tamed several barking hunting dogs while meditating. The Nyingmapas were the majority sect in the Tawang region in the earlier times before the emergence of the Gelugpa sect (yellow hat) of the Tawang monastery, and are known to incorporate local religious practices, local deities, and elements of shamanism.

Lastly, as you travel near the borderlands, the geography opens up into spectacular high-altitude peaks and pastures. Beyond Tawang the road runs down to Zemithang — a valley wedged between Bhutan and Tibet, the last Indian village on that side, where the twelfth-century Gorsam Chorten stands a hundred feet high in the same lineage as Boudhanath in Kathmandu.

There will also be a visit to two community projects which engage in social work. The Manjushree Vidyapeeth is an orphanage run by Buddhist monks and is on the way to Lhou. It is open for visitors and many even offer help for the welfare of this institution. Jhamtse Gatsal is another project – a community, home, and school for about 90 children who come from nearby villages. Coming from various problems, the school's goal is to provide the children with a better future and enable them in reaching their fullest potential. The community focuses on the wholesome development of a child through activities such as education, cultural preservation, family bonds, community outreach, food & gardening, healthcare, and sustainable living. Volunteering here is highly recommended and the school assists interested individuals find a vocation that will benefit the children.

A revealing journey through one of the planet's last thriving natural paradises, this tour provides a simple insight into distant lifestyles and cultures, all the while traversing a diversity of pretty landscapes. A quote by the great anthropologist Dr. Verrier Elwin aptly describes “Gentle, friendly, courteous, industrious, good to animals, good to children, you see in the Monpas the influence of the compassionate Lord Buddha on the ordinary man.”