State
:Arunachal Pradesh, the north eastern state of India.Best Time to Travel : October to April.
Significance : The Buddhist Pilgrimage Centre.
Locate : The nunneries are located in Tawang, which 160 km from Tezpur (Assam).
Know the Nunneries of Tawang
Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh has a long tradition of nunneries called "Ani Gompas". There are several nunneries located at Tawang Arunachal Pradesh India. One of the oldest nunnery (Ani Gompa) is the Brama dung- chung Ani Gompa, located 12 km from Tawang. This Ani Gompa or nunnery was commissioned by Karchen Yeshi Gelek in 1595 and houses about 45 nuns. The Gyangong Ani Gompa is about 5 km from the Tawang township and has about 50 nuns staying here. Another nunnery is the Singsur Ani Gompa, built by Gonpaste Rimpoche. This is home to 45 nuns and is 28 km from Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. The nunneries are the place where nuns live. Unlike the monks (Lamas), the girls become nuns and join the nunnery on their own and there is no social pressure or tradition making the practice compulsory.
The Nunneries of Tawang
Brama Dung Chung Ani Gompa
Brama Dung Chung Ani Gompa (nunnery) is the oldest Ani Gompa (Nunnery) in
Tawang District of
Arunachal Pradesh. This nunnery is located in the lap of a far off mountain
surrounded by natural beauties. It is located at a distance of 9 km from the
main township of Tawang.
The nunnery was established by a Lama named Karchen Yeshi Gelek from Tsang
province of Tibet in the year 1595 AD. At present there are 45 'Anis' or
nuns in this monastery. Being very poor, the inhabitants of Brahmadungchung
Ani Gonpa depend on begging for sustaining themselves. Gyangong Ani Gompa
Gyangong Ani Gompa in Tawang Arunachal Pradesh is a beautiful Nunnery, having about 50 Buddhist Nuns. The Nunnery is located on top of a beautiful hillock about 5 km away in the north of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh founded by Mera Lam Lodre Gyamtso and was consequently offered by him to his elder sister. Thus the Gyangong Ani gonpa came into existence. This Ani Gonpa is under the control of Tawang Monastery and the nuns of this monastery get provision from the Tawang monastery. Location of nunnery and the customs being followed by nuns remind visitors of the period of Maurya Dynasty, when the Buddhism was preached in the distant hilly areas under the shade of green trees.
Singsur Ani Gompa
This Gompa is one beautiful nunneries of Tawang district. It is located at a distance of about 28 km west from the
Tawang
district Headquarters towards the Geshila road in Arunachal Pradesh. It
houses around 30 'Anis' or Nuns. The new Singsur Ani Gompa was built by the
previous Rev. Gonpatse Rimpoche in 1960. The old Singsur Ani Gompa is also
in existence and is located amidst the 'Shaa' (huts) of the Anies. Journey to The Tawang Nunneries
There is no airport or railhead in Tawang. Tezpur is the closest place, which offers an airport.
Road Transport : The only way out of the Tawang town leads back over the Sela Pass and down to Bomdila. Arunachal State Transport runs buses to Bomdila on Wednesday. Friday And Saturday (8hr). Private buses also run daily via Bomdila to Tezpur , departing round about noontime and arriving Tawang early in the morning of the following day. Jeeps also leave daily for Tezpur early in the morning from Tawang City Gate, 200m downhill from the bus stand.
Staying near the Tawang Nunneries
Some accommodations are available at Tawang for the tourists. you may not come across luxury accommodations.
