Tawang (3,000 m), Arunachal Pradesh · 27.5857°, 91.8560°
The largest monastery in India and second-largest in the world, a walled town of 65 residences above the Tawang valley, founded under the Fifth Dalai Lama's authority. The Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, was born nearby — a fact at the heart of the region's spiritual geography; its library preserves great Kangyur scripture sets.
Merak Lama, unable to choose a site, prayed for a sign — his horse (ta) wandered off and was found grazing on this spur (wang, 'chosen/blessed'): Tawang, the place the horse chose.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-26 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Monpa (under Gelug patronage)