Tawang monastery seeks World Heritage tag

While the monastery authorities have pressed Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu to take up the issue, the latter is understood to have already written to the ASI as well as the Prime Minister for making an official move.

“This monastery not only has a rich heritage, but also has a rich collection of artefacts which together make it a fit case for inclusion in the World Heritage Site list,” Guru Tulku Rimpoche, the Chief Rimpoche or abbot of the monastery, said. While the picturesque Tawang monastery was founded by Mera Lama Lodre Gyasto and became functional in 1681 during the time of the fifth Dalai Lama. The sixth Dalai Lama was born here in Tawang, the Rimpoche said.

The Tawang monastery, which is located at about 10,000 feet above sea level, is in fact a storehouse of treasure, with a newly established museum — the Gaden Namgyal Lhatse — housing over 1,000 invaluable artefacts. These include several gold and silver idols of Lord Buddha, including one that is over 600 years old, a two-metre long elephant task said to be over 1,000 years old, apart from numerous gold and silver basins and utensils.

But the most fascinating possession of the monastery is an 8.3-metre high statue of Lord Buddha. “This gold-plated statue that was brought from Tibet several centuries ago is not only the main attraction for Buddhist pilgrims, but also a tourist attraction,” Gonpa added.

But what worries the Rimpoche and the 450-plus monks who live in the monastery is the repeated claims made by China over this region in Arunachal Pradesh. “Tawang is historically a part of India and any claim made by China simply has no basis,” says the Rimpoche who was appointed only in June this year by the Dalai Lama.

“We do not even recognise China’s claim over Tibet. The Chinese have forcibly occupied a free country. Now they are eyeing Tawang, saying this too is part of their country. But the fact is that China cannot reverse history,” he added.