Urgelling Monastery

Urgelling Monastery is a small gompa about 3 km from Tawang town. It was built in 1487 and is credited to Lama Urgen Sangpo, which makes it much older than its larger neighbour, Tawang Monastery. The route up passes green valleys, wildflowers and strings of prayer flags.

Tradition holds that Tsangyang Gyatso, the 6th Dalai Lama, was born here and spent his early years at the site. The monastery keeps hand-painted portraits of every Dalai Lama and imprints said to have been left by the sixth. Its main prayer hall, hung with thangkas and lit by butter lamps, is where monks and visitors pray and meditate.