Places To Visit In Tawang In November: A Scenic Getaway In Arunachal Pradesh

Tawang monastery, explore the list of the best places to visit in Tawang in November.

The places to visit in Tawang in November are perfect as the highlands of Arunachal Pradesh begin to settle into silence and wear its calm with pride. The weather stays crisp but comfortable. The places to visit in Tawang in November are perfect when the town sees clear skies. From ancient monasteries hidden in forests to frozen lake viewpoints and heritage bridges draped in prayer flags, each site offers a setting shaped by snow, stillness, and tradition. The charm lies not in spectacle but in quiet moments of walking between village paths in Tawang.

Top 10 Places To Visit In Tawang In November

This is the list of 10 places to visit in Tawang in November to experience snowfall and misty mountain valleys, creating breathtaking views

1. Banggachhang Lake Viewpoint

The Banggachhang Lake Viewpoint is one of the places to visit in Tawang in November

Photo: TheSomdeep / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

One of the most peaceful places to visit in Tawang in November, Banggachhang Lake Viewpoint offers a rare high-altitude vista. Located just before the army-controlled Bum La road begins, this viewpoint rests at a rugged bend overlooking the frozen alpine waters of Banggachhang Tso. The area sees early frost by mid-November, and the edges of the lake start to glaze over with ice, making the entire valley a silvery sheen. The lake remains sacred to locals, with a prayer-flag-wrapped monument nearby where soldiers and civilians alike stop for quiet reflection.

How To Reach: 25 km from Tawang town; on the Bum La route; no permit needed up to the viewpoint; take a private cab
Timings: 6 AM – 4 PM
Nearby Attractions: Army Café, Indo-China road bends, sky-touching ridges

2. Taktsang Gompa

The hilltop Taktsang Gompa, one of the best places to visit in Tawang in November.

Photo: Nina R / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

Taktsang Gompa is among the most spiritually significant places to visit in Tawang in November. It is believed that Guru Padmasambhava meditated here in the 8th century, and the silence of the surrounding pine forests still carries that weight. The gompa stands on a ledge embraced by tall trees. Though November brings cooler air and thinning vegetation, the trail to the monastery remains clear and drivable. The monastery itself is small, but the aura is deeply meditative. Travellers often light a butter lamp or sit by the railing that overlooks the Bhutanese side of the valley.

How To Reach: 35 km from Tawang town; near Bhutan border; reachable by cab via Lumla road
Timings: 8 AM – 4 PM
Nearby Attractions: Pine forest trails, mountain prayer flags, Lumla countryside views

3. Chagzam Bridge (Iron Suspension Bridge)

Chagzam Bridge, a traditional bridge is one of the places to visit in Tawang in November

Photo: Mihitsomu / Wikimedia Commons

Chagzam Bridge in Kitpi village is one of the oldest surviving chain bridges built in the 1400s by Lama Thangtong Gyalpo. It was made using iron chains and anchors and spans across a roaring river that cuts through the rocky gorge below. The structure may look fragile, but it has endured centuries of harsh mountain weather. The cold breeze rushing up through the wooden planks adds a rush of adrenaline. Prayer flags tied to the handrails flicker in the wind, and the landscape is quiet except for the sound of water. Few places to visit in Tawang in November.

How To Reach: 25 km from Tawang town; in Kitpi village; approx. 1 hour by cab
Timings: 7 AM – 5 PM
Nearby Attractions: Village homes, riverside picnic spots, narrow gorges

4. Khinmey Nyingma Monastery

The Nyingma Monastery is one of the best places to visit in Tawang in November.

Photo: Amitabha Gupta / Wikimedia Commonss

The Khinmey Nyingma Monastery is one of the most important centres of the Nyingma tradition in Arunachal Pradesh. This is one of the most culturally significant places to visit in Tawang in November. It is surrounded by sloping fields, pine groves, and wide skies that remain clear before winter fully sets in. The monastery complex includes a large prayer hall, traditional Tibetan murals, and a sacred throne preserved for visiting high lamas. Monks of all ages follow daily rituals, and visitors are welcome to quietly observe or offer butter lamps.

How To Reach: 12 km from Tawang town; near Kharsaneng village; accessible via local taxi
Timings: 8 AM – 4 PM
Nearby Attractions: Mukto forest fringes, hillside viewpoints, seasonal brooks

5. Shonga-Tser Viewpoint

Sangestar Tso Lake with a still water body, one of the places to visit in Tawang

Photo: Itrajib / Wikimedia Commons

Before the military checkpoint that leads to Sangetsar Lake, there’s a quiet bend along the road where the Shonga-tser Viewpoint opens up to wide, uninterrupted views of the upper Tawang valley. This point is accessible from places, which makes it one of the most famous places to visit in Tawang in November. The landscape is marked by frozen meadows, wind-swept pines, and cliffs. The breeze carries the sharp scent of junipers, and the silence is broken only by the flutter of prayer flags tied along the railings.

How To Reach: 35 km from Tawang town, just before Sangetsar Lake checkpoint; taxi required
Timings: 7 AM – 3 PM
Nearby Attractions: Army bunkers, shaded pine paths, road cafés

6. Tawang Monastery

Tawang Monastery with old traditional architectural buildings, green trees and mountains

Photo: Trideep Dutta Photography / Wikimedia Commons

Tawang Monastery is one of the most revered places to visit in Tawang in November. Established in the 17th century by Merag Lodroe Gyatso, it is the largest monastery in India and the second largest in Asia. The golden rooftops glint against the clear blue sky of November, and the courtyard is lively with monks engaged in prayer and daily chores. There is a statue of lord Buddha in the central prayer hall and is surrounded by hand-painted thangkas and wooden pillars carved with fine detail. Visitors can also explore the library and museum within the complex.

How To Reach: 2 km from main market; walkable or 5 mins by cab
Timings: 7 AM – 6 PM
Nearby Attractions: Tawang Library, butter-lamp shrines, monastic school courtyard

7. P.T. Tso Lake

P.T. Tso Lake with a large water body, a small boat near the lake and green shores

Photo: Trideep Dutta Photography / Wikimedia Commons

P.T. Tso Lake is one of the most photogenic places to visit in Tawang in November. It is also known locally as Pankang Teng Tso and begins to show signs of early freezing as temperatures drop, especially around the edges where frost collects on the prayer flags and boulders. Surrounded by silent pine forests and guarded by rolling hills, the lake mirrors the sharp blue sky and makes an ideal spot for travellers who want to experience high-altitude serenity without a demanding trek. You may spot yaks grazing nearby or a frozen stream cutting across the trail.

How To Reach: 17 km from Tawang town; on route to Sangetsar; hire a private cab
Timings: 7 AM – 3 PM
Nearby Attractions: Army view shelters, prayer stone fields, yak resting zones

8. Gyangong Ani Gompa

The Gyangong Ani Gompa looks over the majestic views of the expansive Tawang Valley

Photo: Swapnil Kulkarni / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

Gyangong Ani Gompa is the oldest nunnery in the Tawang district and one of the few places in the region where monastic life is led entirely by women. The structure is modest but well-maintained, with prayer wheels lining the entrance and a central altar adorned with butter lamps and colourful silks. November brings clear skies, and the walk around the Gompa offers clean views. It’s among the few places to visit in Tawang in November that offer both heritage and solitude without crowds or distractions.

How To Reach: 9 km uphill from Tawang town; drive or forest trail trek
Timings: 8 AM – 5 PM
Nearby Attractions: Hillside springs, wildflower paths, open meadows

9. Urgelling Gompa

Urgelling monastery with stairs, multiple windows, Tibetan flags and serene views

Photo: Prof Ranga Sai / Wikimedia Commons

Urgelling Gompa holds deep historical and spiritual value, especially for followers of Tibetan Buddhism. Located just 3 kilometres from Tawang town, this small monastery is known as the birthplace of the Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso. Though modest in appearance, it is one of the most historically rooted places to visit in Tawang in November. Pass through narrow lanes and clusters of village homes where prayer wheels and mani stones line the paths. Butter lamps flicker inside the prayer room, with a few benches where locals often sit and recite mantras.

How To Reach: 3 km from Tawang town; peaceful village locality; taxi or auto
Timings: 7 AM – 6 PM
Nearby Attractions: Village homes, old mani walls, prayer wheel huts

10. Sela Pass

Sela Pass with the entrance gate, and the backdrop of mighty snow covered peaks, Tawang

Photo: Saurabhgupta8 / Wikimedia Commons

Sitting at an altitude of over 13,700 feet, Sela Pass connects Tawang to the rest of Arunachal Pradesh and is one of the highest motorable roads in India. For many travellers, it is also among the most dramatic places to visit in Tawang in November. The surrounding peaks turn a pale white, and the sky often glows a deep cobalt blue, untouched by city haze. Sela Lake, located right next to the pass, freezes into thin ice layers along the edges, reflecting the shifting light throughout the day.

How To Reach: 78 km on the Tawang-Bomdila highway; fully motorable
Timings: 6 AM – 4 PM
Nearby Attractions: Sela Lake, high-altitude ridges, army shelters

November brings a unique stillness to the highlands of Arunachal Pradesh, and Tawang becomes a destination where calm, heritage, and raw Himalayan beauty meet. The places to visit in Tawang in November show the region’s culture, religion, and daily life before the harsh winter closes the higher routes. Explore more such travel packages offered by TripXL that take you to great places for great adventures.

Cover Photo: Arpandhar / Wikimedia Commons

Frequently Asked Questions

You can visit up to four places in a day if they are near Tawang town. Remote spots like Sela Pass or Taktsang Gompa need half a day each due to distance.
You can try authentic foods like Thukpa, dry-fried momos, millet porridge called zan, and butter tea are local favourites. You’ll also find smoked meat dishes served with sticky rice for an authentic flavour.
You can walk through old monasteries, visit high-altitude lakes, and watch prayer rituals in quiet gompas. November is also good for short forest trails, stopping at army cafés, and sitting by frozen lake edges with mountain views.
You should carry warm layers like thermals, woollen sweaters, a thick jacket, gloves, and socks. Shoes with a good grip are essential. Also, pack moisturiser, lip balm, and sunglasses.
The nearest airport is in Tezpur, about 330 kilometres away, but flights are rare. Most travellers fly to Guwahati, which is better connected. From there, the drive to Tawang takes two days, usually with a night stop in Dirang or Bomdila.

Recommended Articles

Leave a Reply

Top Travel Destinations by Month