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Bomdila

Hill town on the Tawang road

Rohit Sharma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons

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Arunachal Pradesh Hill town on the Tawang road

Bomdila, the headquarters of West Kameng district, is a cool hill town at around 2,400 metres and the main overnight stop on the two-day drive up to Tawang. It has a large Gelugpa Buddhist monastery, a craft centre, and, on clear days, sweeping views across the Kameng valley to the eastern Himalaya, including Gori Chen and the Kangto massif.

Together with nearby Dirang — apple-and-kiwi country with hot springs and an old fortified village — Bomdila is Monpa heartland, a gentle, welcoming introduction to the high Buddhist culture of western Arunachal before the climb over the Sela pass.

Bomdila
Photo: Rohit Sharma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What it's known for

  • The main overnight stop on the Bhalukpong–Tawang route
  • Apple, kiwi and a craft/handloom centre
  • Gelugpa Buddhist monasteries and Monpa culture
  • Himalayan viewpoints across the Kameng valley
Explore

What to see in & around Bomdila

See & do

  • Bomdila Monastery and the craft centre
  • The apple orchards and viewpoints
  • Nearby Dirang: hot springs, the Dzong and Sangti valley
  • The onward drive over the Sela Tunnel to Tawang

Getting there

On the Bhalukpong–Tawang road, about 6–7 hours from Tezpur/Guwahati; a permit is required for Arunachal.

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