The monastery was established in the 17th century during a period of conflict between different schools of Buddhism. Legend says that the site was chosen by the Merak Lama's horse; while the Lama was praying for guidance, his horse wandered off to the top of a hill. Taking this as a divine sign, he founded the monastery there, naming it 'Tawang' (Ta - horse, Wang - chosen).
The monastery played a crucial role in the history of the region and was the site where the 14th Dalai Lama took refuge in 1959 after fleeing Tibet. It remains a powerful symbol of the spiritual bond between India and Tibet.
