Dirang and surroundings in the West Kameng district

3-5 November 2023

Dirang, nestled in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Kameng district, has a rich history shaped by its strategic location and vibrant Monpa culture. For centuries, it lay on trade routes linking Tibet with Assam, fostering cultural and economic exchanges. The imposing Dirang Dzong, a 17th-century fort, reflects its role as a defence post and administrative hub during turbulent times. The nearby Thembang Heritage Village, a fortified settlement of the Monpas and now a UNESCO World Heritage site nominee, preserves age-old stone houses, traditions, and oral histories. Spiritual life in Dirang flourishes through Tibetan Buddhism, highlighted by the Thupsung Dhargye Ling Monastery, inaugurated in 2017 by the Dalai Lama as a centre for both religious practice and modern learning. Adding to its cultural and scenic charm is Mandala Top, adorned with 108 Buddhist stupas symbolising peace and harmony. Together, these landmarks embody Dirang’s legacy as a crossroads of history, faith, and tradition in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Welcome/Farewell sign, in Dirang, from the road to Bomdila, with the Buddhist chakra and deer emblem on top of the gate.

The main street, the Chariduar to Tawang Road, in Dirang.

Tsering Yangjorn, the Monpa manager of the Eight Lucky Sign Homestay in Dirang.

Buddhist objects for sale, in the Eight Lucky Sign Homestay in Dirang.

The Jangchub Choeling Kalachakra Gompa in Dirang, built in a very short time and inaugurated by the 14th Dalai Lama on 17 April 1983.

Poster announcing the 88th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama at he Kalachakra Gompa in Dirang; he inaugurated it on 17 April 1983.

View to Dirang from the TDL Buddhist Monastery.

The Thupsung Dhargye Ling (TDL) Buddhist Monastery and institution of learning, consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama; its name means “Flourishing Place of the Buddha’s Speech”.

The Thupsung Dhargye Ling Buddhist Monastery, with its wall of prayer wheels.

Buddhist paintings and bas-reliefs on the wall at the western side of the Thupsung Dhargye Ling Monastery.

The wall on the west side of the Thupsung Dhargye Ling Monastery with colourful Buddhist paintings and bas-reliefs.

Offices at the Thupsung Dhargye Ling (TDL) Buddhist Monastery above Dirang.

The main assembly hall of the Thupsung Dhargye Ling Buddhist Monastery.

A life-size cutout image of the 14th Dalai Lama on the throne in the main assembly hall of Thupsung Dhargye Ling Monastery; His Holiness consecrated the complex in 2017.

Gilded images of bodhisattvas in the main assembly hall of the Thupsung Dhargye Ling (TDL) Monastery.

View to the north side of Dirang from the TDL Buddhist Monastery.

The Thupsung Dhargye Ling (TDL) Buddhist Monastery and learning institute of Tibetan Buddhism.

The Thupsung Dhargye Ling Monastery, with its wall of prayer wheels, Dirang.

A small building with a gilded roof at the TDL Buddhist Monastery.

Detail of the elaborate decorations, showing Tibetan snow lions and the dorji (thunderbolt) on a chorten (stupa) at Thupsung Dhorgye Ling Monastery.

Roof decoration and Tibetan script at the Thupsung Dhargye Ling monastery and learning institute.

Detail of the elaborately decorated chorten (stupa), in memory of Lengka Dirkhipa, Thupsung Dhorgye Ling (TDL) Monastery, in Dirang.

The 108 Buddhist Stupas around a golden Buddha statue in Mandala Top, a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site at 3214 metres altitude, 27 kilometres south of Dirang.

The 108 Buddhist Stupas in Mandala Top, 27 kilometres south of Dirang. Each stupa was contributed towards by every single family, making this religious site a testament to the strong communal bonds among the people.

Yaks grazing at Mandala Top, at 3214 metres altitude.

Yaks grazing below the 108 Buddhist Stupas of Mandala Top .

Mandala Top, a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site featuring 108 stupas, known as Manes, arranged in concentric circles around a golden Buddha statue.

The path around the 108 Buddhist Stupas of Mandala Top, displaying the names of each sponsor. Each stupa was contributed towards by every single family, making this religious site a testament to the strong communal bonds among the people.

The 108 Buddhist Stupas, known as Manes, in Mandala Top, arranged in concentric circles around a golden Buddh statue, at 3214 metres altitude and 27 kilometres south of Dirang.

Going around the 108 Buddhist Stupas of Mandala Top, displaying the names of each sponsor. Each stupa was contributed towards by every single family, making this religious site a testament to the strong communal bonds among the people.

Mandala Top, a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site featurings 108 stupas, known as Manes, arranged in concentric circles around a golden Buddha statue.

View to the mountains of Bhutan, from the Tatung Dzong - Bhutan Road, about 4 kilometres west of the 108 Buddhist Stupas in Mandala Top.

View into the valley of the Dirang River, from the road to Thembang, 17 kilometres east of Dirang.

A wall with sacred inscriptions, just west of Thembang Heritage Village, considered as the most ancient village in the region.

A wall with mani stones, sacred inscriptions, just west of Thembang Heritage Village.

The gate to Thembang village with its Buddhist symbols: the deer and wheel, representing the Buddha’s first teaching after his awakening when he “turned the wheel of the Dharma” at Deer Park near Sarnath, India.

A Buddhist shrine, just west of Thembang Heritage Village.

View to the hilltop village of Thembang, considered as the most ancient village in the region and said to be established before first century CE..

View north from Thembang Village to the monastery on the hill
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The southern gate to Thembang Heritage Village, considered as the most ancient village in the region and said to be established before first century CE.

Reconstructed house in Thembang Heritage Village, with indigenous Monpa architecture; it was destroyed in the 1962 war with the Chinese, but rebuilt.

A Buddhist shrine with chorten and a wall, displaying the story of the Mongol and tiger, and other Buddhist symbols, just west of Thembang.

Commemorative walls with mani stones, sacred inscriptions, west of Thembang.

In Dirang Dzong, a classic Monpa village 5 kilometres east of Dirang Town, dating back to 9th century.

In Dirang Dzong, a classic Monpa village 5 kilometres east of Dirang Town.

Dirang Dzong, a classic Monpa village dating back to 9th century.