The government of Arunachal Pradesh is working on developing the escape trail taken by the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, when he entered India, and turning it into a spiritual and religious tourism circuit. This project is being executed by the Public Works Department. Lumla, a lesser-known region in the Tawang district of western Arunachal Pradesh, will soon be put on the national tourism map. The young Dalai Lama had passed through and even stayed in this area during his escape from Lhasa to India in 1959.
In 1959, as China threatened to take over Tibet and the Tibet uprising reached the palace of His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama in Lhasa, he fled to India with a few aides and family members. The escape route was through the business route Tibet (Tsona) to Khen-Dze-mani under the Zemithang circle in the Tawang district.
On March 31, 1959, the Dalai Lama and a group of eight people, along with another group of eighty people, were officially received at Khen-Dze-Mani by the political officer of Tawang, the 5 Assam Rifles, and the people of Zemithang.
"We are developing the escape trail of His Holiness into a religious and spiritual tourism circuit which is going on. As many as five monoliths will be constructed in each place where the Dalai Lama spent the night during his journey to India from Tibet", Tsering Lhamu, the Lumla MLA, told PTI.
There is a small gate called 'Lhasa Dwar', which marks the point where the Dalai Lama entered India. This gate is located near the 'Holy Tree', which is believed to have grown from a staff that was dug by the Dalai Lama himself. The tree is now considered as a relic that commemorates this historic event.
There is also a hanging bridge on the Indian side that follows the Lhasa Dwar, which is another interesting place to visit.
Gorsam Chorten is another notable attraction in the area, located a little far from Lhasa Dwar. It is one of the largest stupas of Buddhism and was founded by a Monpa monk, Lama Pradhar, in the 12th century. This stupa is the largest Buddhist stupa in the region and is situated 90 km from Tawang. Monpa is a major tribe of Arunachal Pradesh.
According to popular belief, the Dalai Lama stayed in the Gorsam Chorten for a day after he entered Zemithang.
Zemithang, located in Tawang district, is being developed as a lively village under the Centre's vibrant village programme. Lhamu stated that two gompas in Thonglek and Lumla areas were completed as part of the project. Additionally, a museum is also under construction at Lumla and it will showcase various artefacts related to the Dalai Lama. Tsering Dickey, the District Tourism Officer of Tawang, mentioned that last year, the department's team, accompanied by the former tourism secretary Sadhna Deori, explored the feasibility of developing the trail site from where the Dalai Lama entered India into a tourist circuit.
A 113-feet Maitreya Buddha statue, also known as the Future Buddha, is being constructed at Buri, situated along the Indo-Bhutan border, under the Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Union Tourism ministry. This initiative is aimed at developing the Bhalukpong-Bomdila-Tawang tourism circuit.
The Swadesh Darshan scheme is one of the flagship schemes of the ministry that focuses on the development of thematic circuits in the country in a planned and prioritized manner. The scheme is designed to foster economic growth by providing quality infrastructure and better facilities to visitors.
The Ministry sanctioned a circuit in 2014-15 with an allocation of Rs 49.77 crore. The project includes the development of facilities such as accommodation, cafeteria, last mile connectivity, pathways, toilets, multipurpose hall at Jang, Sorang Monastery, Lumpo, Zemithang, Bumla Pass, Gritsang TSO lake, PTSO Lake, Thingbu and Grenkha Hot Spring, Lumla, Sela Lake.
In 2015-16, the Tourism Ministry sanctioned another circuit with an allocation of Rs 97.14 crore for the development of Nafra-Seppa-Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys-Sangdupota-New Sagalee-Ziro-Yomcha. The Maitreya Buddha statue has already been completed, and work on the surroundings is going on. The MLA plans to organize an annual event to attract more tourists.
The Gorsam Chorten gompa at Zemithang attracts tourists from Nepal and Bhutan during the Kora festival in March every year. Zemithang is also an important site for naturalists and ornithologists. It is the favorite site for the Black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) that migrates from Siberia. Nearby, Ngyang-Chu is famous for the Red panda (Ailurus fulgens).
"We are planning to develop these places as adventure tourist spots and are contemplating organizing a red panda or black-necked crane festival soon to attract adventure lovers. The birds from Siberia usually visit the site in November-December every year and stay till March. We impose restrictions on human movements so that the winged visitors are not disturbed," Lhamu added.
Incidentally, the Black-necked crane is also revered by Tibetan Buddhists for centuries as a symbol of peace.
(With inputs from PTI)
