Se La and Jasawantgarh War Memorial

In Last post, we were in Dirang and had seen the beautiful and famous sunrise in Dirang. The picturesque town of Dirang had set our expectations high. We were really looking forward to traveling to Se la Pass.

La in Tibetan language means pass, so actually we should say Se La. But commonly everywhere it is mentioned as Se la Pass!

Being one of the highest motorable roads in Arunachal Pradesh, the road surely gives you a fantastic ride. This is the only road connecting Tawang with the rest of India. Naturally this road is of utmost importance from the security point of view as well as for connectivity. 

At approximately 13,700 ft height from sea level, you cross the Himalayan ranges between Dirang in West Kameng district and Tawang. Though the climate is cold and the road is covered by ice many times, the BRO (Border road organization makes it sure that the road will be open for travel. Only a few times in year, due to heavy snowfall or landslide, the road is closed. But BRO takes all efforts to normalize the road traffic. 

On the way- Charduar-Tawang Road.

The road is a part of NH 13 and I would love to show it's Google map. This would let you know about the road, without writing any description!

Indian Government has started a project of building a tunnel road to Tawang, which is expected to be completed in 2022. It will decrease the distance of the travel and save time. This tunnel when completed will a motorable road throughout the year. 

When the terrain is so difficult and wild, building of roads is not an easy task. The Se La memorial near the Se La lake, tells about it. 

Here was one of the most beautiful lakes of Arunachal Pradesh. Tse La or Se La lake. 

The weather in this area changes really very quickly. In minutes we could see blue skies. 

📷 Girish Tilak 

The weather was very cold. There was snow scattered on the ground, in the nooks and corners as well as on the mountains tops. Even in water we could see ripples and ice formations. 

ripples with ice

📷 Girish Tilak 

A mandatory photo!!
📷Girish Tilak

Don't go on the smile. It's only for the photograph! The weather was very chilly. Oxygen percentage is very less.

📷 Girish Tilak 

There is a walkway around the lake, but the weather didn't allow anyone to walk on it. 

In this photo, you can see the snow clad mountain tops and the zigzag roads.

 This lake is of spiritual importance to the Buddhist people in the region. Dalai Lama has visited this place, most probably, many times. Our driver told us that there are 101 small lakes in the region. When you travel in the region, you surely feel that if the Shangri La really exists, it must be here!

 Now we were on the way to Jasawantgarh war memorial, a story of valor and grit. 

Rifleman Jasawantsing Rawat of the 4th Garhwal rifles was posted in Nuranang in 1962 India China war. Garhwal rifles battalion fought bravely with the Chinese soldiers. But due to adverse conditions the battalion had to step back.

 At that time Jasawantsing with his two fellow soldiers guarded the post and helped to provide time for the entire retreating battalion to reach safely to another post.

 

Next day even his two fellow soldiers died in the battle, but it is said that Jasawantsing single handedly held the post for 72 hours. 

The invading Chinese army captured and killed him on 17th Nov. 1962. He was awarded Mahavir chakra after his death. The story doesn't end here. He is the only soldier who was in service even after his death. 

He was given regular promotions. His belongings are kept with him. His shoes are polished everyday. He retired in 2002 as an honorary captain. This brave patriot continued to serve his nation even after death and is said to help the soldiers posted in that area. 

Smruti Sthal

JasawantSingh Memorial

The articles which Jasawant Singh would require everyday are kept there. The uniform is pressed, shoes are polished. 

There are military officers posted on this memorial, 'baba ka mandir' as they say. The officer on duty told us that the officers and other staff who are posted here, abstain from eating meat, fish etc and become purely vegetarian till they are here on duty. 

In the month of November every year, there is a small prayer meeting and a function held in the memorial. When we visited Jasawant garh at the end of October 2019, the place was getting ready for the annual function. 

There is a small museum where bunker like structures are erected, so that the visitors will know how they live.

 When we listen about the war, standing there in the model post, we realize the hardships of our soldiers. They have to face adverse climatic conditions, stay away from their family and seldom does the society recognizes their sacrifice. You leave the place with tremendous pride and respect for the soldiers of our country. 

There is a small restaurant near by which is run by armed forces. Here you can eat freshly made snacks and some cakes, donuts etc. The income is used for the maintenance of Jasawant Garh. 

You can eat the tasty snacks and drink complimentary hot tea and get yourself ready for the travel to Tawang.

#IndiaChinaWarMemorial #MustVisitPlaceIn Arunachal #SelaIconicPlace #101LakesNearTawang #BeautifulLakeNearTawang #JasawantSinghRawat #72Hours

#ThingsToKnowBeforeEnteringArunachalPradesh