Tawang Monastery in the northwestern part of Arunachal Pradesh India was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in 1680-1681 in accordance with the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama. The monastery belongs to the Gelugpa school and has a religious association with Drepung Monastery in Lhasa. It has a capacity of about 700 monks and presently is home to more than 450 lamas.