Gorsam chorten Travel Guide

Gorsam Chorten near the village of Zemithang, located at a distance of 90 kilometre from Tawang town, is the largest Stupa of the area with the height of about 100ft (like a 10 storied building). It lies in the valley floor, on the bank of Namjang Chu river. There is no written history and no one knows the date when it was exactly built. Early 18th century is one widely held guess through legends stretch its antiquity by another 400 years. Local legend has it that Lama Sangye Pradhar (Monpa), who supposedly built Gorsam Chorten, travelled to Kathmandu and carved a miniature model of the shrine using radish. Indeed the chorten is a virtual replica of the Nepalese landmark: its giant hemispherical dome, crowned by a pyramidal head, resting on a square three-tiered base, with fur enormous eyes of the "all seeing Buddha", painted on the pyramidal crown just as in Boudanath, with small stupas on the plinth’s four corners. It is said to have taken 13 years to build the chorten.

Believed to be constructed in the early part of 12th century, it is founded by a Monpa monk, Lama Pradhar. On the top of the chorten is a semi-circular dome that rests up on a three-terraced plinth. In addition, on the lower most terrace of the plinth, there are four miniature stupas standing erect on the four corners.

The base of this chorten is squared with each side about 170 feet in length with a niche running along its whole length. Moreover, there are around 120 manis set in the wooden frames. Encircling the stupa is a well paved path on which pilgrims go roundabout for praying, which is also known as Kora.

At the Gorsam Chorten the Gorsam Kora Festival is celebrated every year. In this festival whole city is decorated with gorgeous lights and the people wear mask and dance together even, this festival is celebrated with lots of pomp and gaiety. Different community of people joins the festival and enjoy together as well.