Tawang Chu

Tawang Chu (Tawang river) is the main river of the Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The entire district may be regarded as the basin of the Tawang Chu river. In addition, two south-flowing rivers from Tibet, viz., Tsona Chu and Nyamjang Chu, join the river within the district. The combined river flows west into Bhutan, where it progresses to the Manas River (tributary of Brahmaputra River) and flows into the Assam state of India.

Tawang Chu
Confluence of Tawang Chu and Kholong Chu in Bhutan Show map of Bhutan Tawang Chu (Arunachal Pradesh) Show map of Arunachal Pradesh
Location
Country	India; Bhutan
District	Tawang district (Arunachal Pradesh); Trashiyangtse and Trashigang
Physical characteristics
Source	Tsona Chu
• location	Tsona County, Tibet
• coordinates	28.090°N 92.059°E / 28.090; 92.059
2nd source	Mago Chu
• location	Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh
• coordinates	27.855°N 92.283°E / 27.855; 92.283
• elevation	3,360 m (11,020 ft)
Mouth	Kholong Chu
• location	Duksum, Trashiyangtse District, Bhutan
• coordinates	27.434°N 91.574°E / 27.434; 91.574
• elevation	1,040 m (3,410 ft)
Basin features
Progression	Drangme Chu, Manas River
River system	Brahmaputra

Tawang Chu is formed by the joining of three rivers originating within the Tawang district: Goshu Chu, Dungma Chu and Gorjo Chu. These rivers merge near the village of Mago (27.6876°N 92.2072°E / 27.6876; 92.2072 (Mago)), after which the combined river is called Mago Chu. After Tsona Chu joins it, near Kyelatongbo at an elevation of 2,240 metres (7,350 ft), the combined river is called Tawang Chu. The river flows west towards Bhutan, passing by the Tawang town on its southern flank.^[1] Near Jang, between Mago & Tawang, the Nuranang River joins Tawang Chu. Near Lumla, the Nyamjang Chu river originating in Tibet joins Tawang Chu.

Tawang Chu enters Bhutan after passing the Dudunghar Circle of the Tawang district. At Duksum, the river merges with the Kholong Chu river flowing from the north.^[2] The combined river is called Drangme Chhu (or Manas River).

The Tawang Chu and its tributaries

References

1. Tawang District Census Handbook, Part A (PDF), Directorate of Census Operations, Arunachal Pradesh, 2011, p. 3 (The Tsona Chu river is misnamed as "Nyukcharong" in this description. Nyukcharong is a separate river that flows entirely within the Tawang district. It joins Tsona Chu before its confluence with Mago Chu.)
2. Kholong Chhu, OpenStreetMap, retrieved 14 December 2022.

Bibliography

• Bailey, F. M. (1914). "Exploration on the Tsangpo or upper Brahmaputra". Scottish Geographical Magazine. 30 (11): 561–582. doi:10.1080/00369221408734154.
• NJC Hydropower Limited (2017), EIA study for Nyamjangchhu Hydroelectric Project (PDF), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India

External links

• The course of Tawang Chu marked on OpenStreetMap