The correct answer is: c) 17th century CE.
The Tawang Monastery is a Buddhist monastery in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. It is the largest monastery in India and the second largest in the world after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. The monastery is believed to have been established in the 17th century by the Tibetan Buddhist leader Ngawang Namgyal. It is a major pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists and is also a popular tourist destination.
The monastery is located in a valley at an altitude of 3,500 meters (11,500 feet). It is surrounded by mountains and forests. The monastery complex consists of several temples, shrines, and other buildings. The main temple is the Dukhang, which is a large hall with a gilded roof. The Dukhang contains a number of important Buddhist relics, including a statue of the Buddha and a set of Buddhist scriptures.
The Tawang Monastery is a significant cultural and religious center. It is a place of learning and worship for Tibetan Buddhists. The monastery also plays an important role in the local economy. It is a major tourist destination and attracts visitors from all over the world.
The following are the other options and their brief explanations:
- a) 7th century CE. The 7th century CE was a time of great change and upheaval in Tibet. The Tibetan Empire was founded in the 7th century CE by Songtsen Gampo, who unified the various Tibetan tribes and brought Buddhism to Tibet. The Tawang Monastery was not founded until the 17th century CE, after the Tibetan Empire had fallen.
- b) 12th century CE. The 12th century CE was a time of great religious and cultural development in Tibet. The Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism was founded in the 12th century CE by Tsongkhapa. The Tawang Monastery is a Gelugpa monastery, but it was not founded until the 17th century CE.
- d) 19th century CE. The 19th century CE was a time of great political and social upheaval in Tibet. The Qing Dynasty was in decline, and Tibet was increasingly coming under the influence of British India. The Tawang Monastery was not founded until the 17th century CE, before the Qing Dynasty had begun to decline.