Itanagar, Oct 14: President A P J Abdul Kalam was today accorded a traditional welcome when he arrived at Tawang helipad in Arunachal Pradesh on a two-day visit to the state. Official reports reaching here said the state governor Arvind Dave, chief minister Mukut Mithi, his council of ministers, Buddhist monks and army officials were present at the helipad to receive the President.
Soon after his arrival he proceeded to the famous Buddhist monastery at Tawang situated at an altitude of 3500 metres where he would attend the Buddha Mahatsava festival, being organised by the state government in collaboration with the union tourism ministry.
He would offer prayers, meet the Rimpoche (head Lama) and interact with school children within the monastery campus, the reports said.

The President, who is the supreme commander of the defence forces would meet army personnel posted in the area before visiting the war memorial constructed in the memory of martyrs of 1962 Indo-China war to offer his tribute, the sources said.
The president would also lay the foundation of a rope way connecting Tawang Monastery with Ani Gompa. Bureau Report