30-Sec Summary

1. You can check these monasteries out on your Spiti journey as these are the most prominent and wellknown destinations : Key Gompa, Nako monastery, Tabo Monastery, Dhankar Monastery.
2. You have to take your footwaer off to get inside all these monasteries.
3. You can see the conflunece of two rivers from the roof of Dhankar Monastery.
4. Dhankar Monastery is identified as one of the endangered historical monuments of the world.
5. All monasteries can be reached by road.

1. Key Monastery

Nestled within Spiti Valley is Key Monastery. It is known to be one of the ancient Buddhist training grounds that has stood against repeated attacks by Mongols. Sitting on the top of a mountain, the monastery is said to have been built back in 1100 CE. The monastery features a very evident influence of Chinese architecture and has a lot of historic murals, documents, and monuments that exhibit life during those ancient days. Today, more than 300 monks live in this monastery and it is still operating as a training ground for lamas.

Tourists can travel from Kaza, which is 14 km (8.70 mi) from Key Monastery. Kaza has great stay options, such as hotels, homestays, and hostels, among others.

After entering the monastery, you’ll go through its various halls. In one of the halls, you’ll be offered some local tea by the monks, which is sure to be refreshing after the fatigue from the high altitude. Once done with your tour of the monastery, you can stay behind and hike up a trail to get a picturesque view of the entire Key Monastery.

2. Tangyud Gompa

Tangyud Gompa in Himachal Pradesh is another ancient monastery that is said to have been founded during the 14th century. It is one of the two monasteries that still exist belonging to the Sakya sect. Today, the monastery’s main building is home to around 50 monks. Here, they offer pujas every 8am. This is to worship Mahakala, a protective deity that is known as the bodhisattva of compassion.

Tangyud Gompa

Address: Kaza, Himachal Pradesh 172114, India

3. Kungri Gompa

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

With the reputation of being the second oldest gompa and the only monastery from Buddhism’s Nyingmapa order in the area, Kungri Gompa is another monastery in Himachal Pradesh that was built during the 14th century. The monastery’s interiors feature silk paintings and giant statues that exhibits the Tantric cult from an unknown era. There are also several idols, images of Buddhist deities, religious words, and old armories inside the monastery.

Kungri Gompa

Address: Kungri, Himachal Pradesh 172114, India

Opening hours: 6am - 5:30pm (daily)

4. Dhankar Monastery

Located 3,900 feet (1,189 meters) above sea level, Dhankar Monastery is known to be one of the finest monasteries in Spiti Valley. The monastery is an ancient area where monks from different parts of the world convene and pray. It also has strong historical importance to the town as it had been the capital of Spiti Valley during the 17th century.

While the monastery still stands today, it is one of the 100 endangered historical sites in the world. Only 20 people are allowed in at a time and up to 3 can head to the roof of the monastery. The roof is in fragile condition due to soil and wind erosion, so there are donation boxes inside the monastery to help with repairs. A fascinating fact about this monastery is that it was once a fort and had a prison within its premises. Now it stands as a symbol of religious worship.

After a short hike to the top of the roof, you’ll see the confluence of the two rivers - Spiti and Pin, which is a breathtaking sight.

5. Tabo Monastery

Tabo Monastery is another ancient monastery built during 996 AD. It is known to be a very important monastery and is considered to be the Ajanta of the Himalayas due to the meditation caves used by the monks.

The monastery has a total of nine temples which are completely made of mud and have existed for over 1,000 years. The halls of the monastery feature historic Buddhist stories. 33 stucco sculptures of Bodhisattvas and Ajanta paintings can also be seen inside the monastery. Inside one of the rooms of the monastery, you can see the life of the Buddha depicted through the paintings on the walls and on the ceiling. However, some temples inside the monastery are closed to the public, and taking photos of the paintings is not allowed.

You can stay at hostels and homestays in Tabo Village, which are in close proximity to Tabo Monastery.

6. Kibber

Kibber is a monastery village in Spiti Valley that is known for its tranquility and rich agricultural industry. There are around 80 houses that are made of stone, a civil dispensary, a post office, and a high school. The town is also home to Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, where there are a lot of medicinal plants growing. In fact, there are eight rare and endangered herbal plant species that have been discovered in the sanctuary.

Kibber

Address: Kibber, Himachal Pradesh 172114, India

7. Chogskhor Monastery

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Chogskhor Monastery is a very religious community in Tabo that is maintained and secured by the Archaeological Survey of India. Built during 996 AD, the monastery is home to a lot of timeless treasures. Inside the monastery are four stupas, nine sanctuaries, quarters, classrooms, and caverns. The monastery’s interiors also feature Buddhist paintings, images of Bodhisattvas that are made from mud and many other artifacts from different eras. It is a very popular place to visit for both locals and tourists.

Chogskhor Monastery

Address: Tabo, Himachal Pradesh 172113, India

8. Gandhola Monastery

Surrounded by towering mountains and sand dunes, the Mighty Guru Ghantal Monastery or Gandhola Monastery is one of the most popular attractions for those that are visiting the Lahaul region. It is said to be the oldest monastery in the area and was established by Guru Rinpoche during the eighth century. Today, the monastery is being maintained by a group of nuns and monks from the order of Drukpa and is home to some of the most precious religious artifacts.

Gandhola Monastery

Address: Tupchiling, Himachal Pradesh 175140, India

9. Tayul Monastery

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Standing mightily in the midst of the high mountains is Tayul Monastery, known to be the oldest monastery in Northern India. There are a lot of stories behind the formation of the monastery and it is said that it was built in the 17th century to accommodate Drugpa or the Red Hat Sect of Buddhist monks. The monastery is currently home to a very massive collection of 101 Buddhist scriptures including the Kangyur which is Buddha’s own teachings translated in Tibetan, the Thangkas that tells the story of Buddha’s life, and the 12-foot (3.7-meter) statue of Guru Padmasambhava beside the statues of Singhmukha and Vajravahi.

Tayul Monastery

Address: Himachal Pradesh 175132, India

Opening hours: 5:30am - 9pm (daily)

10. Kardang Monastery

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Kardang Monastery is deemed as the most important monastery in Lahaul Valley and is one of the oldest treasures of Drukpa lineage. It was built during the 12th century and is famous in the whole world because of its significance and very intricate architecture. The monastery houses a large collection of paintings, murals, frescos, ancient paintings, weapons, and musical instruments. There’s also a library inside the monastery, where some of the best books from the past can be found.

Kardang Monastery

Address: Himachal Pradesh 175140, India

11. Nako Monastery

Nako Monastery sits at an elevation of 11,000 ft (3,352.80 m) within Nako Village, which can be reached from Manali after an 8-hour drive. The monastery was founded by Lochen Rinchen Zangpo and is said to be the first of 108 monasteries built in the 11th century. Photography within the monastery’s chambers is not allowed.

After completing your tour of Nako Monastery, you can visit Nako Lake for some serenity and comfort. After Nako Lake, hike up a trail behind the village where you’ll find the largest prayer wheel you’ll ever see. From here, you can also witness the beauty of the entire village.

Reflect and seek peace in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh indeed is a very serene state in India where you can experience various activities. For a more peaceful and relaxing visit, make sure to visit one of these great and historic monasteries in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh.