Perched above the quiet hamlet of Gemur, just off the Manali–Leh highway, the Gemur Monastery (also known as Dge-smon Gsam-bstan Chos-gling) is a 17th-century Drukpa Kagyu gompa that radiates both spiritual gravity and artistic grace. With its fluttering prayer flags,...

Perched high above the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers near Tandi, the Guru Ghantal Monastery—also known as Gandhola Gompa—is believed to be the oldest Buddhist monastery in Lahaul, dating back to the 10th or even 8th century CE. With its wooden idols,...

Tucked into the slopes above Keylong, surrounded by whispering blue pine forests, the Shashur Monastery is a tranquil 17th-century Drukpa Kagyu gompa that blends spiritual depth, artistic brilliance, and Himalayan solitude. Its name, Shashur, literally means “in the...

Perched on a ridge above the Bhaga River, facing the town of Keylong, the Kardang Monastery is the largest and most important Drukpa Kagyu monastery in Lahaul. With its whitewashed walls, fluttering prayer flags, and backdrop of the Rangcha Peak (15,000 ft), this...

Clinging to the edge of a deep canyon at 4,520 meters (14,830 ft) above sea level, the Sakya Tangyud Monastery is one of the highest altitude gompas in India and a rare stronghold of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Located near Komic village, just 4 km from Kaza,...

Perched precariously on a 1,000-foot-high spur overlooking the confluence of the Spiti and Pin Rivers, the Dhankar Monastery (also spelled Dankhar or Dhangkar) is a breathtaking blend of spirituality, history, and Himalayan resilience. Once the capital of the Spiti...

Cradled in the stark, high-altitude desert of Spiti Valley, the Tabo Monastery—founded in 996 CE—is one of the oldest continuously operating Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayas. Revered as the “Ajanta of the Himalayas” for its exquisite murals and frescoes, this...