At an altitude of 13,500 feet above sea level, the Kye Monastery has the distinction of being the oldest and the biggest monastery of the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. Unfurling the history of the monastery, you will discover that it dates back to 1000 AD. Later, in its history, the monastery saw quiet a few attempts to destroy it. Like the Mongols, who, in the 17th century, attacked the monastery. The 19th century too witnessed three more intrusions by aggressive enemies.

Every time the monastery was attacked, it faced damages which required some patch up jobs. Because of this successive destruction and subsequent patch up work, the monastery lost what is commonly called as harmony of design and architecture. Rather, the monastery today, looks more of a box like structure or even a defensive fort.


The importance of the monastery lies in it being one of those few monasteries of the state that have completed 1000 years of existence. In the year 2000, when the monastery completed its 1000 years, the grand Kalchakra ceremony was organised. For Buddhists, Kalchakra implies 1000 years or wheel of time. His Highness, the Holy Dalai Lama was himself present to grace the auspicious event. The event was marked by pujas and religious congregation.

The significance of the monastery also lies in it being a reputed religious training center for the Lamas. Last but not the least, it is extremely significant for the western population of Spiti in the way that it serves their religious purpose.


Inside
Inside, there are low rooms, narrow corridors, gloomy passages, arduous staircases and tiny doors that lead up to prayer rooms. These prayer rooms themselves do not follow a single design.

However, give all the drawbacks, the monastery also has its own set of highlights. For example, the paintings and the murals of the walls promptly catch your attention. There is also an image of Dhyana Buddha inside.

The monastery houses an exquisite collection of thangkas, priceless manuscripts, stucco images, unique wind instruments and above all a collection of weapons. These weapons constantly remind you of the past when the monastery was frequently under attack. The wind instruments are still made use of during the performance of Chham in summers.


Festival
Around the month of June and July, the Kye Monastery celebrates a festival wherein Chaam dances are followed by a procession that reaches the ritual ground below the monastery. Here, a large butter sculpture of a demon is set on fire. The festival sees devotees not only pouring in large numbers but also laying themselves down on the procession route so that lama walk over them.


Spiti Valley
The sub divisional headquarters of the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, the Spiti valley spreads over an area of 100 km and is divided into eastern and western valley. The valley comprises villages and some fields where the inhabitants grow barley, buck- wheat, peas & vegetables. A whole lot of people here are Buddhists.

It has its headquarters located at Kaza from where the Kye Monastery is merely 12 km away. The town of Kaza has a host of shops, hotels and houses. Hence, for all those desirous of staying will not face any problem.


Other Attractions

• Thang Yug Gompa : Located at a distance of just 13 km from the town of Kaza, the Thang Yug Gompa stands at an isolated place in the narrow gauge of Kaza Nallah. The monastery is meant for the use of western population of central Spiti. From this monastery, a long plateau goes upto Shilla peak.
  
  
• Dhankar Monastery : If the Thang Yug Gompa serves the western population of the Spiti valley, the Dhankar Monastery is there for the eastern population of the Spiti valley. It is around 25 km away from Kaza and houses around 100 lamas. An image of 'Vairochana' or Dhayan Budha is of immense importance here. Apart from this, the monastery also houses Buddhist relics like paintings and sculpture.
  
  
• Tabo Monastery : This is yet another monastery that was constructed in the 10th century and as such has completed 1000 years of existence. Its significance is further enhanced by the fact that it is next only to the Tholing Gompa in Tibet in fame. It is located around 50 km from the town of Kaza and houses around 60 lamas. Murals of the monastery are a huge attractions here because they have striking resemblance to the paintings of Ajanta caves in Maharashtra.