A monastery that is next only to the Tholing Gompa in Tibet and is considered a historic treasure of India - that's Tabo Monastery. The monastery, established in 996 AD, The Year of the Fire Ape by the Tibetan Calendar, by great teacher and translator Lotsawa Rinchen Tsang Po, is today more than thousand years old. It was developed as an advanced centre for learning and till date it has managed to preserve the Buddhist legacy with the same steadfastness.

The location of the Tabo Monastery adds to its charm. The monastery stands at a secluded, flat, barren ground occupying an area of 6300 sq km. High boundary wall of mud bricks surround it.


Inside
The monastery complex comprises 9 temples, 23 chortens, a monk's chamber and an extension that houses the nuns chamber.

A group of temples is regarded as earlier construction while yet another group belongs to a later period. The temples belonging to the first group are The Temple of the Enlightened Gods, The Golden Temple, The Mystic Mandala Temple / Initiation Temple, The Bodhisattva Maitreya Temple and The Temple of Dromton.

Those included in the second group are The Chamber of Picture Treasures, The Large Temple of Dromton, The Mahakala Vajra Bhairava Temple and The White Temple.

• The Temple of the Enlightened Gods (gTug-Lha-khang) : This is the du-khang or the assembly hall of the monastery complex with a four-fold figure of Vairocana as its prime figure. The figure is in sitting posture 2 m above the floor and is shown turning the wheel of law. 33 life size stucco images of what are commonly referred to as the Vajradhatu Mandala are placed on the brackets along the walls. The walls of the temple are adorned with paintings that showcase the life of Buddha in its various stages. These paintings were done by artists who came down to the place all the way from Kashmir. The sanctum lie just behind the assembly hall and house five Bodhisattvas of Good Age.
  
  
• The Golden Temple (gSer-khang) : Earlier, the temple was layered with gold, however, with the advent of 16th century, plenty of renovation work was done at the behest of the Ladakhi ruler, Sengye Namgyal. Today, the temple is worth a visit because of its excellent murals.
  
  
• The Mystic Mandala Temple / Initiation Temple (dKyil-kHor- khang) : A fascinating painting of Vairocana surrounded by eight Bodhisattvas dominates this temple. The painting can be seen on the wall that faces the door. The rest of the temple is occupied by Mystic Mandala. The importance of the temple lies in it being the place where monkhood is initiated.
  
  
• The Bodhisattva Maitreya Temple (Byams-Pa Chen-po Lha-khang) : The temple is segregated into a hall, vestibule and sanctum. A towering 6 m tall image of the Bodhisattva Maitreya is the prime attraction of this temple. Murals enhance the charm of this temple, specially the ones depicting the monastery of Tashi-Chunpo and Lhasa's Potala palace.
  
  
• The Temple of Dromton (Brom-ston Lha khang) : Lying on the northern tip of the complex, the temple is believed to have been constructed by an ardent disciple of Atisha, Dromton (1008-1064 AD). To reach the temple, you need to pass through a portico followed by a long passage. On the doorways, exquisite carvings can be seen while the interiors are adorned with beautiful murals.
  
  
• The Chamber of Picture Treasures (Z'al-ma) : This ante room attached to the Enlightened Temple of God is home to murals of Buddha, his disciples and protective deities in the pure Tibetan style.
  
  
• The Large Temple of Dromton (Brom-ston Lha khang) : Occupying a floor area of 70 sq km, this is the second largest temple of the monastery. An additional area of 42 sq km is covered by the portico and the niche. On the front wall, a figure of Sakymuni with Sariputra and Maha Maugdalayana on his side can be seen. Eight Medicine Buddhas and Guardian Kings adorn the outer wall.
  
  
• The Mahakala Vajra Bhairava Temple (Gon-khang) : The fierce protective deities of Gelukpa sect are numerous in the room. This is the reason why this temple is also known as the 'temple of horror'.
  
  
• The White Temple (dKar-abyum Lha-Khang) : The walls of this temple too are decorated. There is a low dado for the monks or nuns to lean against.

Spiti Valley
A sub division of the Lahaul and Spiti district of the of Himachal Pradesh, Spiti valley is bordered by Ladakh region on the north, Lahaul sub-division in the west, Kullu district in south-east and by Kinnuar district on the east.

The valley is home to a number of significant monasteries of the country and has henced earned itself the name of 'Valley of Monasteries'. If you desire to visit any monastery of the region, remember, that the valley is accessible only during specific months (June to October) when the weather conditions are favourable. For the rest of the year, the valley is cut off from the rest of the world by snow. Quiet a few accommodation is available in the village of Tabo itself. Alternatively, you can also put up at Kaza.



Other Attractions

• Kye Monastery : This is a monastery that is quiet similar in appearance as the Thiksey monastery of Leh in Ladakh region. Also, the monastery, standing on a conical hill, is the largest in the Spiti valley. A number of lamas receive their religious training in this monastery. The highlights of the monastery are the beautiful murals, thankas, rare manuscripts, stucco images and peculiar wind instruments. The last of these is still made use of during the performance of Chham.
  
  
• Dhankar Monastery: On the left bank of the Spiti river at a distance of 24 kms from Kaza, the old Dhankar Monastery stands atop a conical hill while the new monastery is located below in the village of Shichling. The old monastery complex consists of a number of multi storeyed buildings like the Lha-O-pa Gompa and Lhakhang Gompa. The latter one, specially, is hugely attractive with its images of Shakyamuni, Tsongkhapa and Lama Chodrag on the central wall.
  
  
• Kungri Monastery : Constructed in the first half of the 14th century, the Kungri Gompa holds the distinction of being the second largest monastery of the Pin valley. Recently, a substantial foreign donation in the monastery aided considerably in the renovation work of the monastery. The monastery is the main centre for the Nyingma-pa sect in Spiti.