Tabo Monastery

Tabo Monastery, also known as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas,' is one of the most popular monasteries in the Lahaul and Spiti Valley and was founded more than a millennium back in 996 A.D. This ancient structure stands on the barren, cold, and rocky desert of the Tabo valley at a dizzying height of 3050 meters above sea level. This untouched beauty has preserved the glorious heritage, traditions, and culture of Buddhism through the passage of centuries. According to the Tibetan Calendar, the Tabo Monastery is believed to have been established in the year of the Fire Ape, by a great teacher and translator Lotsawa Rinchen Tsang Po, the king of the western Himalayan Kingdom of Guge.

Structure

A historic treasure of India and a heaven in its own right, the Tabo Gompa, or Buddhist monastery is second in importance only to the Tholing Gompa in Tibet. It was developed as an advanced centre for Buddhist learning and to preserve the Buddhist legacy. The monastery complex comprises 9 temples, 23 chortens, a monk's chamber, and an extension that houses the nun's chamber. Some temples in the complex are regarded as earlier construction, while another group belongs to a later period. The temples in the first group include 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 monastery is located on a flat ground and spread over an area of 6300 Sq meters in Tabo village, which is about 46 kms from Kaza. The tourists can stay in Tabo village as it has many small hotels as well as home stays along with eating options that give tourists a more relaxing and comfortable stay.

Highlights

The temple complex of this monastery is declared a national historic treasure of India and is looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India. The temples here house a priceless collection of manuscripts and thangkas (Buddhist scroll paintings), exquisite statues in stuccos, frescos, and murals depicting tales from the Mahayana Buddhist Pantheon. Assembly hallis the important part of this complex, which showcases a four-fold figure of Vairocana, one of the five spiritual sons of Adibuddha, wall paintings that depict the life of Buddha, cave paintings, etc. The paintings in the Tabo monastery are amazingly preserved and are in great condition and this is the reason why tourists visit this place and catch a glimpse of the fine artwork.

How to reach Tabo Monastery

Tabo Monastery is roughly at a distance of 337 km from Shimla and 149 km from Reckong Peo. The easiest way to reach the monastery is by road. Being an extremely isolated region of the Himalayas – you’ll be hard-pressed for a better way to make your journey.

Best Time to Visit Tabo Monastery

If you are planning your visit to this ancient monastery, avoid months from January to April as the temperature will vary from 2 Degree Celsius to 14 Degree Celsius between these months and most of the routes are closed due to heavy snowfall. During this time even the locals do not prefer to step out of their homes and make themselves comfortable in their warm houses only.

The tourist season will begin from May onwards and goes on till October. However, one should avoid the monsoon month of August as the areas near the rain shadow desert of Spiti Valley receive very heavy downpours and the routes of the Himalayas get slippery and prone to landslides.

From May to October only the Spiti valley remains functional for guests, November onwards the heavy snow sets in. The ideal duration of the trip is between 7 to 8 days.

What Not to Miss at Tabo Monastery

1. Tibetan Cuisine Restaurants :- Give your taste buds a culinary experience of the local flavors. You can choose out Tibetan and Multi-cuisine restaurants that will serve you with some amazing food to make your trip more worthy.

2. Nearby Villages and their attractions :- All the key tourist places are nearby Tabo monastery including Dhankar at a distance of 35 Kms where you can sport Dhankar Gompa and Dhankar fort, Key Monastery at 54 Kms which is the largest monastery of Spiti valley. Kibber Village and Kaza are also at a distance of 64 Kms and 50 Kms respectively.

3. Public Library :- You can explore some past files here, which not only provides you a piece of explanatory information on Buddhism but also holds some amazing views of the Himalayas.

4. Tea with Monks at Monasteries :- Grabbing a Tea with the monks if probably the coolest and calmest thing you can do. Tabo Monastery gives you a chance to share the same roof with monks along with a hot cup of tea. There is nothing better than Tea to start a meaningful conversation with a monk.

5. Exploring Caves :- For a photographer’s delight, you can head down from the steep slopes to explore caves that give a panoramic view of Tabo and take you back to ancient times. You can tie up some prayers flags for inner tranquility

Activities to do at Tabo Monastery

Find peace in Gompa: Gompa is the right place for you in the monastery if you are a seeker of inner peace. It comes second only to the Tholing gompa in Tibet.

1. Visit Monastery Museum :- You can make your way to the Monastery Museum. It is an extension which is comparatively new but traditional as well, to the old Gompa’s Zal-ma. It is around the completion and will ultimately be a home of the monastery’s collected treasures including artifacts and historical photos.

2. Exploring Caves :- Once used to be a part of the monastery complex, you can head towards several small caves that open on the hillside just above the main road. Just start stepping 200m upwards on the opposite side of Vijay Kumar Shop.

3. Find history in the Library :- Hidden upstairs in the monastery guesthouse building, you can also find a Library within the monastery. This will provide you a piece of detailed information on Tibbet and Buddhism culture spread across the whole town.

4. Live with the Monks :- You can try living with the Monks as Tabo Monastery provides bag-packers with an option to stay in the guest house run by Gompa. The clear sky gives you an option of stargazing as well. And do not miss out on the free Chai provided by the monastery to all the visitors.