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Tabo monastery |
The natural scenery and
Buddhist monasteries, such as Ki, Dhankar, Shashur, Guru Ghantal and
Tayul Gompas, are the main tourist attractions of the region.
One of the most interesting places is the Tabo monastery, located
45km from Kaza, the capital of the Spiti region. Tibet. This
monastery rose to prominence when it celebrated its thousandth year
of existence in 1996. It houses a collection of Buddhist scriptures,
Buddhist statues and Thangkas. The ancient gompa is finished with
mud plaster, and contains several scriptures and documents. Lama
Dzangpo heads the gompa here. There is a modern guest house with a
dining hall and all facilities are available.
Another famous monastery, Kardang Gompa, is located at an elevation
of 3,500m across the river which is about 8 KM from Keylong. Kardang
is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14
Km from Keylong. Built in the 12th century, this monastery houses a
large library of Buddhist, Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures.
The treacherous weather in Lahul and Spiti permits visitors to tour
only between the months of June to October, when the roads and
villages are largely free of snow. Even though it is possible to
access the region from Kinnaur (along the Saltuj) all through the
year, the road is permanently closed at Mulling.
Avalanches and poorly tarred roads are another issue, cases of
tourists getting killed or injured while making their way to
villages have already occurred. |
