Key Monastery

Meaning

In the middle of an all-white valley a single hill rises, and over it white-walled rooms stack tier upon tier into something like a fortress. A frozen river winds below like silver thread, and beyond it the snow peaks close off the sky.

A Gelug monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in the Spiti valley at about 4,100 meters, held to have been founded around the eleventh century. Through repeated invasions, fires and earthquakes it fell and was rebuilt again and again, until room came to rest upon room in the fortress-like tiers seen today. Young lamas still study here, and ancient murals, scriptures and ritual instruments are kept. It is counted among the largest and oldest monasteries of the Spiti valley.

Field notes

Location

Spiti · Himalaya · N32.3° · E78.0°

Best time

June to September, when the passes open and the valley can be reached

Getting there

Two days or more by mountain road from Manali or Shimla; 15 km by road from Kaza.

Etiquette

Shoes are removed in the halls, and steps are taken slowly at this altitude.

Sources

• · Encyclopaedia Britannica
• · Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism)

Photographs are freely licensed works from Wikimedia Commons and similar sources; the author and license appear beneath each image.