Dhankar Monastery near Kaza
Dhankar Monastery is another oldest monastery situated near Kaza in Himachal Pradesh. This is a Tibetan monastery built in the 12th century. It is located at the top of a cliff, and offers stunning views of the majestic snow clad mountain ranges, the rugged terrain, hilly slopes, the rocky hills and the beautiful scenic landscape. Before Kaza was made the capital of Spiti Valley, in fact Dhankar Monastery was the traditional or ancient capital of Spiti Valley.
The Dhankar Monastery houses some of the ancient manuscripts, paintings, mural scriptures, and statues, etc. This collection of important items, explains the rich culture and heritage of the region.
The architectural style of the monastery comprises of Buddhism architectural style and looks like a fort, it offers scenic views of the scenery, the rugged valleys and the merging of the important rivers of the region that is Spiti and Pin Rivers. The highlight of the Dhankar Monastery is the Dhankar Gompa, which is built in a multi-storeyed structure. The gompa comprises of artwork and relics. Inside the Dhankar Monastery, it houses the assembly hall, prayer hall, meditation hall, living quarters for the monks, etc.
The Dhankar Monastery also has a new monastery which was built so that the monks who learn and preach can stay. Near the Dhankar Monastery, there is a village with traditional houses and remote lifestyle. The Dhankar Monastery is in fact one of the important places to visit due to its cultural richness.
Best time to visit Dhankar Monastery near Kaza
Tourists’ planning to visit Dhankar Monastery, the best time is May to September, when the weather is perfect to explore the region and the roads are easily accessible.
How to reach Dhankar Monastery near Kaza
In order to reach Dhankar Monastery, tourist will have to reach Kaza which is located around 34 km away. So tourists will have to reach Kaza first from Shimla or Manali. From Shimla tourists will have to take a bus or taxi to Kaza, via the Hindustan-Tibet Road (NH-22) route, which is opened all throughout the year. Tourists’ planning to travel through Manali, the route is Manali-Leh Highway, which might be closed during the heavy snowfall season.
Best Place to visit in Kaza
Although, Kaza is a rugged mountain terrain it comprises of scenic landscape, snow covered surrounding mountain ranges, ancient monasteries, remote villages and rich culture and heritage. Here is a list of some of the important places to visit in Kaza.
One of the most important sightseeing places in Kaza is Key Monaster, it is in fact the oldest monastery in Spiti Valley. The monastery is situated at a height of around 4166 meters above sea level.
It is one of the remote villages in Spiti Valley situated at a height of around 4400 meters above sea level. The village comprises of a large statue of Buddha overlooking the village.
Komic is another remote motorable village located in Spiti Valley, situated at a height of 4578 meters above sea level. It is one of the must-visit destinations .
Hikkim is an important village in Spiti Valley as it comprises of the highest post office in the world situated at a height of around 4440 meters above sea level.
Dhankar Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries situated at the top of a cliff and offers breathtaking views of the Spiti and Pin River.
One of the most popular tourists spot is the Pin Valley National Park, which is popular for having a varied species of flora and fauna. The wildlife here comprises of the snow leopard, Himalayan bear.
Chandratal Lake is situated a bit faraway from Kaza, it is located at a height of around 4300 feet above sea level. As the name suggests the shape of the lake is in moon shape.