Spituk Monastery, Ladakh

Established about 500 years ago, the Spituk Gompa is one of Ladakh's oldest religious establishments. The monastery complex, however, comprises temples both old and new, some even dating back more than 900 years. 

Some of the ancient thankhas preserved here were taken from the Potala Palace and Lhasa after the Chinese invasion. The gompa also houses a statue of Kali, whose face is hidden for the majority of the year but is shown for one day during Spituk's festival.

The architecture of the Spituk Monastery is composed of the main Dukhang, which is the assembly hall, along with a smaller temple to Dolma Lakhang, and the Chokhang Shrine. The brilliant architecture and paintings at the Gompa owe much to its popularity- a host of fantastically preserved murals, statues and paintings of the Buddha in his various incarnations can be seen adorning the walls of the Gompa. The Spituk Gompa is also home to several resident monks; in fact, the head lama of Spituk is also the head lama of Ladakh, and acts as a Member of Parliament.

One of the biggest highlights of the monastery is the Spituk Gostor festival. Taking place in the 11th month of each Tibetan calendar year, the festival celebrates the principles of Buddhism through an array of colorful rituals, dances and performances, and is regarded as one of the best times to visit the monastery.

• Admire the silk paintings of Lord Buddha which adorn the walls of the assembly hall
• Pay visit to the two shrines housed within the temple complex- the Chokhang Shrine and the Dolma Lhakhang temple
• Witness the masked dances at the Spituk Gustor festival, taking place on the 11 month of each Tibetan calendar year
• Take a tour of the old monastery chapel, home to a colossal statue of Lord Buddha on throne with his disciples
• Marvel at the colossal statue of the Goddess Kali, the Hindu deity, located just by the temple complex

Spituk Gompa is located about 8 kilometers outside Leh. Hired cars or taxis are the easiest way to go. A more interesting alternative would be hiking all the way to the monastery.

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The best time to visit the Spituk Gompa would be during the afternoon hours, when the crowd at the monastery is least. In terms of season, the summer months between May and September is the ideal duration for a visit.

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Accommodation near Spituk Gompa

• Glacier View Guest House (8 KM): Despite its low rates, Glacier View offers a stay fit for luxury travelers. The spacious, well-equipped rooms all feature views of the mountains, with flowering gardens flanking the guest house on all sides.
• Spic n Span Hotel (7 KM): Resembling a castle, Spic n Span offers a stay fit for kings. Guests at the resort can choose from a range of standard and deluxe rooms, with some even coming with private balconies of their own. The hotel also features a vast outdoor lawn with seating arrangements.
• Ladakh Palace Boutique Hotel (11.8 KM): Located in the heart of Ladakh, the Ladakh Palace is quite literally designed as a traditional Palace would be. Despite being a boutique hotel, Ladakh Palace offers extremely affordable stays, along with an in-house restaurant of its own.

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