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Spituk Monastery Overview

Perched atop a hillock by the Indus River, Spituk Monastery prides itself as one of Ladakh’s most significant monastery complexes to visit with our Leh Ladakh packages. The Gompa is home to Tsongkhapa Order of Tibetan Buddhist monks, housing around 125 resident monks. The monastery complex houses a massive statue of the Hindu deity Kali along with several small shrines, some dating back to 900 years.

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.

Highlights

• 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

How To Reach

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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Best Time To Visit

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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Other Essential Information

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.

Also Checkout and Book: Exciting Leh Ladakh Bike Tours

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Day Wise Timings
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08:00 AM to 06:00 PM
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Point of Interest for Spituk Monastery
The Spituk Gustor Festival
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The Spituk Gustor Festival

The Spituk Gustor Festival is a winter event in Ladakh that takes place every year. The two-day celebration, held on the 28th and 29th days of the Tibetan calendar's 11th month, celebrates the triumph of good over evil. The festival's principal goal is to promote world peace, happiness, and the well-being of all living things.

Click Here to Book Now: Ladakh Trip Packages from Mumbai

Dukhang
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Dukhang

The Dukhang is the main assembly hall in the monastery. Pictures of ferocious guarding deities adorn the walls both inside and outside the doorway. The designated throne for the Dalai Lama sits on the far end of the Dukhang, which has five rows of low seats for the lamas. The Buddhist canonical writings may be found on both sides of the Dukhang's walls.

The idol of Kali
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The idol of Kali

The idol of the Hindu goddess Kali is one of the most striking features of the Spituk Gompa. Interestingly, the face of the goddess Kali is kept veiled throughout the year, and is only unraveled during the Spituk Gustor festival at the end of each calendar year.

Suggested Read: A Detailed Travel Guide from Mumbai to Ladakh

 The Chokhang Temple
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The Chokhang Temple

This temple, which was completed in 1960, has exquisite murals on every wall. A statue of Sakyamuni, the Historical Buddha, stands in the center of the chamber .A statue of the Eleven-Headed Avalokitesvara, a counterpart to the Hindu deity, stands to the right of the Buddha.

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Spituk Monastery FAQs

What are the times of the Spituk Monastery?

The Monastery remains open between 06.00 AM to 01.00 PM and 01.30 PM- 06.00 PM on all days of the week.

How much time does it take to explore the Monastery?

It would take approximately 2 to 3 hours to explore the monastery in its entirety.

What are some of the best attractions in the vicinity of the Spituk Monastery?

Some of the best attractions close to the Spituk Monastery include the Leh Palace, the Stok Palace Museum and the Gurudwara Panth Sahib.

What are some of the Ladakh Tour Packages which incudes Spituk Monastery?

Here are some of the Ladakh Tour Packages which also cover Spituk Monastery-

1) Leh Ladakh Bike Trip

2) Leh Ladakh Bike Trip from Delhi

3) Cheapest Ladakh Tour Package

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