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Photos: Original: Kulbhushan Singh Suryawanshi (website) Derivative work: Aristeas (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Pranav perspective (CC BY-SA 4.0) · John Hill (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Spiti's largest monastery, a Gelug fortress-like gompa at about 4,166 m on a hill 12 km north of Kaza.
Key Monastery sits on a conical hill above the Spiti river about 12 km north of Kaza, at roughly 4,166 m. It belongs to the Gelug school and is Spiti's largest monastery and a training centre for lamas. Its maze of dim rooms holds murals, Tangyur texts and old Buddha images. The Dalai Lama inaugurated a new prayer hall in 2000.
Highlights
- Hilltop fortress setting
- Old murals and texts
- Views of Spiti valley
Tips
- Spiti roads via Kunzum close in winter; the Kinnaur route stays open but can be cut by snow
- Foreigners on the Kinnaur route need an Inner Line Permit
Best places nearby
Komic Village and Tangyud Monastery
High Spiti village (about 4,587 m) promoted as one of the highest motorable villages, home to the Sakya Tangyud monastery.
Photo: John Hill
Langza Village (Buddha Statue and Fossils)
Spiti village at about 4,330 m known for its large hillside Buddha statue and marine fossils from the ancient Tethys Sea.
Photo: Madhumita Das
Spiti Valley
valley in Himachal Pradesh, India
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Sol Cafe
Ecosphere-run social-enterprise cafe on Kaza's main market road; profits fund local projects.
Cafe Zomsa
Kaza main-market cafe mixing Tibetan decor with Indian, Italian and vegan food and live music.
Rock Art Museum
Museum in Kaza.
Similar places
Dhankar Monastery
Cliff-top fort monastery at about 3,894 m above the Spiti-Pin confluence; listed by WMF as endangered in 2006.
Photo: John Hill
Tabo Monastery
ASI-protected monastery founded in 996 CE by Rinchen Zangpo, famous for its murals and stucco figures.
Photo: John Hill
Gyuto Monastery
Large Tibetan tantric monastery at Sidhbari, 7 km from Dharamshala, known for deep chanting and as the Karmapa's former Indian seat.
Photo: John Hill
Kangra Fort
Vast ASI-protected hill fort of the Katoch rulers above Kangra town, ruined by the 1905 earthquake, with a museum near the gate.
Photo: Harvinder Chandigarh
St. John in the Wilderness Church
1852 neo-Gothic Anglican church in deodar forest at Forsyth Ganj, burial place of Viceroy Lord Elgin.
Photo: Lewesian1982 (talk)
Mashobra
Quiet forested suburb of Shimla (~2,146 m) with Carignano picnic spot and the President's retreat at Chharabra.
Photo: Supreet
Mall Road, Shimla
Shimla's pedestrian shopping and promenade street lined with colonial buildings, cafes and woollen and handicraft shops.
Photo: Virusism
Kalpa (Kinnaur Kailash Viewpoint)
Hill village 13 km above Reckong Peo with close views of the 6,050 m Kinner Kailash range and old temples.
Photo: Carlos Adampol Galindo from DF, Mexico