Tabo Monastery: A Guide To UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Tabo Monastery you can visit while traveling to the northern side of the Indian territory. This particular monastery belongs to the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. After hitting the state, you need to travel to the Spiti Valley region, which is a hotspot of tourists in the area. 996 CE is marked as the year in which this monastery got established in the location.

Frescoes that can be seen in plenty inside the monastery are an attractive feature welcoming tourists and aestheticians into the location. If you are a Buddhist believer, you would also be able to relate to the stories and legends depicted in these frescoes.

History Of Tabo Monastery

Apart from these frescoes, you would also be able to spot a lot of mural paintings, scroll paintings, manuscripts, and a lot more in the location. Some of the renowned statues also find their space in the location of this particular monastery in the state of Himachal Pradesh. 

1975 was a year of destruction concerning the monastery of Tabo. An earthquake that happened in the region brought severe damage to the monastery leading to its renovation and refurbishment after that.

After the activities of renovation, a new hall was constructed in the monastery in the year 1983 under the name, “Assembly Hall”. In this same Assembly Hall, Kalachakra Ceremonies took place twice, once in the year 1983 and then in the year 1996.

It was the 14^th Dalai Lama who took the religious initiative for both ceremonies. Today, the ownership and management of the monastery are vested with the Archaeological Survey of India. It is protected and preserved as a monument having due national and historic importance. 

The affiliation of this particular Buddhist monastery goes to Tibetan Buddhism and the sect is marked as “Gelug”. Currently, the leadership of the monastery is handled by “Geshe Sonam Wangdui”. If you are someone who is quite enthusiastic about the architecture and other constructional peculiarities of monasteries, you must definitely have a visit to this location.

Inside the compound of the monastery, you would be able to spot 9 different temples, 23 chortens, quarters for monks, and 4 stupas attracting the attention of the visitors and pilgrims exploring the place.

Rinchen Zangpo is the one who stood behind the establishment of this particular monastery and he is now regarded as the founder of the same. And also experts opine that the architecture found in this monastery is a mix of contemporary and heritage styles giving it an exemplary look and feel. 

The geographical positioning of the monastery is also quite interesting making it a worthwhile place to explore beyond the boundaries of religion and religious beliefs. Since it is situated in the Spiti Valley region, the picturesqueness of the area is quite remarkable.

Apart from that the proximity to the river of Spiti is again a bonus to the monastery and its surroundings. You can also find villages near the monastery area where life is mostly quaint and serene. Places such as Ladakh and Kullu are also close to this monastery area making it a centre outside the townscape.

Most of the land in the region is covered with rocks and this is one of the signature elements of the geography of this place. Some of the rocks can also be seen in a carved position in which the monks of the monastery are seen visiting to meditate. Exotic paintings can also be seen in some of the rocks enhancing their artistic value to the max.

Education At Tabo Monastery

Education is another important feature of this monastery. Since the older years, people were depending on this monastery for their educational purposes. Serkong School is the one now functioning under the monastery. It was in the year 1999, that this particular school got established under the monastery.

Today, the school offers elementary education from class 1 to class 8. Apart from subjects that cover religious education, general subjects are also taught in this particular school run by the monastery authorities.

Art and Sanskrit are also given due importance in the syllabus of the school. The financial requirements of running such a full-fledged school are partially taken care of by the government of India and also by the fees and donations remitted by the students taking admission to the institution.

The school has also got development plans that might be helpful for the students enrolling there.

Festivals In Tabo Monastery

Another important feature of this monastery is the festivals celebrated there. During the festive season, the monastery is seen filled with crowds of tourists from both the territory of India and outside it.

This is also a time when the economy of the monastery grows stronger with the flow of the tourists’ funds. This is also a chance to get yourself immersed in the arts and culture of the people living in the monastery, especially the monk population. Chakhar Festival is one of the eventful celebrations of this particular monastery. 

Location 

As mentioned earlier, the location of this monastery comes in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh in the area of the Spiti Valley. You can find this monastery at the bottom of the valley in close proximity to the Spiti River. 

Climatic Conditions 

Climatic conditions in this area are mostly seen in a dry and cold state. It would be difficult for you to engage in a happy vacation in this place if you are visiting during the colder months of the year.

During the summer months of the year, the climate is seen shifting to warmer and more pleasant conditions. 

Best Time To Visit Tabo Monastery

Summer Months Of The Year 

How To Reach Tabo Monastery?

Nearest airport: Kullu Airport 

Nearest railway station: Kalka Railway Station (KLK)

Temples In Tabo Monastery 

There are one main temple and two different kinds of temples on the campus of this monastery. Newer temples and older temples are the categories that can be found in this region. 

Things To Remember While Visiting Tabo Monastery 

Try to understand the culture and history behind to understand the monastery a little better. Also, take all those warmers handy to defend yourself from the cold climate of the place.

Read More:

Explore The Breathtaking Mountain Views Of Himachal Pradesh!

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