Key
Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located on top of a hill at an
altitude of 4,166 metres above sea level, close to the Spiti River, in
the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, Lahaul and Spiti district, India.
Key Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located on picturesque
hilltop at an altitude of 4,166 metres above sea level, close to the
Spiti River, in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. The
monastery has the distinction of being the oldest and the biggest in the
Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh and a religious training
centre for Lamas. It is home to around 300 lamas who receive their
religious education here.
Key Gompa is said to have been
founded by Dromtön (Brom-ston, 1008-1064 CE), a pupil of the famous
teacher, Atisha, in the 11th century. This may however, refer to a now
destroyed Kadampa monastery at the nearby village of Rangrik, which was
probably destroyed in the 14th century when the Sakya sect rose to power
with Mongol assistance. Nevertheless, it is believed that the monastery
is at least a thousand years old. There was even a celebration of its
millennium in 2000 in the presence of the Dalai Lama.
More photos at ->
Photo: Puktal Gomba & Google Location is
Key Gompa was frequently attacked by the Mongols, such as the 17th
century raid during the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama. In the 19th
century it was attacked and looted by various armies engaging in fights
in the region. This was followed by a devastating fire in the 1840s. In
1975 a violent earthquake caused further damage to the building.
Repeated
attacks on the monastery resulted in frequent renovation and
reconstruction work which in turn has given rise to irregular box like
structure. The building has the appearance of a defensive fort rather
than a monastery. Today, the monastery is renowned religious training
center for the Lamas who can be seen dancing, singing and playing on
their pipes and horns.
The monastery is a wonderful example of
the monastic architecture that came into prominence during the 14th
century because of the Chinese influence. Regular invasions have led to
temples built on top of one another. There are low rooms and narrow
corridors. Dimly lit passages, difficult staircases and small doors lead
to prayer rooms which themselves do not conform to a single design.
The
walls of the monastery are decorated with beautiful paintings and
murals, thangkas (a painted or embroidered Tibetan banner), valuable
manuscripts, stucco images, and unique wind instruments. There is also a
collection of weapons which were probably used to defend the monastery
from the attackers. The wind instruments are still put to use during the
enaction of Chham in summers.
The monastery is around 12 km
north of Kaza and can be reached by covering a distance of 210 km from
Manali to Kaza. From there daily buses takes you to the Kye Monastery.
the Slice show of photograph is below---
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सी द्वारा भी जाया जा सकता है।
