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Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Gelugpa sect located on top of a hill at an altitude of 4,166 metres (13,668 ft) above sea level, close to the Spiti River, in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, Lahaul and Spiti district, India.
It is the largest monastery of the Spiti Valley and a religious training centre for lamas. It reportedly had 100 monks in 1855.
Kye was attacked again by the Mongols during the 17th century, during the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama, and became a Gelugpa establishment. In 1830, it was sacked again during the wars between Ladakh and Kulu. In 1841, it was severely damaged by the Dogra army under Ghulam Khan and Rahim Khan. Later that same year, it suffered more damage from a Sikhs. In the 1840s, it was ravaged by fire and, in 1975, a violent earthquake caused further damage which was repaired with the help of the Archaeological Survey of India and the State Public Works Department.
An elegant twilight show over the highland near Hikkim village in Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
The Lingti stream flows through a deep gorge near Lalung village in Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Masks for religious Mask dancing...taken in Dhankar Monastery, Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
The bowl-shaped Langza village at around 14,500 ft altitude is a permanently inhabited place where life and livelihood of people are simple yet bound together in peace and love....taken in Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India. ( indebted to those beautiful words of the great poet for scripting the title )
The Chandra Taal lake gets its name from the exquisitely crafted crescent shape that flamboyantly nestles under the azure blue skies. The lake glitters like a turquoise pendant against the cold-barren mountains of Spiti valley. It is surrounded by the expansive grassy land which was a glacier in ancient times.
The divinely beautiful lake reflects myriad hues ranging from reddish-orange to turquoise blue to shiny emerald as the day progresses. The changing colors add an element of mystery to the magical ambiance of the lake. These contrasting colors and stark landscapes sprinkle the entire panorama with shades of rainbow that the lake is so famous for.
Just born Spiti river descends down from Kunzum and the landscape stretches open in its valley...taken from Kunzum Pass (4,590 mts) in Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
A young learner in ancient school of Buddhist religion in Tabo monastery, Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Friends, while exploring the beauty of Islands in the middle of Indian sea--thousand miles away from home--even the rising waves and sparkling water fail to smudge the images of the Himalayas from my mind....hope to return from the trip by the middle of the month...here is Dhankar monastery from the backside as the day progressed....taken in Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Beautiful Langza village with fascinating Chau Chau Kang Nilda peak on the background...taken in Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh, India
Tabo Monastery located at a height of around 10,000 feet on the banks of the Spiti River in Spiti valley ,Himachal Pradesh.It is one of the oldest and most important Buddhist monasteries.It was built in the year 996 A.D.It is also the oldest continuing Buddhist enclave both in India and the Himalayas.
It has a rich collection of Thankas,manuscripts,statues,murals and frescoes depicting scenes from the Buddhist pantheon..It is known as the Ajanta of the Himalayas.
Unfortunately when we reached here the monastery was closed so we had to be satisfied with seeing and photographing it from outside.
Giving some ladies a lift to their fields in the van on the way back to Keylong from Tabo, in the Spiti Valley.
Komik is regarded as the highest permanently inhabited village in the world at the height of 4,587 mts ( though there are some minor differences over the claim)...I always love that highland meadow that the village has...enjoyed clicking late afternoon sunshine sweeping the field...taken in Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
A very old shot from a long ago trip to Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh in September 2014. We must have been at an altitude of around 10,000 feet above sea level when I took this shot.
The Spiti valley is a high altitude desert mountain valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India.It is a sub-division of Lahaul & Spiti district .Kaza at a height of about 12500 feet is the capital of Spiti."Spiti" means "Middle Land" .Spiti valley lies between Ladakh,Lahaul,Kinnaur and Kullu.The Spiti River flows through this valley. The population is mainly Buddhist and Spiti is famous for the ancient monasteries of Tabo,Dhankar and Kye.
Although there is no rainfall in this area,there is heavy snowfall during the winter months.It is one of the most thinly populated areas of India.However,the valley does have some picturesque villages peopled by hardy but gentle and friendly people and surrounded by fields of barley, buckwheat, peas and other vegetables. Apple is also being cultivated and the fruit is of exceptional quality.If you look in large you can see apples on the trees of the orchards on both sides of the road.
I took this shot in Giu village in Spiti valley on a trip in September 2014.
Situated at an altitude of over 10,000 feet in Spiti valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India , this picturesque village is famous for its around 500 years old naturally preserved mummy.The mummy is believed to be that of a Buddhist monk buried alive in an avalanche.It is in a sitting position and its hair, nails and teeth are still preserved.
On the day we visited Giu there were some kind of festivities going on.The people of this area are very friendly and hospitable and we were offered tea and refreshments and asked to join in the festivities.Sadly we had a long way to travel but we did have a cup of tea,saw the mummy and took some photos.:-)
Kaza (3,700 mts) is a major town in Spiti valley, where the world's highest civil oil refuelling station is located....the image was captured from a risky edge at the top of the ridge (another 700 mts above) on way back from Hikkim in Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Hikkim (4,400 mts), one of the higest altitude permanent hamlets in the world, in Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Established in the early 11th CE, Key monastery (4,166 mts) is one of the most prominent Buddhist religious institutions in Himachal Pradesh. Over the years, the main structure suffered considerable damages on account of at least three wars and a devastating earthquake and except a few murals of ancient time and basic structural pattern, the monastery bears the evidences of restructuring and renovation in its architectural content.
Taken in Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
The mountains over Langza village holds the band of light of the setting sun....taken in Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
The Spiti Valley is a desert mountain valley located high in the Himalaya mountains in the north-eastern part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The name "Spiti" means "The Middle Land", i.e. the land between Tibet and India.
Local population follow Vajrayana Buddhism similar to that found in the nearby Tibet Autonomous Region and the Ladakh region of India. The valley and surrounding region is one of the least populated regions in India and is the gateway to the northernmost reaches of the nation. Along the northern route from Manali, Himachal Pradesh or Keylong via the Rohtang Pass or Kunzum Pass respectively, the valley lies in the North East of the Indian hill state of Himachal Pradesh, and forms part of the Lahaul and Spiti district. The sub-divisional headquarters (capital) is Kaza, Himachal Pradesh[2] which is situated along the Spiti River at an elevation of about 12,500 feet (3,800 m) above mean sea level.
Lahaul and Spiti is surrounded by high mountain ranges. The Rohtang Pass, at 13,054 feet (3,979 m), separates Lahul and Spiti from the Kullu Valley. Lahul and Spiti are cut off from each other by the higher Kunzum Pass, at 15,059 feet (4,590 m). A road connects the two divisions, but is cut off frequently in winter and spring due to heavy snow. The valley is likewise cut off from the north up to eight months of the year by heavy snowfalls and thick icing conditions. A southern route to India proper is periodically closed for brief periods in the winter storms of November through June, but road access is usually restored a few days after storms end via Shimla and the Sutlej in the Kinnaur district.