Dhankar Monastery & Dhankar Lake
Dhankar Gompa
An ancient monastery clinging to cliffs where the Spiti and Pin rivers meet. A one-hour hike leads to a high-altitude lake with views of snowy peaks.
Dhankar was once the ancient capital of Spiti. Dhankar Monastery, built more than a thousand years ago, and an old fort cling to cliffs of eroding clay. The World Monuments Fund lists the site among the world’s most endangered monuments, and a new monastery has been built beside it. A one-hour hike from the village, with a climb of about 300 m, leads to Dhankar Lake at about 4,100 m, where you can see Mount Manirang in the distance. Entry costs about 50 rupees.
The monastery is about 33 km from Kaza. It can be visited on the same day as Lalung Monastery and Tabo Monastery.
Opening hours
About 08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Lhalung Monastery
- Tabo Monastery
- Komic Village
- Hikkim Post Office
- Kaza Town & Sakya Tangyud Monastery
- Langza Village
- Pin Valley National Park & Mudh
- Key Monastery