Tabo Monastery
Tabo Gompa
A thousand-year-old monastery founded in 996. Its mud-walled halls hold murals and clay sculptures known as the “Ajanta of the Himalayas.”
Tabo Monastery was founded in 996 by the great translator Rinchen Zangpo. It is one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in continuous operation in India and the Himalayas. It consists of nine temple halls and 23 stupas. The exterior, built of plain adobe, looks modest, but inside the main hall the clay sculptures of the Vajradhatu mandala and the 10th- to 11th-century murals are extremely precious. They are listed for protection by the Archaeological Survey of India. Ancient meditation caves lie in the cliffs behind the monastery.
Inside the halls the light is dim and photography is prohibited, so bring a flashlight. The monastery is about 47 km from Kaza, and you can stay overnight in Tabo village.
Opening hours
About 08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Lhalung Monastery
- Dhankar Monastery & Dhankar Lake
- Gue Mummy
- Komic Village
- Nako Village & Lake
- Hikkim Post Office
- Kaza Town & Sakya Tangyud Monastery
- Langza Village