Key Monastery

Spiti Valley | A Tibetan Buddhist monastery | Show on map

Quick Info

Visit Duration: 5-6 days

Timings: 12 hrs a day

Entry type: Paid

Entry Details: No entry fee is required.

summary

The Key Monastery is one of the must-see locations in Himachal Pradesh and is situated next to the Spiti River, which is one of India's most beautiful rivers. The magnificent Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, also known as the Kye Gompa or Ki and Kee Monastery, is situated on a scenic mountaintop at a height of 4,166 metres above sea level.

The greatest monastery in India's Lahaul and Spiti area, the 1000-year-old monastery was founded in 1100 CE. The majestic Key Monastery is thought to have been founded by Dromtön (Brom-ston, 1008–1064 CE), who was a pupil of the illustrious 11th-century instructor Atisha.

The beautiful monastery is home to 250–300 Lamas, or spiritual leaders in Tibetan Buddhism, and is maintained by a Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhist monks as a fully operational religious training facility for Lamas. You will be mesmerised by the old monastery's stunning architecture, which has a fantasy-fiction feel to it.

The monastery is visited by thousands of devotees and tourists from all over the world who come here in search of tranquilly and inner peace. It is surrounded by stunning glaciers and the snow-capped Himalayas. You will have a wonderful experience in the monastery's beautiful setting, which features lovely villages blanketed in snow and long, winding roads.

Highlights of Key Monastery

In addition to its extensive library of vintage Buddhist texts and artwork, the Key Monastery is well known for its Cham Festival. The festival, which is rigorously and enthusiastically observed every year in June or July, begins with the Cham dancers and is followed by a large parade of Lamas who dress colourfully and perform traditional dances. The ritual ground located beneath the monastery is where the masked dances are done.

An enormous butter sculpture of a devil is burned as part of the celebration to symbolise the victory of good over evil. The Lamas stroll over devotees who go from nearby villages to participate in the festival after they have been laid out on the ground. With this tradition, the Lamas, who are revered as gods, helped the pilgrims recover from illnesses or if they were under the influence of a ghost.

The spiritual leader addresses the congregation as the top Lama chants the prayers. The Lamas perform interesting dancing manoeuvres while the monks perform traditional music on unusual wind instruments. The intricate dance styles performed by these Cham dancers as they balance on one leg invoke the gods.

Key Monastery Overview

Points Of Interest for Key Monastery

The Key Monastery is a haven for historians and is home to a sizable collection of artefacts. This monastery is home to priceless texts, Thangkas, stunning murals, stucco portraits, and unusual wind instruments. These wind instruments are still played by lamas during the Key Monastery annual festival in the summer.

Weapons that may have been used to protect the monastery from invading barbarian raids are another wonderful collection found inside the monastery. At the monastery, there are also a number of murals on show, including Buddha statues and idols, beautiful number books, and old documents pertaining to the orders.

You can also explore the prayer chambers, which are accessible only through narrow tunnels that are barely lighted and difficult to navigate. These rooms vary from one another and do not all have the same layout. One of the most remarkable things you can do while at the monastery is to see the Lamas, who are often seen singing, dancing, and having a good time with their horns and pipes.