Key Monastery

In the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, Lahaul and Spiti district, India, Kye Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Gelugpa sect that is situated on top of a hill at an elevation of 4,166 meters (13,668 ft) above sea level, near to the Spiti River. It serves as a center for lama training in religion and is the biggest monastery in the Spiti Valley. It was said to have had 100 monks in 1855. The monastery is devoted to Lochen Tulku, the renowned translator Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo's 24th incarnation. It is 210 kilometers (130 miles) from Manali and roughly 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) north of Kaza.

The monastery's walls are decorated in paintings and murals, which are examples of the monastic architecture that emerged as a consequence of Chinese influence in the 14th century. Buddha pictures may be seen among the antique texts and murals in the Kye monastery's collection. The first floor, which is primarily subterranean and used for storage, has three levels. Murals in one chamber, the Tangyur, are lavishly decorated. Numerous monks' quarters and the exquisitely designed Assembly Hall are located on the ground floor. Kye Gompa, one of three in Spiti, presently belongs to the Gelugpa sect together with Tabo Monastery and Dhankar Gompa. The "Kachen Dugyal Memorial Old Aged - Handicapped Society," which offers housing for a number of elderly and crippled individuals, has recently been housed within the monastery.

Location: Kibber Village, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh