Ugyen Sangnak Choling Gompa, Spiti

Location: Pin Valley National Park

Ugyen Sangnak Choling Gompa in Kungri is over 680 years old and is one of the oldest monasteries in the Spiti valley. Along with a newly constructed monastery, it also has two more amazing shrines (Nyingma Gonpa and Ani Gonpa), belonging to medieval times. These monasteries feature colorful festival masks, blackened murals, and carved wooden snow lions. In two of these shrines, the entry of women is not allowed. The complex boasts wonderful scenery all around.

Also known as Urgyen Sangnag Choling, this gompa is home to several monks who live here and study and practice Dharma. All the activities going on here are supervised by Yomed Tulku, also called Spiti Tulku. Spiti Tulku also began a school where the monks at the monastery were given a secular education. This school is open to all the children of the village who wish to gain this knowledge.

The construction of the new monastery started in the summer of 1993 and is used as a place where teachings are given. This gompa was sanctified in the June month of 2004 by H.H. Dalai Lama. Explore the monastery with our Spiti Valley tour packages, which are customizable. You can design the itinerary according to your requirements. Contact our travel experts to book a tour with us and embark on a lifetime vacation.

Nyingma Gonpa

Nyingma Gompa is the main gompa of Urgyen Sangnag Choling, which houses Buddhist and Nyingma in huge numbers, in its spacious library, including the popular ones, Tengyur and Kangyur.

The complex has 2 other shrines that are several hundreds of years old. While one temple is dedicated to Pema Lingpa practices and tradition, the other one is dedicated to Guru Rinpoche.

Ani Gonpa

Also used as a nunnery in Kungri, Ani Gompa offers accommodation to 20 nuns. It also comprises a kitchen. It is also the site where nuns receive traditional teaching from a Khenpo and other teachers, one of whom is a Tibetan language instructor.