The Kardang Monastery from the Drukpa Lineage is a popular gompa in the Lahaul and Spiti Valley. This 900-year-old monastery is located in the village of Lahaul and Spiti. With the backdrop of the Rangcha Peak, Kardang is blessed with natural bounties. This scenic town is well connected to Keylong and Kaza by road. The architectural style of Kardang Monastery is typical of the Lahaul and Spiti districts. A large golden Buddha statue, library, and ancient wall frescoes greatly interest tourists.
Plan your trip to Kardang Monastery to discover the wealth of Buddhism in India. You can opt for Himachal Pradesh tour packages from Indian Holiday. The Kardang Monastery is among the most visited Buddhist sites in the state. Popular as a repository of important Buddhist relics, Tantric and Thangka paintings adorn its interiors. The library is well stocked with volumes of Buddhist scriptures and texts. You will find a large collection of Kangyur and Tengyur texts as well. There are also old weapons and scriptures from the 12th and 13th centuries.
Apart from these, the first room of the monastery has the Chorten (small stupa) preserving the remains of Lama Norbu, the founder of the Kardang Monastery. In this room, you will also find the statue of Padmasambhava, Tara Devi, and Tagden Shakya Shri from the Tibetan lineage.
The next room is the main prayer hall containing the magnificent statue of Avalokitesvara. Finally, the third room contains the belongings of Lama Norbu. Around 30 monks and Buddhist nuns live in this monastery today. They enjoy equal rights and have permission to marry. They also spend the summer with their families and return to the monastery for their training during the winter. Contact our travel experts for more information and book a Himachal tour with us to explore the region at its best.
Places to visit around the Kardang Monastery
The Lahaul and Spiti Valley is home to many other monasteries worth visiting during your holiday in Himachal Pradesh.
- Shashur Monastery – Situated around 3 km from Keylong town, this is a 17th-century gompa. The annual festival in July is popular among pilgrims.
- Tayul Gompa – The Tayul Gompa stands 3,900 meters above sea level. It is located 6 km away from Keylong and is believed to be one of the oldest monasteries in the region. This gompa is famous for its collection of Kangyur texts.
