Gandhola Monastery, Buddhist monastery in Lahaul and Spiti district, India
Gandhola Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist structure standing at 3,160 meters elevation near Tupchiling village where two rivers converge. The building spans two stories and features an Assembly Hall on its lower level with a distinctive roof design.
Archaeological discoveries including a copper goblet from the 1st century reveal early Buddhist settlement in this region. Such artifacts demonstrate how the religious tradition took root here centuries ago.
The monastery houses wooden statues of spiritual teachers and deities that reflect Tibetan Buddhist traditions still honored by visitors and monks. These sacred figures shape how people experience and use the space for meditation and devotion.
The site can be reached via a four-kilometer walking path from Tupchiling village, which sits about 18 kilometers before Keylong on the main road. The high elevation means visitors should acclimatize and wear appropriate clothing for the mountain environment.
The building is quite compact at roughly 17 by 11 meters, making it smaller and more intimate than larger monastery complexes in the region. Its roof employs traditional Kangra slate tiles that have been carefully arranged by hand.
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