Sani Monastery, Buddhist monastery in Zanskar Valley, India
Sani Monastery is a Buddhist monastery and temple in the Zanskar region of Ladakh, India, located on flat ground close to the town of Padum. The compound consists of a central prayer hall, several shrine chapels, and a walled outer area containing stone monuments and smaller religious structures.
The site contains one of the oldest known shrines in the Zanskar valley, associated with Emperor Kanishka from around the 2nd century. This points to the location being used as a place of worship long before the current monastery was established.
Sani is one of the few monasteries in the region that houses both monks and nuns, giving it an unusual character among Zanskar's religious sites. During festivals, visitors can watch masked dances performed in the open courtyard.
The monastery is accessible on foot or by local vehicle from Padum, the nearest town. Roads in this part of Ladakh are generally open from June through September, so planning a visit outside that window can make access very difficult.
Sani holds a stupa that remains intact and stands directly within an active monastic complex, a combination that is rare even in this part of the Himalayas. The stupa is thought to be among the oldest in the entire Ladakh region.
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