TABO MONASTERY

One of the most popular and prominent monasteries in Himachal Pradesh is the Tabo monastery, located in the stark but dramatic landscape of the Tabo valley at a height of about 3,050 m above . Known as the Ajanta of the Himalayas, due to its collection of colourful murals in the pattern of those at Ajanta caves in Maharashtra, the monastery is said to have been founded by the Buddhist king (and royal lama) Yeshe O'd in 996 AD. An inscription says it was renovated 46 years later by Yeshe O'd's grandnephew, the royal priest Jangchub O'd. It is said Yeshe O'd was assisted in his missionary activities by a lama who was also known as the great translator Rinchen Zangpo. Known as the oldest continuously functioning Buddhist monastery in India, five of the nine shrines inside its campus date from the 10th and 11th centuries' with 'the paintings in the nine chapels, four stupas and shrines are said to date back to the 10th and 11th centuries.' While the old gompa is not the hub anymore, with the new one being in focus for day-to-day activities, the former's main assembly hall is spectacular and has one of the most stunning near life-size clay sculptures of 28 Bodhisattvas. A statue of the four-bodied Vairochana Buddha turning the wheel of law is the main focus, with the whole room depicting the Vajradhatu mandala, with the Vairochana at its centre. The other ancient temples here are Ser-Khang with beautiful murals of Goddess Tara; the Kyil-Khang temple with a Vairochana mural and the Byams-Pa Chen-po Lha-Khang temple, with a 3-m-high statue of the Maitreya Buddha. 

The nearest prominent city is Manali, about 250 km away.