Kungri Monastery, Lahaul & Spiti Valley

The ever beautiful Kungri Monastery is located around 10 km from Attargo and 3 km from Gulling in Pin Valley of Himachal Pradesh. The town of Attargo is located approximately 12 km from the sub-divisional district headquarter of Spiti and one has to cross the stunning Spiti River to reach the Pin Valley, most of which has been declared a National Park. The Kungri Monastery happens to be the second oldest Gompa in the Lahaul and Spiti Valley and has the distinction of being the only monastery, which belongs to the Nyingmapa order of Buddhism. It is also the oldest order of Tibetan Buddhism.

History The Kungri Monastery is believed to have been erected in the first half of the 14th century, and it consists of three separate rectangular blocks, all of which stand facing the eastern direction. It depicts the strong impact of the Tibetan tradition that has been there in the Pin Valley from the past till today.The Kangri Monastery has assorted silk paintings of various Buddhist deities on the inner walls and showcases huge statues and over 300 volumes of the sacred Tibetan texts, Kenjur and Tenjur preserved carefully in white muslin.

Highlights Built in 1330, this monastery is a popular destination for Buddhist scholars, pilgrims, and tourists from all over the world and India and its primary purpose is to exhibits the treasure trove of ancient Tibetan Buddhist art, culture, and tradition. Another attraction of this historic monastery is the traditional 'Devil Dance,' which is performed in the month of July every year. Several tourists visit the monastery during this period to witness this popular dance. The sword dance is another popular dance form, which is an integral part of the tradition of the Nyingmapa.

The Kungri Monastery is located close to the Tabo Monastery, Attargo Monastery, Kye Monastery, Kibber Monastery, Sichling, and Dhankar Monastery and it is easily accessible from Kaza by bus.