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About
Key Monastery |
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Key
Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery which is situated on top
of a hill at an elevation of 4,166 metres above sea level
close to the Spiti River in the Spiti Valley of Himachal
Pradesh, Lahaul and Spiti district, India. It is the biggest
monastery of Spiti Valley and a religious training centre for
Lamas. It is home to around 300 lamas who receive their
religious education here. It reportedly had 100 monks in 1855.
However it is believed that the monastery is at least a
thousand years old. There was even a celebration of its
millennium in 2000 in the presence of the Dalai Lama. Key
Gompa was frequently attacked by the Mongols, such as the 17th
century raid during the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama.
The walls of the monastery are decorated with beautiful
paintings and murals, thangkas (a painted or embroidered
Tibetan banner), stucco images, valuable manuscripts, and
unique wind instruments. There is also a collection of weapons
which were probably used to defend the monastery from the
attackers. The wind instruments are still put to use during
the enaction of Chham in summers.
Best time to visit Key Monastery is during summer from May to
October. From October end, Rohtang Pass remains closed due to
snow fall. |
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Location of Key Monastery |
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The
monastery is about 12 km north of Kaza and can be reached by
covering a distance of 210 km from Manali to Kaza. From there
daily buses are available to the Kye Monastery.
The biggest centre of Buddhist learning in Spiti Valley, Key
Monastery is over 1000-year-old. It is the oldest training
centre for Lamas. It is located at a height of 13,668 feet above
mean sea level in Lahaul Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh in
north India.
Founded by Dromton, a famous disciple of teacher Atisha in the
11th century, the monastery used to house about 350 lamas at one
time. The number of prisoners at the monastery has come down. |
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History of Key Monastery |
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Key
Gompa is founded by Dromtön (Brom-ston, 1008-1064 CE), a pupil
of the well-known teacher, Atisha, in the 11th century. This may
however, refer to a now destroyed Kadampa monastery at the
nearby village of Rangrik, which was probably destroyed in the
14th century when the Sakya sect rose to power with Mongol
assistance.
Key was attacked again by the Mongols during the 17th century,
during the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama and became a Gelugpa
establishment. In 1820 it was sacked again during the wars
between Ladakh and Kulu. In 1841 it was harshly damaged by the
Dogra army under Ghulam Khan and Rahim Khan. Later that same
year suffered more damage from a Sikh army. In the 1840s it was
destroyed by fire and, in 1975, a violent earthquake caused
further damage which was repaired with the help of the
Archaeological Survey of India and the State Public Works
Department.
The walls of the monastery are covered with paintings and
murals, an example of the 14th century monastic architecture,
which developed as the result of Chinese influence. Key
monastery has a collection of ancient murals and books,
including Buddha images. There are three floors, the first one
is mainly underground and used for storage. One room, called the
Tangyur is richly painted with murals. The ground floor has the
wonderfully decorated Assembly Hall and cells for many monks.
Key Gompa now belongs to the Gelugpa sect, along with Tabo
Monastery and Drangtse Monastery, one of three in Spiti. "The
monastery of Key accommodates nearly 250 monks, who reside
within the sacred walls in winter, and stay during the summer
with their parents or brothers, working in the fields, or
employed in carrying travellers' goods. These monasteries have
their regular heads, or abbots, and the higher religious titles
can only be obtained by the candidates proceeding in person to
either Shigatzee (Shigatse) or Lhassa (Lhasa)." A celebration of
its millennium was conducted in 2000 in the presence of the
Dalai Lama. |
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Architecture of the Monastery |
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The monastery is famous for its architecture called Pasada
style. Pasada style is characterised by two or more
stories and often plays the role of a fort-monastery. The
monastery is spread over three floors – underground,
ground and first floor. Underground is mainly utilized for
storage; ground floor is used as assembly hall, called
Du-Khang. The ground floor also has small rooms for monks.
The rooms with murals called Tangyur is worth to visit.
The monastery is famous for its ancient murals, rare
thangkas and ancient weapons. The images of Gautam Buddha
in dhyana (meditation) position are a must see. The
monastery also has a sizeable collection of musical
instruments like trumpets, cymbals and drums.
Key Gompa, belongs to the Gelugpa sect also called the
Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Key is among the
three monasteries of the Gelugpa sect in Spiti valley, the
other being Tabo and Drangtse Monastery. In 2000, the
Kalachakra ceremony was held at the monastery in the
presence of His Holiness, The Dalai Lama. Over 1500 lamas
attended the ceremony.
The scenic landscape which forms the backdrop for Key
Monastery is also a factor in the large number of tourists
making a beeline for the remote monastery. Surrounded by
snow capped mountains and glaciers, the beauty of the
valley is amazing. The route to Key Monastery is also
beautiful.
The culture of Key, like the rest of Spiti, closely
resembles that of Tibet. It is hardly surprising then that
the whole of Spiti is known as Little Tibet. Chham (mask
dance) by monks are very popular and an integral part of
festivities. The themes of the dance emphasize the victory
of good over evil. |
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Exhibits Inside Key Monastery |
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Inside there are low rooms, gloomy passages, arduous staircases,
narrow corridors and tiny doors that lead up to prayer rooms.
These prayer rooms themselves do not follow a single design.
In addition to all the drawbacks the monastery also has its own
set of highlights. For example, the paintings and the murals of
the walls promptly catch one’s attention. There is also an image
of Dhyana Buddha inside.
The monastery houses an exquisite collection of thangkas,
priceless manuscripts, stucco images, unique wind instruments
and above all a collection of weapons. These weapons
continuously reminds of the past when the monastery was
frequently under attack. The wind instruments are still made use
of during the performance of Chham in summers. |
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Festival Celebrated in Key Monastery |
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In
the month of June and July the Kye Monastery celebrates a
festival in which Chaam dances are followed by a procession that
reaches the ritual ground below the monastery. Here, a large
butter sculpture of a demon is set on fire. The festival sees
devotees not only pouring in large numbers but also laying
themselves down on the procession route so that lama walk over
them. |
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Spiti Valley |
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The
sub divisional headquarters of the Lahaul and Spiti district of
Himachal Pradesh, the Spiti valley extends over an area of 100
km and is divided into eastern and western valley. The valley
encompasses villages and some fields where the inhabitants grow
barley, buck- wheat, peas & vegetables. Lot of people here are
Buddhists.
It has its headquarters located at Kaza from where the Kye
Monastery is only 12 km away. The town of Kaza has a host of
shops, hotels and houses. Hence, for all those who are desirous
of staying will not face any problem.
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Best Season / Best time to visit Spiti |
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The
weather of Lahaul and Spiti remains cold for most part of the
year. Summers (Mid May to Mid October) is the best time to visit
the area as this is the time when the routes are open. It seldom
rains during the summers and adventures too can be enjoyed.
Winters (November to April) the area received very heavy
snowfall and the roads are closed. There is very less or no
rainfall in this region. |
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Other Attractions Around Key Monastery |
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Tabo
Monastery
This is yet another monastery that was founded in the 10th
century and as such has completed 1000 years of existence. Its
significance is further enhanced by the fact that it is next only
to the Tholing Gompa in Tibet in fame. Murals of the monastery are
a huge attractions here because they have very much resemblance to
the paintings of Ajanta caves in Maharashtra.It is located about
50 km from the town of Kaza and houses around 60 lamas.
Dhankar
Monastery
If the Thang Yug Gompa serves the western population of the
Spiti valley, the Dhankar Monastery is there for the eastern
population of the Spiti valley. It is about 25 km away from Kaza
and houses around 100 lamas. An image of 'Vairochana' or Dhayan
Budha is of huge importance here. Apart from this, the monastery
also houses Buddhist relics like paintings and sculpture.
Thang Yug Gompa
It is located at a distance of about 13 kms from the town of
Kaza, the Thang Yug Gompa stands at a remote place in the narrow
gauge of Kaza Nallah. The monastery is meant for the use of
western population of central Spiti. From this monastery, a long
plateau goes upto Shilla peak. |
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How to Reach Key Monastery |
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By
Rail
The railway station from Spiti lies at Shimla and Pathankot.
By Road
Kaza can be reached from Manali by direct buses and taxis.
However, the route from Manali is open between specific months,
May to October, depending upon the opening and closing of the
Rohtang Pass, the gateway to the Lahaul and Spiti valley. Kaza
can also be reached from Shimla via Kinnaur. Both buses and
taxis are available. From Kaza, a daily bus takes you to the Kye
Monastery.
By Air
Kullu and Shimla are two nearby airports that are well connected
to other parts of India. |
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