Spituk Monastery

Spituk Monastery (Spituk Gompa) is one of the spectacular monasteries in Leh district, Ladakh, northern India.The monastery is located on the hilltop near the Indus River and shares a distance of 8 kilometres from Leh.. The site of Spituk was blessed by the Arhat Nyimagung. It was founded by Od-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od when he came to Ladakh ( Maryul) in the 11th Century. He introduced the monastic community. When Lo-tsa-wa Rinchen Zangpo (Translator) came to that place he said that an exemplary religious community would arise there and so the monastery was called spituk (exemplary). During the period of time Dharma raja Trakspa Bum-Ide the monastery was restored by Lama Nyawang Lotos and the stainless order of Tsonkha-pa was introduced and it has remained intact as such till present.Spituk Monastery was founded as a Red Hat institution, the monastery taken over by the Yellow Hat sect in the 15th century. The Monastery contains 100 monks and a giant statue of Maha Kali (unveiled during the annual Spituk festival).

festival

Every year Spituk Gustor (Festival) is celebrated on the 27th to 29th in the eleventh month of the Tibetan calendar