| Gemur Monastery | |
|---|---|
 Main building, Gemur Gompa | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Tibetan Buddhism |
| Location | |
| Location | Gemur, Lahaul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh, India |
| Country | India |
  Location within Himachal | |
| Geographic coordinates | 32°36′55.33″N77°8′48.80″E / 32.6153694°N 77.1468889°E |
Gemur Monastery is a Buddhist gompa, above the village of Gemur, Lahaul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh, northern India. The monastery dates from the first half of the 17th century.
The Gemur Gompa, elevation 3,370 m (11,060 ft), is about 700 m (2,300 ft) on foot from Gemur village. Gemur village is located on NH-505 17 km (11 mi) upstream from Keylong in the Bhaga River valley, Lahaul. [1] A rural road off NH-505 between Keylong and Gemur, terminates at the Gompa. This route covers a distance of 23 km (14 mi) from Keylong. [2]
The Gemur Gompa (monastery) is regarded as a central seat of Tibetan Buddhism in the sTod valley of Lahaul. In religious literature it is also known as Dge-smon Gsam-bstan chos-gling. It is said to be founded by sTagtshang Raspa in the first half of the 17th century. As per the legends and folklore Lama Tanzin Paldan of Gemur village was responsible for its construction with the aid of the Thakurs of Khangsar. [3] Scholars have argued that the Gemur gompa was located at a higher altitude and the present structure was relocated to the lower hill in 1870. The wood work of the temple is credited to Tashi Tamphel. The lamas of Gemur belong to the Drukpa Kagyu sect. Lamas were sent from this monastery to the Gompas of Dartse, Chhukutsi, Zong, Khangsar and Photang in Jispa. [4] : 44
It is reported that a Thanka of a Dam-can Jagpa Me-Len was stolen from the monastery along with other valuable articles in the 1960s. [3] This is a Tibetan Buddhist painting made on silk cloth and prepared by sewing patches of silk by hand. This used to be displayed during the Tshechu festival every year held in the monastery when the cham dance was performed. [5]
The Gompa contains a sculpture of the goddess 'Marichi Vajravarahi'. The monastery also contains ancient Buddhist miniature paintings, wall paintings, chortens, statues and Buddhist artifacts.
The Tshechu Fair is a religious festival celebrated all over the Buddhist Himalayas. This fair is celebrated on different dates at different places. At the Shashur, Gemur, Kyi, Kardang, Tabo and Mane Monasteries it is held in the month of June. The cham, a lively masked and costumed dance, is performed during this festival. [6]
Rohtang Pass is a high mountain pass on the eastern end of the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km (32 mi) from Manali in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India.
The Lahaul and Spiti district is a high-altitude district in Himachal Pradesh, north India. This entirely mountainous district consists of two geographically distinct as well as formerly separate political-administrative units, called Lahaul and Spiti. Lahaul and Spiti is the largest district by area in Himachal Pradesh, and one of the least populous districts in the whole of India. Kyelang in Lahaul is the headquarters of the whole district, while Spiti also has a subdivisional headquarters, at Kaza.
The cham dance is a lively masked and costumed dance associated with some sects of Tibetan Buddhism and Buddhist festivals. The dance is accompanied by music played by monks using traditional Tibetan musical instruments. The dances often offer moral instruction relating to karuṇā (compassion) for sentient beings and are held to bring merit to all who perceive them.
Pin Valley National Park is a National park of India located in the Spiti Valley in the Lahaul and Spiti district, in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located in far northern India. It is part of Cold Desert.
Dhankar Gompa is a village and also a Gompa, a Buddhist temple in the district of Lahaul and Spiti in India. It is situated at an elevation of 3,894 metres in the Spiti Valley above Dhankar Village, between the towns of Kaza and Tabo. The complex is built on a 1000-foot (300-metre) high spur overlooking the confluence of the Spiti and Pin Rivers - one of the world's most spectacular settings for a gompa. Dhang or dang means cliff, and kar or khar means fort. Hence Dhangkar means fort on a cliff.
Spiti is a high-altitude region of the Himalayas, located in the north-eastern part of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The name "Spiti" means "The middle land", i.e. the land between Tibet and India. Spiti incorporates mainly the valley of the Spiti River, and the valleys of several rivers that feed into the Spiti River. Some of the prominent side-valleys in Spiti are the Pin valley and the Lingti valley. Spiti is bordered on the east by Tibet, on the north by Ladakh, on the west and southwest by Lahaul, on the south by Kullu, and on the southeast by Kinnaur. Spiti has a cold desert environment. The valley and its surrounding regions are among the least populated regions of India. The Bhoti-speaking local population follows Tibetan Buddhism.
Kye Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Gelugpa sect located on top of a hill at an altitude of 4,166 metres (13,668 ft) above sea level, close to the Spiti River, in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, Lahaul and Spiti district, India.
Kaza, also spelled Kaze, Karze, Karzey, is a town and the subdivisional headquarters of the remote Spiti Valley in the western Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Spiti is a high altitude or cold desert having close similarities to the neighbouring Tibet and Ladakh regions in terms of terrain, climate and the Buddhist culture. Kaza, situated along the Spiti River at an elevation of 3,650 m (11,980 ft) above mean sea level, is the largest township and commercial center of the Spiti valley.
Karsha Monastery or Karsha Gompa is a Buddhist monastery in the Padum Valley of the Zanskar region of the union territory of Ladakh in northern India. The Doda River flows past the monastery from its source at the Drang Drung Glacier of the Pensi La. It was founded by the translator Phagspa Shesrab. The monastery, also known by the name Karsha Chamspaling, was founded by Phagspa Shesrab, under the Gelugpa Order or Yellow Hats. It is 11 km north of Padum in Zanskar River valley.
Tabo Monastery is located in the Tabo village of Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, northern India. It was founded in 996 CE in the Tibetan year of the Fire Ape by the Tibetan Buddhist lotsawa (translator) Rinchen Zangpo, on behalf of the king of western Himalayan Kingdom of Guge, Yeshe-Ö. Tabo is noted for being the oldest continuously operating Buddhist enclave in both India and the Himalayas. A large number of frescoes displayed on its walls depict tales from the Buddhist pantheon. There are many priceless collections of thankas, manuscripts, well-preserved statues, frescos and extensive murals which cover almost every wall. The monastery is in need of refurbishing as the wooden structures are aging and the thanka scroll paintings are fading. After the earthquake of 1975, the monastery was rebuilt, and in 1983 a new Du-kang or Assembly Hall was constructed. It is here that the 14th Dalai Lama held the Kalachakra ceremonies in 1983 and 1996. The monastery is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a national historic treasure of India.
Kardang Monastery or Gompa is a famous Drukpa Lineage monastery, and is the most important monastery in the Lahaul valley, India. The associated village of Kardang was once the capital of Lahaul.
Gondhla is a village in the Lahaul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh, India. It is located about 18 kilometres (11 mi) before Keylong on the road from Manali, Himachal Pradesh, and lies at 3,160 m (10,370 ft) above sea level. The village is famous for the Guru Ghantal monastery and the Gondhla fort. In former times, this village was the seat of the Thakurs of Gondhla, who ruled the valley of the Chandra river in Lahaul at the behest of the Rajas of Kullu.
Sani Monastery, Sa-ni-[tshog], is located next to the village of Sani where the Stod Valley broadens into the central plain of Zanskar in Ladakh, northern India. It is about 6 km to the northwest of the regional centre of Padum, a gentle two-hour walk. Like Dzongkhul Monastery, it belongs to the Drukpa Kargyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, and is the only one of this order in Zanskar which has nuns. It is thought to be the oldest religious site in the whole region of Ladakh and Zanskar.
Tayul Monastery or Tayul Gompa is a Buddhist monastery in the Bhaga Valley of Lahul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, northern India. It is located 6 kilometres from Keylong above the village of Satingri.
Kibber, also Kibber Khas and Khyipur, is a village high in the Spiti Valley in the Himalayas at 4,270 m (14,010 ft) in Himachal Pradesh in northern India. It contains a monastery and is a base for visiting the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located 19 km (12 mi) from Kaza and a bus service connects them in the summer months. Agriculture forms the backbone of the local economy and lush green fields are abundant. It is the base for visitors to the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, home to about 30 snow leopards. Treks to nearby peaks and to a high pass in the Zanskar range between Spiti and Ladakh start from Kibber.
Buddhism in the Himachal Pradesh state of India of has been a long-recorded practice. The spread of Buddhism in the region has occurred intermediately throughout its history. Starting in the 3rd century BCE, Buddhism was propagated by the Maurya Empire under the reign of Ashoka. The region would remain an important center for Buddhism under the Kushan Empire and its vassals. Over the centuries the following of Buddhism has greatly fluctuated. Yet by experiencing revivals and migrations, Buddhism continued to be rooted in the region, particularly in the Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur valleys.
Way Back Home is an Indian travelogue series by filmmaker Rohan Thakur, produced by Asad Abid from Shoelace Films, a subsidiary of Gut and Flow Media Pvt.Ltd.
Tinno is a village in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. It is around 14 km from Keylong, which is district headquarters. The village is along Manali-Leh Highway on left bank of Bhaga river, which originates from Suraj Taal lake. It has a total of 29 families residing in the village. The Tinno village has a population of 125, of which 59 are males while 66 are females as per Population Census 2011. In 2011, the literacy rate of Tinno village was 82.35%. In Tinno male literacy stands at 87.72% while female literacy rate was 77.42%. As per constitution of India and Panchyati Raaj Act, Tinno village is administrated by a Sarpanch who is elected representative of village.
Tobdan is a historian and linguist from Himachal Pradesh, India. He is noted for his work on the cultural traditions, histories, and languages of the Lahaul and Spiti district, and some neighboring regions.
Tshering Dorje was a cultural historian from Himachal Pradesh, India. He was regarded as an authority on the cultural traditions and histories of the Lahaul and Spiti district and some neighboring regions. He also played an important role in bringing about the construction of the 9.02 km-long, high-altitude Atal Tunnel.
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