Spiti founded in 1996, the Tabo gompa has exquisite frescoes
and stucco statues, and is called 'Ajanta of the Himalays'. The largest monastic
complex in Spiti, the old section has nine temples, 23 chortens, a chamber formonks
and another one for nuns.
Spiti is the sub division of Lahaul & Spiti district with its hqrs. at Kaza.
It is called "Little Tibet" because it has almost the same terrain,
vegetation & climate . Spiti also means "Middle Country". It lies
between Tibet, Ladakh, Kinnaur, Lahaul & Kulu. From Shimla via Kinnaur there
is a motorable road which remains open upto Kaza for 8 to 9 months. About 10kms.
ahead of Pooh, satluj enters India near Shipki la & Spiti river joins it
at Khab. The road then goes to Sumdo via Hangrang valley. From Sumdo Spiti valley
starts.
The Spiti river flows fast through deep gorges at some places. The valley is
not wide but there are villages and some fields where people grow barley, buck-
wheat, peas & vegetables. It has an area of 4800 sq. kms. Some inhabitants
have adopted Budhism as there faith and Bhoti is the spoken language. The people
are simple and honest. The main Spiti valley is split into eastern and western
valleys. They are connected with Ladakh & Tibet on eastern side & Kinnaur
and Kulu on western side through high passes. Spiti is a cold desert which Rudyard
Kiplong in Kim called 'world within a world" and a "place where the
gods live".
There are several caves and contemporary structures too. In trans-Himalayan
Buddhism, Tabo's sanctity is next only to Tibet's Tholing gompa. Accommodation
at Tabo consists of rest houses and basic hotels.
Ki Monastery, Spiti:
A great impetus came when king Trison Detsen (Khri-Sron-Ide-bTsan, 755-797 AD)
of Tibet embraced the teachings of the Buddha. He sent to India for great masters
like Santarakshta and the famous teacher and 'tantric', Padmasambhava. Under
Pdmasambhava's influence, Mahayana Buddhism, the 'Greater Vehicle' fanned over
the world's highest plateaux. Known to the Tibetans as Guru or Orgian Rimpche,
the Precious Master, Padasambhava began the synthesis of Mahayana practices,
'yogic tantricism' , and the native Bon religion-retaining a large measure of
its nature worship and demonolatry. The combine of ritual, fiath and philosophic
content created what we recognize today as Vajrayana Bhddhism, the "thunderbolt
Vehicle".
The ninth century brough a break in the spread of Buddhist learning when the
king, Lang Darma rejected it and began supporting the Bon faith. He was murdered
by a Buddhist monk, Pal Dorje and the tenth and eleventh centuries witnessed
the grand revival of Buddhist learning. It was an age of great teacdhers-Atisha
Marpa, Rinchensang-po and Milarepa.
In 1357 AD, the towering reformer, Tsong, khapa began the religious renewal
that emphasized Atisha's teachings and a purity of doctrine. He founded the
Geluk-pa sect. the 'Yellow Hats' who grew to hold considerable sway-and from
which the Dalai lamas were to come. (In 1578 AD, a descendent of Chengis-Ghengis-Khan
and ruler of China, had given Sonam Gyatso the title of Ta-le, now written as
Dalai- Which means the 'Master of the Ocean of Wisdom' When the kingdom of Guge
rose in western Tibet after the assassination of Lang Daram, it encompassed
the present day tracts of Spiti, Lahaul, Zanskar and upper kinnaru. The strong
cultural and religious identity of the region dates back to those years.
Kinnaur to Spiti:
Further, on the road from Sarahan to Spiti,is the turning point for Kalpa and
Recong Po. With the Kinner Kailash in direct view, a 79-foot-high rock formation
alongside changes colour as the day progresses. On the route to Spiti are Jangi,
Chango and Nako. At Nako the houses seem half buried in the ground and the nearby
lakes' waters seep into the rooms.
Spiti to Kaza:
Tabo's 8
th century gompa has exquisite frescoes and stucco statues
and is known as the "Ajanta of the Himalayas" Kaza, apart from home
to many monasteries, is an ideal base for treks to Ki and Kibber, the region's
highest permanently inhabited village linked by a motorable road
