APPROACH

Reaching Tabo from Shimla

From Shimla you take NH 22 via Kufri-Narkanda-Rampur-Sumdo upto Tabo. Shimla-Tabo is 365 kms.

By road from Manali

From Manali- take the Manali-Leh highway upto Gramphoo, 62 kms from Manali. At Gramphoo, turn right on Gramphoo-Batal-Kaza-Tabo road. Gramphoo-Tabo is 186 kms.

WHAT TO SEE

TABO MONASTERY: It is another big gompa for serving the population of eastern side. It belongs to the tenth century and is located 50 kms. from kaza. It is a famous gompa next to Tholing Gompa in Tibet. It has about 60 Lamas and a large collection of Scriptures, wall paintings etc. Murals of this gompa have a great similarity to that of the Ajanta paintings.

It is a complex that holds nine temples, twenty-three chortens, a monk's chamber and an extension that houses the nun's chamber. The core is bounded by an earthen wall and encloses an area of 6300 square meters. Just short of the complex are contemporary monastic structures. On the sheer cliff-face above the enclave are a series of caves, which were used as dwelling units by the monks, and includes an assembly hall. Here again dim faces of paintings that once adorned the rock face are visible.