Key Monastery

Key Monastery — or Ki Gompa — is the largest, oldest, and most important Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the entire Spiti Valley, perched dramatically on a steep hilltop at 4,166 metres above the turquoise Spiti River. Home to over 300 resident monks, the monastery houses priceless ancient thangkas, sacred texts, weapons, and centuries-old murals. The fortress-like structure, layered and whitewashed against a stark Himalayan backdrop, is one of the most photographed monasteries in India. Key Monastery Spiti Valley is the spiritual heart of the Trans-Himalayan cold desert region.