Lahaul Spiti
Perched dramatically at 4,166 metres above sea level, Key Monastery is the largest and oldest gompa in Spiti Valley and one of the most iconic things to do in Lahaul Spiti. The thousand-year-old Tibetan Buddhist monastery houses ancient thangkas, rare manuscripts, and centuries-old murals that tell stories of the trans-Himalayan world. Walking its labyrinthine corridors feels like stepping back into a living, breathing medieval world.
Visit during the annual Key Festival in June–July to witness masked Cham dances performed by lamas — a rare spectacle most tourists miss.