Tayul Monastery in Spiti Valley- Iconic Buddhist monastery in Keylong

Q: Are there any accommodations near Tayul Monastery?

Yes there are accommodations near Tayul Monastery but they are all in nearby villages in Keylong.

Q: What is the best time to visit Tayul Monastery?

The best time to visit Tayul Monastery is during the summer months of June-September when the weather is nice and pleasant and the roads are open and clear.

Q: Are there any restrictions on entry for non-religious visitors to Tayul Monastery?

There are no restrictions on the entry to Tayul Monastery as such. However, as with all other religious shrines and monasteries it is advisable to be dressed in respectable clothes and be silent while touring the interiors of the monastery. Also one of the most important caveats is to maintain the sanctity of the religious places and also the nearby areas by not littering and being responsible for your own trash.

Q: Are there any nearby attractions or points of interest to visit along with Tayul Monastery?

You can see the majestic 7 peaks of Drilbu Ri Mountain along your hike to the Tayul Monastery. Also you will encounter various potato and pea farms along the way laden with wildflowers and Juniper trees scattered with mani stones

In the village of Satringi, perched at an altitude of 3900 m, lies one of the oldest monasteries in Keylong. It is situated in the Bhaga Valley in Lahaul and Spiti Valley. It is 6 km away from Keylong and a 12 ft large statue of Lord Padmasamvaba and his two materialisations SIngmukha and Vijravarasi. The monastery has a full library of 101 Kangyur (religious Tibetan texts in their original form). Tayul Monastery has elaborate brightly painted murals and thangkas depicting various incidents from the life of Lord Buddha.

Tayul in the Tibetan language means “Chosen Place”. Local folklore is that founder and Drukpa Yogi Serzang Rinchen discovered this place during his pilgrimage to Drilbu Ri Mountain. Built-in the 17th century, it belongs to the Red Hat Sect of the Drukpa Monastery.

The most fascinating attraction of the Tayul Monastery is the huge prayer wheel which is known to rotate on its own on special occasions. It is also one of the four Monasteries in Lahaul Valley, which are of significant importance for the Buddhist people.

You can include Tayul Monastery in your Spiti Trip Packages, to plan your Spiti holidays and explore some of the most beautiful remote areas of the country.

How to Reach Tayul Monastery

Set against the backdrop of brown hills, Keylong is an oasis with lush green meadows and mountains surrounding the beautiful Lahaul Valley. Situated on the right side of the Bhaga River, the Manali-Leh Highway passes through Keylong.

To reach the Tayul Monastery, you will have to proceed northwards from Keylong town through the Manali-Leh Highway. You will have to cross the HPTDC Hotel Chandrabhaga and a small PO in a small village called Yurnath. Thereafter, a trek of 5 km just before arriving in the Satringi village, you will see a trail going upwards through a jungle. You will have to hike for some km through this barely existing trail to reach the Tayul Monastery.

The hike itself is absolutely stunning and is surrounded by picturesque vistas of the Drilbu Ri mountain and potatoes and pea farms laden with an exotic variety of wildflowers like poppies, foxgloves, asters and strawflowers amongst many others. It is an uphill climb of almost an hour with several mani stones scattered amongst the juniper trees flanking the trail as you approach the monastery and a string of old chortens with fabulous views of the mountain on the other side. There is a Djomo (female monk) gompa on top and a lovely monastery with old mud and stone construction nearby. Tayul Monastery itself isn’t a huge monastery, but is prettily perched on a hilltop that offers a panoramic vista of the beautiful valley and the interiors of the monastery is filled with brightly-coloured doors and windows.

By Road

Keylong is accessible via the Manali-Leh Highway and is around 7 km from the nearby Chandra Valley and Bhaga Valley. Rohtang Valley Way from Manali is closed from the end of October.

By Rail

The closest railway station is Chauntra Railway Station in Mandi District at a distance of 68.4 km. Also, there is another railway station at Joginder Nagar at a distance of 231 km.