Gandhola Monastery, Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh India

Gandhola Monastery is about 18 km before Keylong in Lahaul, Himachel Pradesh, India on the road from Manali. It is located on a hill above the Tupchiling village at the sacred junction of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers, which together form the Chandrabhaga or Chenab River.

 Lahaul and Spiti form the largest district in Himachal Pradesh. They also border the Tibet highlands and the landscape of these places are more like that of Tibet than of India. The lush green vegetation you see all around suddenly transform into a desert-like barren expanse. There is very little vegetation and survival here is hard as very little grows and snow piles up on the area through most of the year. The Guru Ghantal Monastery, is situated here on the right bank of River Chandra. This gompa or monastery is 800 years old and overlooks the village of Tupchilling. It is known as the oldest gompa of Lahual. What sets Guru Ghantal apart from the other monasteries is that instead of the usual clay idols, the idols here are carved of wood. The monastery itself has pyramid shaped roofs, elaborate carvings and houses statues of Padmasambhava, the founder of the monastery and Brajeshwari Devi among others. There is also a black stone image of a dark Goddess some day is Kali. But although the gompa is more elaborately carved and decorated than most, it has fallen into disrepair and most of its statues carried off to the gompa in Tupchilling village. Still the leaking old monastery is worth visiting for its location and history.

The hill above the Tunde village, in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, is home to around 800 year old monastery, Guru Ghantal Monastery. The monastery, also known by the name of the Trilokinath Temple, was founded by Guru Padmasambhava. The village and the hill stands at the meeting point of the Chandra and Bhagha river and is near Gondla in the Pin valley.

The monastery is associated with the Drukpa order and is made of wood. Within, an image of 'Boddhisatva Avalokiteshwara' dominates. The white marble head of the monastery was installed by Padmasambhava himself, however it is now kept in safe custody so that it is not stolen away. Also, to be seen in this monastery are idols of Guru Padma Sambhava, Brijeshwari Devi and several other lamas.

The walls are painted in stone colour, however, lack of proper preservation has resulted in the colours being washed away. This is attributed to the seepage of the monastery as well as the transfer of the valuables to the Tupchiling gompa.

Strange, but it is a fact that the monastery houses a black stone image of Hindu goddess Kali in its innermost chamber. This strengthens the belief that before being converted into a Buddhist religious place the monastery was a temple.