Dhankar

About this place

Dhankar is a small village in the cold desert of Spiti Valley. Dhang or dang means cliff, and kar or khar means fort. Thus, Dhankar means fort on a cliff. Dhankar looks like a bowl shaped structure in the hills. It looks like almost all the old Dhankar houses have emerged straight from the mountains with their main wall on the back being merged on the hills. This is a forte of Dhankar houses which from the wide angle or from distance provides spectacular views. Dhankar is mainly known for Dhankar Monastery. It was built as a fort Monastery on the Central Tibetan pattern. The complex is built on a 300 mts high spur and is one of the world’s most amazing settings for a Monastery. It contains a series of 15th century wall paintings. World Monuments Fund has declared this Monastery among the 100 most endangered sites in the world. Due to the deteriorating state of the old monastery, a new Monastery was built in the village. This road was primarily made for the use of Dalai Lama during his visit to Dhankar.