The backdrop of Spiti river on one side and towering dry mountain ranges on the other makes Tabo Himachal Pradesh a distinct land. As you cross the town on the way to Kaza in Spiti valley, you would be tempted to make a stopover here.
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It is natural though as the culturally rich village of Tabo be visited as it has multiple attractions be it the 1000-year-old Tabo monastery, the Tabo caves or the sleepy village itself.
The village which is located only 40 Km from the India-Tibet border has a distinct Buddhist influence and the famous Kalachakra ceremony was held here in 1996 which was presided by HH The Dalai Lama himself.
History of Tabo Monastery
Tabo Himachal Pradesh is a unique land in itself, especially if you are interested in offbeat travel or have religious inclination towards Buddhism. The Tabo Monastery which established in 996 AD is also known by the name of Ajanta of Himalayas.
The nine temples, stupas and mountain caves add to the elegance of the monastery. Murals engraved in the interior of the Monastery also add to its eternal beauty.
This monastery was established during reign of Purang Guge Kingdom. The monastery also served as a gateway between India and Tibet and cemented the connect that both countries had in age old era.
Places to see in Tabo
The Monastery Complex
Tabo Himachal Pradesh is known for the monastery basically. This monastery is a complex in itself that has nine temples. I got the chance to visit the monastery in 2023 and thus can list some first-hand account of what I saw and felt in this holy land.
Main temple Complex
The entrance to the main temple in Tabo Himachal Pradesh is through the entry hall which has the oldest murals of Tabo. Of particular interest here would be large wheel of life and murals of deities Achala and Hayagriya. The main deity Vairocana is seated on single lotus throne here. Beautifully engraved murals cover the walls and enhance the ambiance of the main temple.
Renovation inscription which dates back to 1042 AD is also a key attraction here.
Protector’s Chapel
You will have to pass through the main hall to reach Protector’s Chapel. This chapel is dedicated to protector of Tabo, Tsamsing. The clay statue is beautiful indeed and the walls have paintings of Mahakala, Yama along with red and blue Mahakala. These have been painted during 15th and 16th century and stand steady even today.
Mandala Temple
The murals in Mandala temple have three different murals namely Vairocana mandala, Aksobhya mandala and Navosnisa Sakyamuni mandala.
White Temple
This temple within the Tabo monastery is also known as Nun’s temple. It has been built at the backside of old temple site. The paintings in this temple are from 18th century.
Maitreya Temple
The Maitreya temple in Tabo Himachal Pradesh is known for mural of Maitraya which is around six meters in height. The walls have paintings of Potala Palace. This temple was build during first hundred years of building of main temple complex. Initially, it was a double storied temple but now only one story remains.
Golden Temple
The main attraction of this temple is the four-meter-high mural. Fineness in inscribing these is evident even today and gold carving has been done in some of the murals in this temple.
Brom ston Temple
This temple, a small mud structure in the complex was said to be built by Dromton who lived till 1064 AD. He was a disciple of Atisha.
Large Brom ston Temple
The larger Brom ston temple is said to be second largest building in the temple complex. The walls of this temple have murals of Medicine Buddhas. A unique aspect of this temple is the integration of detailed paintings into wooden ceiling which give it an aesthetic look.
Tabo monastery timings
9 AM to 5 PMTabo Caves Spiti Himachal Pradesh
Besides the Tabo monastery, Tabo caves are also a popular view point which offers a breathtaking view of the whole region. Located exactly above the monastery on a hill top, the Tabo caves too have been in existance since past 1000 years.
Highlights of Tabo caves
Some of these caves in Tabo Himachal Pradesh have been used as dwelling units while others were prayer hall. Even today, you would find some people sitting and meditating in these caves which represents the religious essence of people from Tabo.
Cave Structure in Tabo
Generally, the entrance to these caves is small but have bigger hall like space within. The cave hole opens to the wide sky outwards which infact presents an aesthetic ambiance of the surroundings which is quite conducive for meditation.
Things to do in Tabo
1. Visit the Monastery
2. Enjoy the free local tea in Monastery
3. Spend time with the Monks
4. Take a walk across Tabo
5. Be one with nature
6. Hike to Tabo Caves
7. Try nachos at the Monastery Homestay
8. Star gazing on a clear summer night
9. Capture a time lapse
Places to stay in Tabo
Tabo Himachal Pradesh is a tourist place. It is thus pertinent that the town would have numerous stay options. There are many hotels and homestays in Tabo which offer comfortable stay.
1. Hotel Maitreya Regency, Tabo
Hotel Maitreya Regency is one of the best hotels in Tabo. Spacious rooms, central location and a culmination of Buddhist ethos and modernity make Maitreya Regency one of the preferred stay locations in Tabo.
The amenities available here will make you forget that you are in a remote land. The tariff ranges from Rs 2,200/- to Rs 6,200/- per night. The in house restaurant here serves local and north Indian food as per preference of customers.
2. Hotel Siddharth
This property is situated at a distance of 500 meters from Tabo Monastery. Modern amenities are available in this property coupled with in-house restaurant. Pets are also allowed in this property which make it unique in a sense. Rooms start at Rs 1200/- here which make it a budget friendly property.
3. Tow Dhey Hotel
Each room in this hotel has its balcony with amazing views of landscape of Tabo. Running hot and cold water, parking facility and provision of local and continental delicacies make this property another worth considering option when you are in Tabo Himachal Pradesh. The tariff in this hotel ranges from Rs 2,000/- to Rs 3,200/-
Apart from these options, Tabo has many homestays including Homestay run by Tabo Monastery where you get opportunity to stay within the monastery complex itself.
What to Eat in Tabo
Spiti being a tribal zone is unique indeed. You will get so much variety in food here that any foodie would wish to live here longer. One of the popular food here which you can order on request is Tsampa, a flour that is prepared from roasted and ground barley.
You can eat the same with tea or boiled barley. Thupka is another popular food here which is available in any eatery in Tabo Himachal Pradesh.
You can also try another of the local delicacy known as Thinduk-chindukis which is crushed barley and black pea which is cooked with apricot oil or rakchemar.
There are many other delicacies including chaaku-chaa or butter tea, jimjag or drochag, Kyu, thentuk and chiltas.
Tabo weather
March-June
March to June is the best time to travel as Tabo weather is the best during this duration. The temperature does not go below 15 degree during this phase which makes it a comfortable time to explore Tabo.
July- September
Tabo weather is unpredictable during this period. Over the past few years, the intensity of rainfall has increased and thus landslides can occur during this time as the mountains here are not made of sold rock face.
October to February
Tabo weather is the harshest during this phase. Most of the hotels also close down during this period. However, you can still plan a visit during this period as road via Kinnaur is open most of the time. This is also the time to spot blue sheep, Himalayan Wolf and Ibex.
How to reach Tabo Himachal Pradesh
Tabo is around 337 Km from Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. You can reach Tabo through two routes.
Shimla to Tabo
The route from Shimla to Tabo is most preferred as it is open throughout the year. The 337 Km are on National Highway and the road is fairly good due to it being used for defence purpose too.
Ideally it is recommended that you should make a stopover at Recong Peo for a day as it allows a person to acclimatize.
Manali to Tabo
The distance of Manali from Tabo is around 250 km and the road is treacherous indeed. It is open from May to October only as it passes through Kunzum pass which closes down in the winter months.
Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) runs regular bus service in the region and is the safest mode of travel here.
FAQs
What is Tabo famous for?
Tabo Himachal Pradesh is known for its old monastery which has been in existance since 996 AD.
What is the history of Tabo Caves?
The caves were constructed simultaneously with the monastery. These served as meditation place for monks and were also used as dwelling units.
What is the height of Tabo in feet?
Tabo lies at 10760 feet. The climate is unpredictable here and there can be a quite variation ranging from intense sun to extreme cold.
What is the name of the monastery in Tabo?
Tabo monastery is also known by the name of Ajanta of the Himalayas. This is due to numerous murals and paintings that adore the walls of this monastery.
What is the weather like in Tabo in December?
The average high is -7 degree while the lowest is -20 degree. It is extremely cold and chilly during December.
