Tabo was founded in 996 CE by the translator Rinchen Zangpo on behalf of Yeshe-Ö, king of the western Himalayan kingdom of Guge. It is the oldest continuously operating Buddhist monastery in India and the Himalaya.
Source: Tabo Monastery
Monastery in Spiti & Lahaul
Tabo
A working monastery founded in 996 CE, painted inside
Tabo, at about 3,050 m on the Spiti river, is home to a monastery founded in 996 CE by the translator Rinchen Zangpo. Its mud-walled halls hold some of the oldest Buddhist paintings and clay sculptures in the Himalaya. It is the lowest overnight stop in Spiti and the right first night on the Shimla route.
Photo: 11th century West Tibetan painter Photography … · Public domain · CommonsFrom the road, Tabo Monastery looks like a cluster of low mud buildings with flat roofs, and you might drive past. Inside is something else. The main assembly hall, built in 996 CE when Rinchen Zangpo founded the monastery for Yeshe-Ö, king of Guge, is lined with life-size clay figures of deities and walls of painted scenes. The Archaeological Survey of India protects it, and scholars call it the Ajanta of the Himalayas.
The complex has nine temples, several stupas and a newer monastery building where about 45 monks live and study. The Dalai Lama conducted Kalachakra initiations here in 1983 and 1996, when tens of thousands camped in the village. Above the monastery, small caves cut into the cliff were used for meditation and still have traces of paintings.
Tabo village is small and quiet, with apricot and apple trees, a few guesthouses and homestays, and the Tabo Monastery Guest House. At about 3,050 m it is the lowest overnight stop in Spiti, which makes it an excellent first night after Nako on the Shimla route, and a gentle last night for anyone who struggled with the altitude in Kaza.
Say it like a local · TibetanChos-khor
wheel or enclosure of the dharma; Tabo's full name is Tabo Chos-khor
What to do in Tabo
The old assembly hall
Inside the 996 CE hall, clay deities stand along the walls above painted scenes of the Buddha's life. The hall is dark; bring a small torch and use it only where allowed. Photography inside the old temples is not permitted.
Meditation caves above the village
A short, steep path leads from the village to caves cut into the cliff. Monks once meditated here, and faint paintings survive. Go in the late afternoon when the light is softer, and do not touch the walls.
The new monastery and morning prayers
Beside the old complex, the newer monastery is where today's monks pray and study. Morning prayers are open to quiet visitors who sit at the back.
Apricots and the lowest night in Spiti
At about 3,050 m, Tabo is warmer than Kaza, with apricot and apple orchards. It is the easiest place in Spiti to sleep well, and a good first night on the climb from Kinnaur.
The mummy of Gue
About 45–50 km from Tabo, off the road near Sumdo, the village of Gue keeps the seated mummy of a monk thought to date from the 1500s in a small shrine. It is a place of worship; ask before photographing.
Field notes
What most guides miss about Tabo
The original monastery was severely damaged in the 1975 Kinnaur earthquake and restored afterwards. The Dalai Lama held Kalachakra initiations at Tabo in 1983 and 1996.
Source: Tabo Monastery
The mummy at Gue is believed to be the monk Sangha Tenzin, who died in the 1500s. Villagers knew of it after the 1975 earthquake damaged its tomb, and it was recovered during road work in 2004.
Source: Sangha Tenzin
Experiences
Three days worth having in Tabo
Photo: Arup1981 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Tabo · 2 hours
The thousand-year-old halls of Tabo
Walk through the mud-walled temples of Tabo, founded in 996 CE, to see painted walls and clay deities that have survive…
Free; donation welcome
Photo: Schwiki · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Tabo · 1–1.5 hours
Climb to Tabo's meditation caves
A short, steep path from the village climbs to caves cut into the cliff above Tabo, once used by monks for meditation, …
Free
Photo: Nrr1729 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Tabo · Half day
The mummy of Gue, a detour from Tabo
In the small village of Gue, a shrine holds the seated mummy of a monk thought to have died in the 1500s. A half-day si…
Taxi ₹2,500–3,500 return; donation welcome
Real prices
What things cost in Tabo
ItemIndicative 2026
HRTC bus, Reckong Peo–Tabo₹300–400
HRTC bus, Tabo–Kaza₹80–120
Homestay or guesthouse with dinner and breakfast₹1,200–2,500 per person
Monastery entryFree; donation welcome
Taxi Tabo–Gue mummy and back₹2,500–3,500 per car
Thali or thukpa at a village cafe₹150–250
Local prices change with season and fuel costs. Check current status before you travel.
Getting there
How to reach Tabo
Air
Shimla airport serves the Kinnaur approach, about two days by road to Tabo. Bhuntar airport near Kullu serves the Manali side; Tabo is 47 km beyond Kaza.
Bus
HRTC buses between Reckong Peo and Kaza stop at Tabo daily. From Shimla, take a bus to Reckong Peo the day before. Check current timings before you travel.
Road
Tabo is on NH-505, about 47 km from Kaza (1.5–2 h) and about 63 km from Nako. The Shimla road is usually open year-round, apart from landslides and heavy snow.
Where to stay
Sleeping in Tabo
Saver: the Tabo Monastery Guest House beside the complex has simple rooms and a dorm, some with shared bathrooms; family homestays and guesthouses charge ₹1,200–2,500 a person with meals. Comfort: a handful of better guesthouses and mud-house stays in the village have attached bathrooms and hot water; we choose them each season. Signature: there is no luxury hotel in Tabo. Signature trips stay at the best available room for one night or base themselves in Kaza and visit Tabo on a day trip with Dhankar.
Trips that stop here
See Tabo on a trip
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Comfort
Spiti & Lahaul · 9 nights · sleeps to 4,420 m
Spiti circuit: Kinnaur in, Kunzum La out
Private SUV with driver
From, per person₹72,000Jul · Sep
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Saver
Spiti & Lahaul · 7 nights · sleeps to 4,270 m
Spiti by HRTC bus, the slow Kinnaur way in
HRTC and local buses, with one shared taxi loop from Kaza
From, per person₹19,500Jun · Sep
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Saver
Spiti & Lahaul · 9 nights · sleeps to 4,420 m
Spiti village homestays: Dhankar to Langza
Shared car to Kaza, then local buses and short taxi transfers
From, per person₹25,500Jun – Jul · Sep
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Signature
Spiti & Lahaul · 8 nights · sleeps to 4,270 m
Gompas of Spiti, in and out by Kinnaur
Private SUV with driver, private guide
From, per person₹1,45,000May – Jun · Sep – Oct
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Signature
Spiti & Lahaul · 11 nights · sleeps to 4,420 m
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Slow Spiti and Lahaul with a private guide
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Questions
Tabo, answered
How old is Tabo Monastery?
Tabo Monastery was founded in 996 CE by the translator Rinchen Zangpo for the king of Guge. It is described as the oldest continuously operating Buddhist monastery in India and the Himalaya, and the old halls are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Is photography allowed in Tabo Monastery?
Not inside the old temples, where the paintings and clay sculptures are fragile. You can photograph the exterior, the stupas and the new monastery courtyard. Always ask before photographing monks, and never use flash.
How do I reach Tabo by bus?
HRTC buses between Reckong Peo and Kaza stop at Tabo daily. From Shimla, ride to Reckong Peo the day before; the Peo–Tabo fare is about ₹300–400 and Tabo–Kaza about ₹80–120. Timings change, so check current status at the bus stand.
How many nights should I stay in Tabo?
One night is enough for the monastery and caves; two if you want the Gue mummy and Dhankar as day trips. On the Shimla route, Tabo is the best first night in Spiti because it is lower than Kaza and easier for acclimatisation.
Is Tabo good for acclimatisation?
Yes. At about 3,050 m it is the lowest overnight stop in Spiti, so it is a gentle step up from Nako and a good place to recover if Kaza left you short of breath. Drink water and rest on arrival; talk to your doctor before you travel.
Can I stay at Tabo Monastery?
The Tabo Monastery Guest House beside the complex takes travellers in simple rooms and a dorm, with basic facilities and sometimes shared bathrooms. Book ahead in July and August, or ask on arrival in quieter months.
Is there an ATM in Tabo?
Tabo has had an ATM, but it is unreliable. Carry enough cash from Reckong Peo or Kaza for guesthouses, taxis and donations.
Is Tabo open in winter?
Tabo is reachable most of the year from Shimla via Kinnaur, though snow and landslides can close the road. Most guesthouses close from November to March; the monastery remains active. Winter travel needs a local operator and warm gear.
What is the best time to visit Tabo?
May to October. May and October are quiet and cool, and September has clear skies and harvest colours. In July and August, rain in Kinnaur can trigger landslides on the approach road, so keep a spare day.