Phuktal Monastery

   Phugtal monastery or phugtal gonna is a Buddhist monastery located in the remote Lungnak valley in South-eastern Zanskar ,in the autonomous Himalayan region of Ladakh ,in North India.

The phuktal monastery is built on the edge of the steep mountains in Zanskar valley and is by far the most spectacularly situated Gompa.Built in the 12 th century,around 80 monks reside at this place.

   This is reflected in its name Phuktal,which is derived from phukthal,made up of phuk meaning “cave”,and tal or thal meaning “at leisure”.Phuktal was a hidden place for finding peace and spiritual realisation.

   Jangsem Sherap Zangpo founded Phuktal monastery during 14th century.It belongs the Gelug school of Buddhism ,one of the newer schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

   The phuktal monastery built on cliffside resembles a honeycomb which adds more beauty to it and won’t allow people to take their eyes off from it while visiting.

   Cha and Anmu are the two villages situated near phuktal monastery.Trekkers often halt at one of these villages on their journey to phuktal gompa.

   People who wants to visit this place can reach there ,by donkey or horse or by walk.

   Festivals are important part of the phuktal gompa.The festivals celebrated at phuktal monastery,starting around the end of February.

   Before I sign off,the interesting fact of phuktal monastery is that, The French director Marianne Chaud has made a documentary on life of monks in phuktal monastery.The name of the documentary is “Himalayas,a path to sky” and it premiered at the vancouver International film festival in September,2010.

-S.Aishwariya