Spituk Monastery

34°7′31.8″N 77°31′34.6″E / 34.125500°N 77.526278°E / 34.125500; 77.526278ArchitectureFounderOd-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od

Spituk Monastery, also known as Spituk Gompa or Pethup Gompa, is a Buddhist monastery in Spituk, Leh district, Ladakh, 8 km from Leh.^[1] The site of Spituk was blessed by the Arhat Nyimagung. It was founded by Od-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od, when he came to Maryul in the 11th century. He introduced the monastic community. When Lotsewa (translator) Rinchen Zangpo came, he said that an exemplary religious community would arise there, and so the monastery was called spituk (exemplary). During the time of Dharma raja Gragspa Bum-Ide the monastery was restored by Lama Lhawang Lodos and the order of Tsonkhapa was introduced and it has remained intact as such till present. Founded as a Red Hat institution, the monastery was taken over by the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat sect) in the 15th century.

The monastery is home to 100 monks and a giant statue of Kali (unveiled during the annual festival).

Every year the Gustor Festival is held at Spituk from the 27th to 29th day in the eleventh month of the Tibetan calendar.^[1]

Geography

Spituk has an average elevation of 3,307 metres (10,852 feet).

See also

• List of buddhist monasteries in Ladakh
• Geography of Ladakh
• Tourism in Ladakh
• World Monuments Fund

References

State symbolsHistory

Pre-Independent India	Maryul Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal war Treaty of Tingmosgang Dogra–Tibetan War Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir
Post-Independent India	1947–1948 India-Pakistan War 1948 military operations in Ladakh 1971 battle of Turtuk 2010 Ladakh floods 2019 Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh reorganisation
Conflicts	Demchok conflict India–China conflict India–Pakistan conflict Kashmir conflict Siachen conflict

AdministrationGeography

General	Four types of Himalayan ranges Geology of the Himalaya
Ranges	Baltoro Muztagh Ladakh Range Saltoro Mountains Zanskar Range Kailash Range
Plateau	Depsang Plains More plains Sirijap Teram Shehr Plateau
Valleys	Leh Rupshu Salt Valley Mushkoh Valley Padum Shyok Suru Valley Nubra Zanskar Aryan valley
Glaciers	Chumik Glacier Drang-Drung Glacier Machoi Glacier Parkachik Glacier Shafat Glacier Siachen Glacier
Lakes	Tso Moriri Pangong Tso
Rivers	Sutlej Beas Ravi Shyok Chenab Drass River Indus Zanskar Tsarap Doda Yapola Suru River Markha Galwan Chip Chap
Passes	Bilafond La Chang la Fotu La Gyong La Indira Col Karakoram Pass Khardung La Kongka Pass Lachulung La Taglang La Marsimik La Namika La Pensi La Rezang La Rimo Sasser Pass Sia La Shingo La Spanggur Gap Zoji La
Mountain peaks	Bana Top Chumik Kangri Ghent Kangri Gurung Hill India Saddle K12 Saltoro Kangri Sherpi Kangri Tiger Saddle

Human
settlementsCulture

General	Music of Ladakh
Languages	Ladakhi Purgi Balti Zangskari Changthang Brokskat
Festivals	Bono-na festival

Tourism and
wildlife

Wildlife	Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary Hemis National Park Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary
Tourism	Khurnak Fort Ladakh Marathon Shanti Stupa, Ladakh Siachen Base Camp
Indo-Tibetan Buddhist monasteries	Alchi Bardan Basgo Chemrey Diskit Hanle Hemis Hundur Korzok Karsha Lamayuru Likir Lingshed Mashro/Matho Monastery Mulbekh Namgyal Tsemo Phugtal Phyang Rangdum Rizong Sani Sankar Saspul Shey Monastery Spituk Stakna Stok Stongdey Takthok Thikse Tserkarmo Tonde Wanla Zangla Zongkul

Transport

Airports	Kargil Airport Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (Leh) Military AGLs
Roads	Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road India-China Border Roads Leh–Manali Highway NH1 Leh–Kargil–Srinagar Highway Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road (under construction) Sasoma–Saser La Road
Railway	Bhanupli–Leh line (Planned) Srinagar–Leh line (Planned)

Infrastructure

General	Indian Astronomical Observatory
Dams and hydroelectric project	Chutak Dumkhar Salal
Education	Central Institute of Buddhist Studies Defence Institute of High Altitude Research Druk White Lotus School Eliezer Joldan Memorial College Leh, Ladakh Government Degree College, Kargil Phuktal Monastic School Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh University of Ladakh

See also

Borders	Line of Actual Control Line of Control Actual Ground Position Line
Other	Curious BRO roadsigns