Dhankar Monastery & Lake
A thousand year old fort gompa clinging to a cliff above the Spiti and Pin rivers, with a quiet alpine lake an hour's climb above it
What makes it special
Dhankar is the place in Spiti where the geography does the talking. The old monastery sits on a narrow rock spur, around 300 metres above the point where the Pin river meets the Spiti. From the village above Shichilling, you walk a few minutes and the whole valley opens up below you, brown and grey and turquoise, with the gompa looking like it is about to slide off the cliff. It has been doing that for centuries. The site has two monasteries. The old one, the dramatic cliff structure, is structurally fragile. It was weakened by the 1975 Spiti earthquake and was placed on the World Monuments Fund's list of 100 most endangered sites in 2006. You can still go inside the small prayer rooms, but the monks now live and run daily life out of the new monastery at Shichilling village just below, which holds around 150 Gelug school monks. Visit the old gompa with respect, do not crowd the upper rooms, and let it be the slow, quiet experience it asks for. What most travellers miss is the lake. From Dhankar village, a steep, exposed trail climbs roughly 280 to 300 metres in about 2 to 3 kilometres to Dhankar Lake, a small high altitude tarn at around 4,140 metres. It is not big. It is not turquoise like Chandratal. But the silence at the top, and the view back down at Manirang peak across the valley, is the kind of half hour that justifies the whole detour off the main Spiti highway.
Is Dhankar worth the detour off the Kaza Tabo highway?
Yes, especially if you have at least half a day. Skip it only if you are passing through in one rushed shot. The view from the village alone is one of the best in Spiti, and the lake trek above adds a real reason to stay longer.
How much time do you need at Dhankar?
Three to four hours covers the village, the old gompa, and the new monastery. Add another two and a half to three hours if you plan to trek up to Dhankar Lake. A relaxed half day works for most travellers. Stay a night only if you want to slow Spiti down.
Can you stay at Dhankar?
Yes, the village has a handful of basic homestays and a couple of small guest houses. Rooms are simple, bathrooms are modest, and food is what the family is cooking. It is a good place to break the Tabo to Kaza drive if you want a quieter night than a town stay.
Quick facts
Everything you need to know at a glance
At a glance
On the ground
Seasonal weather
Suitable for
How to reach Dhankar Monastery & Lake
4 approach routes with seasonal access
From Kaza
Generally open all year, weather permittingDrive south on the Kaza to Tabo road for around 24 km until you reach Shichilling. The Dhankar branch road climbs off to the left, marked by a board and a gate. From there it is roughly 8 km uphill on a narrow paved road to the village. The branch is fine for cars and bikes but tight in places. Drive in low gear, especially on the way down.
Fuel stop: Tank up at Kaza, no fuel beyond
From Tabo
Generally open all year, weather permittingFrom [Tabo](/places-to-visit/tabo-monastery), drive towards Kaza for around 24 km to Shichilling. The branch road to Dhankar village turns right and climbs about 8 km. The detour fits cleanly into a Tabo to Kaza day, and most travellers do it that way.
Fuel stop: No fuel at Tabo. Carry enough from Kaza or Reckong Peo
From Manali via Kunzum
Late May to early OctoberThis route crosses Atal Tunnel, drops into Lahaul, climbs over [Kunzum Pass](/places-to-visit/kunzum-pass), then enters Spiti via Losar and Kaza. Doing it in one day is brutal. A night at Kaza or Chandratal is the sane choice. Acclimatise in Kaza for at least a night before pushing the lake trek at Dhankar.
Fuel stop: Manali, then Kaza. Long stretch in between with no reliable fuel
From Shimla via Kinnaur
Generally open year round, with weather based closuresThe longer, gentler approach. Shimla to Narkanda or Sarahan, then Kalpa, Nako, Tabo, and into central Spiti. The slow gain in altitude is the body friendly way to enter Spiti. Most travellers reach Tabo on day 2 or 3 and visit Dhankar on the next morning's drive towards [Kaza](/places-to-visit/kaza).
Fuel stop: Shimla, Rampur, Reckong Peo, Powari. Last reliable fuel before Kaza is at Powari
Best time to visit
Season-by-season breakdown to help you plan
Best window for first time visitors
Roads from both Shimla and Manali are usually open by late May to early June. Days are clear, the lake trek is dry, and crowds are still moderate. This is the easiest time to do Dhankar with the lake.
Busiest stretch, occasional landslide risk
Spiti is in a rain shadow, but the road in from Kinnaur or Manali can be hit by landslides during the plains monsoon. Dhankar itself stays fairly dry. This is also the peak crowd window. Book stays in advance.
Cleanest light of the year
If you care about photography, this is the window. Crowds thin out, the air is sharp, and the contrast between the rivers and the brown cliffs gets dramatic. Nights start getting cold quickly. Pack a proper jacket.
Only via Shimla, only for the prepared
The Manali approach via Kunzum is closed by snow. The Shimla route stays open most of winter but can be blocked for days at a time. Dhankar is cold, quiet, and beautiful, but the lake trek is buried in snow and the old gompa interiors are colder than outdoors. This is for serious cold weather travellers, not casual visitors.
Things to see & do
7 experiences at Dhankar Monastery & Lake
Walk to the old fort gompa
30 to 45 minThe cliff structure is the photo everyone wants, but the real value is being inside it for a few quiet minutes. Walk up gently from the new monastery, climb the wooden ladders inside with care, and keep your voice low. The structure is fragile. Honour that. Step out on the rooftop terrace for the view down to the river confluence, which is the single best vantage point in Dhankar.
Visit the new monastery at Shichilling
20 to 30 minThis is where the active community of around 150 Gelug school monks lives and prays. The hall is bright, the murals are well kept, and if you time it right you may catch a prayer session. Less dramatic than the old gompa, more alive.
Trek up to Dhankar Lake
3 to 4 hours round tripThe trail starts near the new monastery's parking area. It is short on paper, around 2 to 3 km one way, but it climbs steadily and exposes you to sun the whole way. Plan 1.5 to 2 hours up, an hour at the lake, an hour down. Carry at least 2 litres of water per person and a hat. Most fit travellers find it manageable. The altitude does the work, not the gradient.
Climb to the Dhankar fort ruins
20 minA short scramble above the old monastery takes you to the remains of the original fort. Not much survives, but the position is the point. This is where Spiti's old rulers, the Nonos, kept watch over the valley. It is also a good warmup for the lake trek.
Sit at the river confluence viewpoint
20 minEither from the gompa rooftop or from a flat patch above the village, the view of the Pin and Spiti rivers braiding into one is what travellers remember. Best in late afternoon when the light catches the water. Bring a thermos and stop talking for a bit.
Photograph the village at golden hour
30 to 60 minAround half an hour before sunset, the cliff and the mud houses turn warm and the gompa stands out against the darkening valley below. From the road just before the village, you get the postcard frame. From the rooftop of the old monastery, you get the wide one. Both are worth the wait.
Eat a slow lunch at a local homestay
1 hourHomestay kitchens here serve simple local meals, usually thukpa, momos, rice, daal, and seasonal vegetables. Order ahead by an hour if you can. The food is honest, the chai is strong, and after the lake trek it tastes better than it should.
Know before you visit Dhankar Monastery & Lake
Essential information for planning your visit
Nearby attractions
Other places worth visiting nearby
Around 25 km to the Attargu turnoffThe greener side valley off the main Kaza Tabo road, leading to Mud village and the cold desert national park. Pairs naturally with a Dhankar visit if you have an extra day.
Around 30 km · 1 hour from Dhankar via LingtiA small, quiet 11th century gompa in Lingti valley known as Serkhang, the golden temple, for its old gilded sculptures. Almost no crowds, even in peak season.
Around 32 km · 1 hourThe 996 AD monastic complex with the famous murals and stucco sculptures, often called the Ajanta of the Himalayas. Pair Tabo and Dhankar in one day, with Tabo first thing in the morning.
Around 32 km · 1 to 1.5 hoursSpiti's main town and the natural base for everything in the central valley. ATMs, fuel, cafes, and the only real medical care for a long way around.
Around 45 km · 1.5 hoursThe largest gompa in Spiti, sitting on a conical hill above the river just past Kaza. The classic photo of Spiti.
Around 50 km · 2 hoursThe naturally preserved mummy of the monk Sangha Tenzin at Gue village, dated to roughly the 15th century. A short, strange, memorable detour off the road towards Sumdo.
Around 100 km · 4 to 5 hours via Kaza and KunzumThe high altitude crescent lake on the Manali side of Kunzum Pass, accessible only from late May to early October. Worth a separate day, not a same day combo with Dhankar.
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