Key Monastery Stupa

Key Monastery is situated at an altitude of approximately 4,166 meters in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. Its precarious position on a hillock makes it one of the highest and most isolated monasteries in the world.

Key Monastery belongs to the Gelugpa sect, which is the same Tibetan Buddhist school led by the Dalai Lama. The complex houses ancient murals, thangkas, and sacred relics that have been preserved by Gelugpa monks since the 11th century.

Yes, the monastery has suffered extensive damage from multiple historical invasions, including attacks by Mongol armies in the 17th century and a devastating fire in the 19th century. It was also severely damaged during the 1975 Kinnaur earthquake before being restored with state support.

The structures feature a classic Pasada style, characterized by irregular, stacked buildings with low rooms and narrow corridors designed to conserve heat in the harsh Himalayan winters. The interconnected layout resembles a fortified fortress rather than a traditional open-air temple.