Dhankar

Dhankar is about 3,894 m high, between Kaza and Tabo. It was once the seat of the rulers of Spiti. The name means fort on a cliff. The fort-monastery stands on a spur about 300 m high, above the point where the Spiti and Pin rivers meet. It is one of the most dramatic gompa settings in the Himalaya. The monastery follows the Central Tibetan fort pattern, like Key. It has old murals and a small museum-style prayer hall. The building is fragile, so please follow local guidance. A steady walk of roughly one to two hours takes you from the village to Dhankar Lake at about 4,140 m. It is a small, quiet lake with open high-desert views. Dhankar is about 30 km from Kaza on the road to Tabo. It fits best on the Kaza to Tabo leg of a Spiti circuit. Summer and early autumn have the clearest access. Altitude sickness is a real risk, so go up slowly.