Tabo, hemmed in by scree slopes is one of only two villages in the Spiti valley. It is a windblown place riddled with caves once used by local hermits as meditation cells.

The Tabo Gompa, a world heritage site was established in AD 996. Behind its mud walls are said to be some of the finest Indo –Tibetan art in the world , blending western Tibetan, Indian & Kashmiri styles.

Beyond this is also a much newer Gompa which dominates the town. As our luck would have it there was a Buddhist ceremony taking place during our stay.

Here are a few pictures from Tabo

A Buddhist ceremony in Tabo

A Buddhist ceremony in Tabo

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3

Is a colourful event

Is a colourful event

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6.

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8.The whole village seems to be here

The whole village seems to be here

 

9. with this little one

with this little one

 

10. doing the rounds in the crowd

doing the rounds in the crowd

 

11. The long horns

The long horns

 

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cymbals

cymbals

 

and drums go on for hours

and drums go on for hours

 

As does the trance inducing dancing, clockwise

As does the trance inducing dancing, clockwise

 

and its opposite

and its opposite

 

We have no understanding of the events

We have no understanding of the events

 

or the symbolism of the skulls which we see often

or the symbolism of the skulls which we see often

 

It's captivating regardless

It’s captivating regardless

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22

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At its conclusion

At its conclusion

 

The locals bow down to the monks

The locals bow down to the monks

 

The Tabo Gompha established in AD 996

The Tabo Gompa established in AD 996

 

built from mud with only a natual light source

built from mud with only a natual light source

 

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Ancient murials reminscent of Lalibela in Ethiopia

Ancient murials reminscent of Lalibela in Ethiopia

 

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The newer Gompha

The newer Gompha

 

Undergoing renovation

Undergoing renovation

 

Inside it is

Inside it is

 

adorned with these figurines & their words of wisdom

adorned with these figurines & their words of wisdom

 

some of which are too ethereal for us

some of which are too ethereal for us

 

The local eatery

The local eatery

 

understandably in this challening enviroment does not have all the items on its menu

understandably in this challenging environment does not have all the items on its menu

 

The tiny grocery store where a good old fashioned scale need no calibrating

The tiny grocery store where a good old fashioned scale need no calibrating

 

Petrol and diesel is to be had at the furniture store. Those cupboards on sale are all steel

Petrol and diesel is to be had at the furniture store. Those cupboards on sale are all steel

 

next door is clothing

next door is clothing

 

and beyond that mud homes

and beyond that mud homes

 

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that are still being built the same way, centuries later

that are still being built the same way, centuries later