Phuktal Monastery

The old cave gompa of Phugtal Monastery in Ladakh is nestled away in the isolated and lonely settlement of Phuktal or Phugtal. Its name literally translates to “the cave of leisure or release” and is derived from two terms in the local dialect: Phuk, which means “cave,” and Tal, which means “leisure.”

One of only two Buddhist monasteries in Leh Ladakh that can only be reached on foot is the Phugtal monastery, built on a cliffside near the River Lungnak. One of the world’s most remote monasteries, Phugtal is made completely of mud and wood.

This monastery features a large temple, library, prayer rooms, and housing for 70 monks in addition to the ancient cave and the holy spring. The monastery ascribes to the Gelug religion of Tibetan Buddhism, and celebrates a significant variety of festivals throughout the year. The monks converse with the villagers at this period after they have returned from exile. Chonga Chodpa, Chudsum Chodpa, Smonlam Chenmo, and Gyalwe Jabstan are just a few of the major holidays observed at the Phugtal Monastery.

Due to its isolation, the monastery provides lodging for visitors, however its rooms are few and tend to fill up quickly during festival season.

The only method to access Phugtal Monastery is by walking all the way from Cha Village in Zanskar. One can first take a bike or hire a car to reach Ichar, but the rest of the journey needs to be covered on foot only. Zanskar itself is connected to Leh by road, and may be reached through rental automobiles or via a bus ride.

The best time to visit the Phugtal Monastery would be during the warmer months, between May and September. The only way to get to the monastery is on foot, and during the winter it may not be safe for everyone to do so due to the chilly weather.