Location
Shashur Monastery is situated 37 km from Manali. Shashur Monastery lies between 32°34′45″N and 77°1′32″E. Shashur Monastery is located 600 metres above the valley on a narrow site atop a hill.
About
The meaning of Sha-shur is blue pines in the local language. Shashur monastery was built in the 17th century by Lama Deva Gyatsho. The Shashur monastery has large Thangka paintings. The height of these painting is fifteen feet. In the month of June or July Chham is performed in the monastery. A statue of Namgyal is also present in the gompa. As we make our way to the monastery through difficult track chortens and a beautiful mani wall will catch our attention. In the stones engraved the sacred Buddhist ritual mantra Om mani padme hum.
The Shashur monastery has large Thangka paintings. The height of these painting is fifteen feet. In the month of June or July Chham is performed in the monastery. A statue of Namgyal is also present in the gompa. As we make our way to the monastery through difficult track chortens and a beautiful mani wall will catch our attention. In the stones engraved the sacred Buddhist ritual mantra Om mani padme hum.
Archeitecture of the Shashur Monastery
Lama Deva Tyatsho, a missionary of the king of Bhutan, built this monastery. The three storeyed Shashur Monastery is built at an narrow site 600 m above the valley. This narrowness has led to the monastery being constructed vertically. The Shashur Monastery conform to the ancient madala concept.
Worship
Worship is done by monks and lamas every morning in the monastery and it can be attended by tourists or local residents. The worship involves chanting of auspicious and sacred ritual mantras along with meditation.
Festivals
This monastery celebrates an annual festival in the month of June and July. During this festival, colourfully dressed and masked monks perform the devil dance widely known as chaam or chham dance.
Places of Interests
Guru Ghantal Monastery
Guru Ghantal Monastery is also known as Trilokinath temple. It is established by Guru Padmasambhava and one of the most renowned Buddhist pilgrim destinations in Himachal Pradesh. It is around 800 year old monastery. Guru Ghantal Monastery is visited and revered by people of all religions.
Archeitecture of the Guru Ghantal Monastery
The most noticeable feature of the Monastery is the wooden idols. The other monasteries has clay idols. Monastery white marble head was founded by Guru Padmasambhava. Now the white marble head is kept under lock for security reasons. Inside Monastery the idols of Guru Padma Sambhava and Brijeshwari Devi installed. There is a black stone image of Goddess Kali inside the Monastery.
Kardang Monastery
Kardang Monastery is former capital of Lahaul and Spiti. Kardang Monastery is renovate in 1912 by Lama Norbu. Before renovate Kardang Monastery was in ruins. The monastery has a huge white building bedecked with prayer flags.
Archeitecture of the Kardang Monastery
The large golden Buddha statue,library and ancient wall painting is main attraction of Kardang Monastery. The first room of Kardang Monastery has the chorten preserving the remains of Lama Norbu. We can also find the statue of padmasambhava and Tara Devi. The next room is the main prayer hall containting the beautiful statue of Avalokitesvara. The third room contains the belongings of Lama Norbu. There are around 30 monks and Buddhidt live in the Kardang Monastery.