Phugtal Monastery

Phugtal Monastery, also known as Phuktal Gompa, is a Buddhist monastery built around a natural cave on a cliffside in the Lungnak Valley of Zanskar, Ladakh. Located near Purne village above the Tsarap River, it belongs to the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Founded in the 12th century, it is notable for its honeycomb-like mud and timber structures, remote location accessible only by trek, and its function as a monastic school.

Visitors can expect a remote cliffside monastery built into and around a large natural cave overlooking the Tsarap (Lungnak) River gorge. Access requires a 1 to 2 hour trek from Purne village along a narrow trail. Inside, visitors see prayer halls, chapels, ancient murals, thangkas, a library with Buddhist texts, and monks' quarters arranged in a honeycomb pattern on the cliff face. The surroundings are stark Zanskar mountains with limited facilities and a tranquil monastic environment.

Founded in the early 12th century by Jangsem Sherap Zangpo, a disciple of Tsongkhapa, around a cave believed to have been visited by early Buddhist sages including Guru Padmasambhava. The cave has long been a meditation site. The monastery developed as an important centre of the Gelug school in Zanskar and has preserved traditional Tibetan Buddhist architecture and manuscripts.

An important monastery of the Gelug (Yellow Hat) school of Tibetan Buddhism in Zanskar. It houses around 70 monks, serves as a monastic school for young monks from the region, and preserves Buddhist scriptures, murals and thangkas. The annual festivals and daily prayers reflect Tibetan Buddhist traditions of the Lungnak Valley.