Tungri Village
The Village with the Nunnery and Greenery: Tungri Village is a picturesque settlement near Padum, highly notable for housing the Tungri Gompa (or Samten Choling Monastery), which serves as a prominent Buddhist Nunnery (Chomo Gompa) in the Zanskar Valley: The village is an unusually green and lush sp ot compared to the surrounding arid mountains, thanks to its proximity to water sources and, reportedly, some of the largest trees in Zanskar, creating a distinctive oasis-like environment: The approximately 400 villagers lead a traditional life of farming and animal husbandry, supporting the nearby nunnery: The nunnery itself is a quiet, profound place where a community of Buddhist nuns, including young girls, dedicates their lives to spiritual practice, meditation, and serving the community, following the Mahayana traditions: Nunnery Significance: Tungri Gompa is a vital spiritual center for the women of Zanskar, offering them a path of religious study and devotion: It is simpler in architecture and more intimate than the large male monasteries, providing a unique cultural perspective on the spiritual life of the region: The nuns are highly respected in the community, and their daily life involves early morning chants, study, and manual work to sustain the self-sufficient community: A Green Haven: The village is celebrated for its verdant fields and the presence of numerous old trees, which are a rare and precious sight in the high-altitude desert of Ladakh: This makes the village particularly attractive for nature lovers and landscape photographers: Authentic Local Life: A visit here offers a chance to respectfully observe the simple, devout life of the nuns and the traditional farming methods of the Zanskari people, who are known for their resilience and deep-rooted faith: It exemplifies the enduring spiritual and cultural fabric of the valley:
General information
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Ideal Duration:
Ideal Time: 1. 5-2 Hours for a respectful visit to the Nunnery and a stroll through the exceptionally green village:
Observation: A quiet afternoon is ideal for observing the nuns' daily routine without being intrusive:Place Type:
Category: Religious, Cultural, Village Tourism,Entry Fees:
Direct Entry:
There is No Entry Fee to enter Tungri Village:
It is a residential and agricultural area:
Nunnery Donation: There is typically No Entry Fee to the Tungri Gompa (N...Direct Entry:
There is No Entry Fee to enter Tungri Village:
It is a residential and agricultural area:
Nunnery Donation: There is typically No Entry Fee to the Tungri Gompa (Nunnery) However, visitors are strongly expected to make a respectable donation for the maintenance of the nunnery and the support of the resident nuns:
This is seen as a crucial form of patronage:
Recommended Donation: A recommended donation for a respectful visit would be in the range of INR 50 - INR 100 per person, placed discreetly in the offering box near the altar: Monetary donations are critical for the nunnery's sustainability (food, clothing, fuel, supplies) Material Offering: An alternative 'fee' is to bring material supplies as an offering: The nuns often need items like cooking oil, rice, tea, sugar, and stationery, which are difficult and expensive to transport to remote Zanskar:
This is a highly valued 'payment':
Photography Fee: While there may not be a formal fee, it is ethically mandatory to offer a more substantial donation if you are taking photos, especially of the nuns: This acts as an acknowledgment of their privacy and a direct contribution to their welfare:Timing:
Regular Timings: The Tungri Gompa (Nunnery) generally opens for visitors during standard hours, typically from 8:30 AM to 5:
00 PM in the high season: Visitors should avoid the main meal times and the nuns' private rest periods:Regular Timings: The Tungri Gompa (Nunnery) generally opens for visitors during standard hours, typically from 8:30 AM to 5:
00 PM in the high season: Visitors should avoid the main meal times and the nuns' private rest periods:
Ideal Visit Time: The best time is the early to mid-morning (9:00 AM to 11:00 AM) The light is good for viewing the green village and the nunnery façade, and you have the best chance to witness the nuns' morning chores or study sessions:
The Puja Opportunity: The most significant timing is the morning Puja (often around 5:00 AM - 7:00 AM), but attending requires extreme discretion and is often not encouraged unless you are a serious pilgrim:
Check in advance for possible access:
Respectful Timing: It is an absolute rule to leave the nunnery premises by closing time, as the evening is reserved for the nuns' personal practice and communal time: Never arrive unannounced after 5:
00 PM:
Combination Timing: Tungri is often visited in combination with nearby Karsha Monastery or Sani Monastery (which are also easily accessible from Padum) as part of a southern valley circuit:
It's a great spot for an afternoon visit:Special Events:
Nuns' Ordination and Retreats: The most special events at Tungri Gompa are the various stages of the nuns' religious life, including their initial ordination ceremonies and their annual retreat periods: The closing and opening of the annual retreat are key spiritual dates fo...Nuns' Ordination and Retreats: The most special events at Tungri Gompa are the various stages of the nuns' religious life, including their initial ordination ceremonies and their annual retreat periods: The closing and opening of the annual retreat are key spiritual dates for the community and for local villagers: Annual Drukpa Kagyu Festival (or local equivalent) The nunnery, being of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition (often associated with the local Sani monastery), will have its own annual festival, which, while smaller than Stongdey's Gustor, is a special event featuring simple, sincere chants, prayers, and perhaps a small Cham dance performed by the nuns or lamas:
Dalai Lama Visit Commemoration: The nunnery holds a special, annual prayer event to commemorate the visits and blessings received from His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Zanskar and the nunnery itself, affirming its place in the broader Buddhist world:
Harvest Celebration and Support: The successful harvest in the exceptionally fertile Tungri fields is celebrated with a communal event where villagers donate a portion of their yield (barley, vegetables) to the nunnery, symbolically sustaining the spiritual life of the community: This is a special, deeply communal and spiritual event:Best Photo Spots:
The Nunnery Façade: The best photo spot is the front of the Tungri Gompa (Samten Choling Nunnery), capturing its simple, white-washed structure against the backdrop of the lush, green fields and the tall trees of Tungri village:
This contrast is...The Nunnery Façade: The best photo spot is the front of the Tungri Gompa (Samten Choling Nunnery), capturing its simple, white-washed structure against the backdrop of the lush, green fields and the tall trees of Tungri village:
This contrast is unique to the location: Nuns at Prayer (Distant/Respectful) A very quiet, respectful, and distant photo of the nuns seated and chanting in the main prayer hall (with permission) Focus on the peaceful atmosphere and the line of maroon-robed figures:
Use a long lens to maintain distance and privacy:
The Green Oasis Landscape: Capture a wide-angle shot of the Tungri agricultural fields and the large trees, emphasizing the village's status as a 'green oasis' within the arid Zanskar Valley:
Use the trees for natural framing:
The Simple Living Quarters: The exterior of the simple, traditional residential cells (where the nuns live) can be a powerful photo spot, symbolizing the humility and dedication of the monastic life: Focus on the architectural detail of the stone and mud:
The Path to the Nunnery: Capture the shot of the small, winding path or road leading up to the nunnery, using the natural curves to draw the viewer into the scene: This emphasizes the sense of a quiet, remote retreat:Photo Gallery
Things To Do
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Respectful Nunnery Visit: The primary activity is a respectful, quiet visit to the Tungri Gompa (Samten Choling Nunnery) Approach the nuns with humility and follow all rules (modest dress, low voices, no intrusive photography) Offer a small donation if appropriate:
Attend Nuns' Puja: Check if it is possible to quietly and discreetly attend the nuns' morning or evening prayer session: The sound of the female chanting is a unique, powerful, and serene spiritual experience not found in the male monasteries:
Village Stroll and Greenery Appreciation: Take a leisurely stroll through Tungri Village and its exceptionally green surroundings: Seek out the areas with the largest trees in Zanskar and appreciate this green oasis:
The village environment is highly peaceful:
Information
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Why Famous:
Home of the Nunnery (Chomo Gompa) Tungri Village is famous primarily for housing the Tungri Gompa or Samten Choling Nunnery, which is a central spiritual institution for the Buddhist women of Zanskar: It provides a rare and important glimpse into the life of the female monastic community, often over...Home of the Nunnery (Chomo Gompa) Tungri Village is famous primarily for housing the Tungri Gompa or Samten Choling Nunnery, which is a central spiritual institution for the Buddhist women of Zanskar: It provides a rare and important glimpse into the life of the female monastic community, often overlooked compared to the male-dominated monasteries:
A Green, Fertile Oasis: The village is famous for its lush, green environment—a remarkable feature in the otherwise arid high-altitude landscape: Its proximity to water and its dense foliage, including some of Zanskar's largest trees, makes it a naturally beautiful and visually distinct settlement, lending it the nickname "Green Oasis":
Traditional Simplicity: The village is famous for embodying a very simple, authentic, and self-sufficient Zanskari lifestyle: The nuns and villagers live in a traditional, close-knit community sustained by their farming and the spiritual economy of the nunnery: It attracts visitors seeking an experience of deep tranquility and a break from modern complexities:
Spiritual Significance: The nunnery, believed to have been founded around the same time as the nearby Sani Kanihar Palace (around the 11th Century), holds a strong spiritual and historical significance, connected to the early spread of Buddhism in Zanskar: Its fame rests on this enduring spiritual foundation: -
Architecture:
Simple and Sacred Nunnery Design:
Tungri Village's architecture is twofold: the traditional houses (similar to Shes-Juk) and the Tungri Gompa (nunnery), also called Samten Choling: The nunnery follows a modest, functional style appropriate fo...Simple and Sacred Nunnery Design:
Tungri Village's architecture is twofold: the traditional houses (similar to Shes-Juk) and the Tungri Gompa (nunnery), also called Samten Choling: The nunnery follows a modest, functional style appropriate for a female monastic community in a remote area: It is a low-profile, single- or two-story structure of stone and mud brick, built for practicality and warmth:
Dimension: The main structure is small, housing a simple prayer hall and residential cells for the nuns: The prayer hall often doubles as a guest or warming area in winter:
The architecture reflects a deep-seated humility:
Interior Simplicity: The interior is simple, with clay floors, wooden ceiling beams, and basic traditional seating mats: The focus is on functionality for daily chanting and study: The most important architectural element inside is the altar, which holds statues of Buddha and revered lamas, and a repository for sacred texts, notably the Kangyur (the collected teachings of the Buddha in 108 volumes) The Village Context: The village houses are notable for being surrounded by the area's largest stands of trees, which visually soften the hard lines of the traditional architecture: This greening effect gives Tungri a distinct aesthetic among the Zanskari settlements: The layout is organic, responding to the natural contours of the land and proximity to water: The architecture is a study in self-sufficiency and low-impact building: Spiritual vs.
Monumental: The architecture here is less about the monumental display of power (like Stongdey) and more about creating a peaceful, warm, and sustainable environment for a life of spiritual devotion: -
How To Reach:
By Air: Fly to Leh (IXL), followed by the standard 2-day road journey to Padum (460 KM) Tungri is a short, final drive from the main town:
By Train: Not a viable option due to the remoteness of the region and the difficulty of the high-altitu... -
Near Tourist Places:
Sani Monastery & Lake:
8 KM (Oldest gompa, sacred lake) Karsha Monastery:
5 KM (Largest gompa) Padum City Center: 14 KM (Accommodation, market) Pibiting Rock Carvings:
10 KM (Ancient carvings) Tagrimo Monastery:
18 KM (Accessible gompa) Bardan Monastery: 26 KM (Fortress-like gompa) Zangla Palace & Nunnery:
30 KM (Historic site) Stongdey Monastery:
32 KM (Hilltop gompa) Sheela Waterfall:
22 KM (Natural cascade) Phugtal Monastery: 40 KM (Cave monastery - requires trekking)
Tourism Tips
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Health & safety:
Water and Food:
Rely on your own supplies:
The nunnery and village have basic facilities:
Modest Activity: The walk/drive is e...
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