Keylong
Encyclopedia
Keylong is the administrative centre of the Lahaul and Spiti district in the India
n state of Himachal Pradesh
, some 120 kilometres from the Indo-Tibetan border.
Keylong is at an altitude of 3,080 meters metres (10,104 feet). It is cut off from the outside world from November to April, due to heavy snowfall at Rohtang Pass. It faces the famous Kardang Monastery
, the largest and most important monastery in Lahaul, of the Drukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism
, which is on a slope across the river from Keylong.
Keylong is located along the Manali–Leh road, about 7 km north east of intersection of the Chandra
Valley, the Bhaga
Valley, and the Chenab Valley; on the banks of Bhaga River. Sights near Keylong include the Kardang, Shasur, and Tayul monasteries, all within a few kilometres of Keylong. There is also a small temple dedicated to the local deity Kelang Wazir in the house of Sh. Nawang Dorje which may be visited upon arrangement.
Keylong is the district headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti and is home to most of the government offices and facilities in Lahaul, and also hosts a regular bazaar.
There are some tourist facilities including a Circuit House, a P.W.D. (Public Works Department) Rest House, a Sainik Rest House, a Tourist Bungalow, and a number of small hotels.
The annual Lahaul Festival is held here each July with a big, busy market and a number of cultural activities.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
, some 120 kilometres from the Indo-Tibetan border.
Keylong is at an altitude of 3,080 meters metres (10,104 feet). It is cut off from the outside world from November to April, due to heavy snowfall at Rohtang Pass. It faces the famous Kardang Monastery
Kardang Monastery
Kardang Monastery or Gompa is a famous Drukpa Lineage monastery, and is the most important monastery the Lahaul valley, India. The associated village of Kardang was once the capital of Lahaul.The monastery is a huge white building bedecked with prayer flags...
, the largest and most important monastery in Lahaul, of the Drukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
, which is on a slope across the river from Keylong.
Keylong is located along the Manali–Leh road, about 7 km north east of intersection of the Chandra
Chandra
In Hinduism, Chandra is a lunar deity and a Graha. Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma . The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation. He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and...
Valley, the Bhaga
Bhaga
Sanskrit is a term for "lord, patron", but also for "wealth, prosperity". The cognate term in Avestan and Old Persian is , of uncertain meaning but used in a sense in which "lord, patron" might also apply. A Slavic cognate is "god"...
Valley, and the Chenab Valley; on the banks of Bhaga River. Sights near Keylong include the Kardang, Shasur, and Tayul monasteries, all within a few kilometres of Keylong. There is also a small temple dedicated to the local deity Kelang Wazir in the house of Sh. Nawang Dorje which may be visited upon arrangement.
Keylong is the district headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti and is home to most of the government offices and facilities in Lahaul, and also hosts a regular bazaar.
There are some tourist facilities including a Circuit House, a P.W.D. (Public Works Department) Rest House, a Sainik Rest House, a Tourist Bungalow, and a number of small hotels.
The annual Lahaul Festival is held here each July with a big, busy market and a number of cultural activities.