Monasteries of Northern India include the Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh, Leh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Some of the Buddhist monasteries like
Key Monastery
Key Monastery or Key Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located on top of a hill at an altitude of 4,166 metres above sea level. Key Monastery or Key Gompa is located very close to the Spiti River, in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Key Monastery or Key Gompa is the biggest monastery of Spiti Valley and a religious training centre for Lamas. It reportedly had 100 monks in 1855. Key Monastery or Key Gompa is also famous for the Buddhist pilgrims to meditate. One can find perfect peace and solace while entering in the Key monastery.
Tangyud Monastery
Tangyud Monastery or Sa-skya-gong-mig Gompa at Hikim, is located in the Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh. Tangyud Monastery is built like a fortified castle on the edge of a deep canyon, with massive slanted mud walls and battlements with vertical red ochre and white vertical stripes which make them look much taller than they really are. Tangyud Monastery has an altitude of 4,587 metres (15,049 ft), on the edge of a deep canyon and overlooking the town of Kaza in the Spiti District, which is 4 km from the town. Tangyud Monastery is located on the periphery of the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.
Shashur Monastery
Shashur Monastery was founded in the 17th century AD. Lama Deva Tyatsho of Zanskar is the founder of the monastery. It is located a little distance away from Keylong in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Lama Deva Tyatsho was actually a missionary of the King of Bhutan. Deva Gyatsho carried out the work of renovation and gave it the present structure. The attractions of the monastery, which belongs to the Red sect of the Tibetan Buddhist, are the 15-feet `Thankha` and precious wall paintings presenting all the siddhas of Buddhism. In the month of June-July, during the Chham celebration, the lamas of the monastery celebrate the devil dance.
Dhankar Monastery
In the beautiful Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh is located the Dhankar Monastery. The monastery exhibits an image of `Vairocana` or Dhayan Buddha consisting of four complete figures seated back to back. It also has Buddhist scriptures in Bhoti language and relics in the shape of paintings and sculptures as its belongings. Other than these, there are two Gompas housed in the monastery. Those are Lha Opa Gompa and Lkhang Gompa. The Lha Opa Gompa is supposed to date back to 12th century. The second Gompa represent the life of Buddha in its splendid murals.
Khardong Monastery
Khardong Monastery is a medieval monastery, placed 5km from Keylong, in Lahul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh. The monastery is located on the left bank of the Bhaga River in Khardong Village, at an elevation of 3500m above the surface level. Constructed in the 12th century, Khardong Monastery is renowned as an archetypal Lahul and Spiti architectural wonder. The gompa houses an immense library, containing the Kangyur and Tangyur volumes of Buddhist scriptures in Bhoti style, erstwhile weapons and a vast collection of intricate and finespun Thangka paintings and musical instruments including lutes, drums and horns. Khardong Monastery sports the maximum strength of monks and nuns in the Lahul region. The gompa can be reached by bus from Keylong.
Alchi Monastery
Alchi gompa is located on the banks of the Indus River, 70km from Leh and was constructed almost 1000 years back. One of its walls boasts thousands of miniature paintings of Lord Budha. The prime attraction of the gompa is however the three large sized images housed in the interior. Alchi is no longer an active religious institution and is looked after by monks of the Likir Monastery.
Some of the monasteries like Diskit Monastery, Dubdi Monastery, Gonjang Monastery, Pemayangtse Monastery, Sanga Choeling Monastery, Enchey Monastery, Gandhola Monastery and many other