Sacred Buddhist Sites

This collection features significant Buddhist landmarks across the Annapurna Himal, primarily concentrated in the Manang and Mustang valleys. It includes ancient gompas housing Nyingma murals, traditional village stupas, and sacred sites linked to the 8th-century master Padmasambhava and the 11th-century yogi Milarepa. These sites serve as active centers of worship for the local Thakali and Manangi communities, representing centuries of Himalayan spiritual history.

Milarepas Cave

Located near Braka at 4,000 meters, this site includes a shrine and a cave where the 11th-century Tibetan poet and yogi Milarepa is believed to have meditated.

Chairo Gompa

A 19th-century Nyingma monastery near Marpha. It was the first Nyingma establishment in Mustang and contains historical murals and statues.

Guru Rinpoche footprint

A sacred rock indentation near Marpha believed to be the footprint of Padmasambhava, the 8th-century master who introduced Buddhism to Tibet.

Guru Rinpoche meditation stone

A large boulder located near the Nyingma monastery where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated during his travels through the Himalayas.

Nyingma monastery

A religious center practicing the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, situated near the sacred sites of Marpha.

Tal Gompa

A local Buddhist temple situated in the riverside village of Tal at the entrance to the Manang district.

Thoche Gompa

An ancient monastery located in Thoche village at the confluence of the Marsyangdi and Dudh Khola rivers.

Sher Gompa

A traditional gompa located on the high trail above Braka, serving as a spiritual landmark for trekkers and locals.

Khangsar Stupa

A traditional stone stupa located in Khangsar, the final permanent settlement on the trail toward Tilicho Lake.