Serkhang Monastery

Spiti Projects has been awarded a grant by the Getty Foundation in Los Angeles to put forward a proposal for the conservation of unique Western Himalayan temple.

This 10th century Gompa is thought to have been built by Rinchen Zangpo in 996AD and is a striking example of the Tibetan tradition of its time. It is one of the few to have survived. In Tibet the monasteries have mainly all been destroyed, leaving less than a handful still in existence.

This little gem is owned by the villagers who are very concerned about the fragility of this ancient structure. Recent climate change has caused higher levels of melting snow and monsoon rains, resulting in water leaking into the interior and damaging the exquisite interior paintings. The building is now seriously endangered and is in need of urgent conservation. Spiti Projects has been fortunate enough to obtain the expertise of top art conservers and architects to start work on this Gompa in 2009.

The project has been approved by, and has the whole-hearted support of, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.