One of Spiti’s oldest monasteries is in Lha-lun, a two-hour drive from Dhankar. It is believed to have been constructed overnight by the Gods after Lotsava Rinchen Zangpo planted a willow tree here, stating that if it lived through the year, a temple be build next to it. The tree stands outside thegompa to this day.
There is a dark passage around the temple meant for circumambulation of the inner sanctum. Once, the passage walls were decorated with beautiful paintings, though these have now faded. Outside this temple is the lang-carpo (White temple), with four stucco images of Buddha facting the four cardinal directions. These statues are as old as the monastery.
The name Lha-lun god is the ‘Land of God’, from lha, god and lun, area. Local claim that the Lha-lun god is the head of all deities in the Tangmar Mountain located beyond the village in the valley. There is a strong belief among the local people that this mountain changes color from time to time, in conformity with the gods’ moods; for example, red in anger or yellow in joy.
