Phugtal Monastery: The Cliffside Monastery Only the Brave Can Reach

Hidden deep within the remote Zanskar Valley of Ladakh, Phugtal Monastery is one of India’s most extraordinary Buddhist sites. Built into a massive cliff face, it appears almost like a giant honeycomb carved into the rock, with whitewashed cells and temples clinging impossibly to the rugged mountainside.

Dating back to the early 12th century, Phugtal was founded by Lama Gangsem Sherap Sampo and has served as a place of meditation, learning, and spiritual refuge for centuries. The monastery still houses a community of monks who follow traditional Tibetan Buddhist practices, preserving rituals and teachings that have remained unchanged for generations.

Reaching Phugtal is not for the faint-hearted. The journey involves trekking through narrow mountain paths, crossing wooden bridges over the Tsarap River, and navigating steep ascents. The most common route begins from Padum, the administrative centre of Zanskar, followed by a multi-day trek through breathtaking Himalayan landscapes. In winter, access becomes even more challenging as the valley is cut off by snow, and only the frozen river route—known as the Chadar Trek—is possible.

Inside the monastery, travellers will find ancient murals, sacred scriptures, and a prayer hall filled with the scent of butter lamps. There is also a natural cave from which a small spring flows, considered sacred by the monks and locals. The silence here is profound, broken only by the wind and the occasional flutter of prayer flags.