About 5,500m (18,000ft) above sea level in the Indian Himalayas sits the Tangyud Gompa Buddhist monastery, where snow can leave the monks in complete isolation for seven months a year. The monks and residents of the nearby village of Komik, said to be Asia’s highest, are already stocking up for winter – and praying.
Xavier Galiana / AFP / Getty Images
Main image: A monk plays in the wind among prayer flags overlooking Tangyud Gompa monastery. Photograph: Xavier Galiana/AFP/Getty Images
Thu 9 Aug 2018 02.00 EDT Last modified on Thu 26 Mar 2020 10.31 EDT
Monks prostrate themselves during a morning puja at the prayer hall of Tangyud Gompa monastery in Komik in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh. Typically, the lamas pray at least twice a day but during summer retreat they pray all day Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Monks leave on a procession during a morning puja. Around 20 monks currently live at the monastery, staging festivals and welcoming visitors, but when winter comes about a dozen will remain Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Nawang Jinpa arranges ritual utensils. These are some of the busiest months as the permanent occupants follow a strict regime of Buddhist prayers, daily chores, preparation for winter months and study of holy texts
Portraits of some of the monastery’s monks (top L-R), Lobzan Nyenda, 68, Yeshi Tenzin, 51, Nanang Jinpa, 30, Tashi Dalden, 52, Tashi Jamphel, 71, (bottom L-R) Nawang Tashi, 53, Tenzin Kyentse, 30, Thupten Tsering, 43, Nawang Lodoe, 49, and Tanzan Chhopel, 32. Many monks and followers came to the region after Tibet fell under Chinese rule almost 50 years ago
Monks walk down from a hill overlooking the monastery. Life at the Komik monastery, which is over 500 years old, has been affected by climate change. Snowfall has been unpredictable in recent years, and any change in the amount of snow affects the fragile ecosystem, especially the availability of water in summer
