Jispa
town · 3.4 km away
temple1 h 19 min from Keylong
Gemur Monastery
Gemur Monastery sits above its namesake village on the Bhaga river, a leading Tibetan Buddhist institution in upper Lahaul for nearly four centuries.
What it is
A monastery above the village of Gemur, on the Bhaga river valley upstream from Keylong, past Gondhla. Founded in the early 1600s, it's regarded as one of the leading Tibetan Buddhist institutions in this stretch of the valley, known in religious literature by its own Tibetan name.
Photos: Timothy A. Gonsalves (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Getting there
A drive of about 79 minutes from Keylong, further into the valley than the closer monastery circuit — a half-day trip on its own rather than a quick add-on to another stop.
The visit
Scholars believe the monastery originally stood higher on the slope and was relocated to its present, lower site in 1870. Local tradition credits the lama sTagtshang Raspa with its founding, with a village lama, Tanzin Paldan, responsible for the actual construction, aided by the Thakurs of Khangsar — a local ruling family whose name recurs across several of the valley's monasteries. The woodwork inside is credited to the craftsman Tashi Tamphel.
> you have the time to spare, not a stop to squeeze into an already full day.
When to go
June to September, matching the rest of the valley's open season.
Around it
Gondhla Fort and Guru Ghantal Monastery sit back towards Keylong on the same road. Shashur Monastery and Kardang, closer to town, round out the valley's monasteries covered in the monasteries of Lahaul overview.
Plans that include this
All Keylong itineraries →
Day plan · First visitClassic
One day around Keylong — Shashur, Tayul and Kardang
A single-day Keylong loop: Shashur, Tayul and Kardang monasteries, all within half an hour's drive of the bazaar. Free itinerary on HimLocal.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
See the plan →
1 night · 2 days · First visitClassic
Two days in Keylong — monasteries on both sides of the valley
A two-day Keylong plan: Shashur, Tayul and Kardang on day one, Guru Ghantal Monastery and Gondhla Fort on day two. Free, copyable plan on HimLocal.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
See the plan →
2 nights · 3 days · First visitClassic
Three days in Lahaul — Keylong's monasteries and the highway villages
A three-day Lahaul plan from Keylong: monasteries and Gondhla Fort on days one and two, Sissu, Jispa and Darcha on day three. Free on HimLocal.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
See the plan →Nearby places
Questions people ask
How far is Gemur Monastery from Keylong?
About 79 minutes by road, roughly 22 km, further up the valley past Gondhla — genuinely a half-day trip rather than a quick stop, given how much further along the road it sits than the valley's closer monasteries around town.
Why is Gemur Monastery significant?
It's regarded as one of the leading Tibetan Buddhist institutions in the upper Bhaga valley, known in religious literature by its own Tibetan name. It was founded in the early 1600s and relocated to its present, lower site in 1870.
Who founded Gemur Monastery?
Local tradition credits sTagtshang Raspa with founding it, with Lama Tanzin Paldan of Gemur village responsible for its construction, aided by the Thakurs of Khangsar — the same family of local rulers connected to other monasteries across this part of the valley.