Dhankar

Photographer's Note

Dhankar Gompa (Monastery) in Spiti - The setting of the monastery in Dhankar is nothing short of spectacular, located at height of apprx. 3,900m (12,774 feet above the sea level) near the confluence of Spiti and Pin rivers. The monastic complex is built on a 1,000-foot (300-metre) high clay spur overlooking the confluence of the Spiti and Pin Rivers, above Shichilling village � one of the world𠏋 most spectacular settings for a gompa. The houses of the monasteries fit in to the nooks and crannies of the cliff.

These huge rock pillars cluster behind the monastery, look almost as if they rose from the earth! The main (old) Gompa is located right at the edge of the cliff�.so much so, that today after 1500 + years, the main structure is crumbing and they is no way that one can provide stilts to support due to the location. The deterioration of the landscape is evident � who knows what divine prayers hold this monastery up! Little wonder that in 2006, World Monuments Fund nominated Dhankar gompa as one of the 100 most endangered sites in the world.

To the right towering above us were the amazing rock formations called affectionately as �Soldiers of Spiti�. These massive rock formations are formed naturally through weathering by the harsh wind. The end up looking like a formation of guards, standing at attention, often 100s of feet high. You can see a Closeup of these towering Rock formations in this Shot

Dhankar is one of those places where you lose sense of space and time!

The monastery belongs to Gelug-pa School of order. The Gompa (Monastery) has over 150 monks, some fascinating 'thangka' sculptures and a statue of the 'Dhyan Buddha'.

dta, pierrefonds, annjackman, danos, vasilpro, PaulVDV, abmdsudi, papagolf21, bukitgolfb301, shevchenko, Graal, jhm, josepmarin, adores, jafadabret, kordinator has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

erhan1958 (15961) 2011-04-02 1:09

hello ANGSHUMAN
from the the roof of the world's excellent presentation
looks very nice colors and framing
have a nice weekend
ERHAN

Bournazel (0) 2011-04-02 1:41

Angshu
this is a spectacular Monastery in the middle of an amazing landscape. Very impressive
Interesting note too
Thanks
Vincent

Bluejeans (64251) 2011-04-02 2:33

Ola Angshuman ,
Lugar fascinante onde estas pessoas vieram construir as casas na encosta desta montanha , sem duvida um lugar a conhecer antes de morrer :) , boas cores e luz , parab幯s!!
Um abra蔞 Gon蓷lo

dta (98848) 2011-04-02 3:38

Hello Angshuman ,
Another fantastic landscape ! It seems that the ground is going to collapse under the houses . The rocky formations are fascinating . like the soft light and the beautiful cloudy sky .
TFS .
Regards

pierrefonds (114494) 2011-04-02 5:22

Hi Angshuman,

The houses are sending my eyes toward the mountains in the background which is giving depth to the composition. The point of view is showing the details and colors of the buildings of the monastery. The afternoon light is bringing out the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

npecanhuk (79329) 2011-04-02 7:44

Hi Angshuman!
What an exotic place!
What an interesting and certainly attractive picture!
Sharpness, exposure, chosen pov, colors, contrasts, horizontal format, black & white borders, composition and overall pp are all excellent!
It must be hard living there! The views are surely great though!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

danos (110407) 2011-04-02 8:08

Hello Angshu,
panoramic the shot from the Monastery in Spiti(you know spiti means house in Greek).The arid environment is fantastic with the Soldiers of Spiti, to looks so terrible over the Monastery.Excellent presentation with an even informative note.

Regards,danos

vasilpro (41801) 2011-04-02 10:39

Hello Angshu,
Wonderful view, beautiful monastery with interesting architecture in a peaceful place, lovely soft light and natural colors, very good contrast.
Spiti (Σπίτι) = home, in Greek.
Warm regards, Vasilis.

RhodieIke (11752) 2011-04-02 10:44

Hi ANGSHUMAN, Something mystical about this photo,I think its the barren place where the Monastery is to the mountains beyond. Well done. Cheers Iain.

PaulVDV (62944) 2011-04-02 12:21

Hello Angshu,
An absolutely spectacular setting for this monastery. Indeed, these houses really fit into the nooks and crannies of the cliff.
In this barren and brown world the houses are a wonderful sight with their white facades.
You've chosen a very good POV for this well balanced picture.
Best regards, Paul

abmdsudi (95869) 2011-04-02 21:18

Namaste Angshu
Good framing with enough space for the sky and lovely generous lower white cloud whilst the rugged landscape dominates the lower part and sloping down to balance the composition. This provides a great graphical power and a high aesthetic level. It is a magnificent work, with good light and limited colors. Spectacular land formation in paricular the top right has similar feature in Capardocia in Central Turkey, due to wind erosion. Great that you have used the best opportunity to capture in full force of this nature beauty. Ideal image of this charming cluster of stunning white houses nicely spread across, I love the slight mix of warm light hitting the right portion of the frame. The colors are nice, sharpness and textures are superb and you achieved an outstanding contrast overall. A fine shot, perfect in all qualities and I know you must be proud about this one, another of your best. Superb note as usual.Congrats, Have a nice Sunday
Warm regards

papagolf21 (152607) 2011-04-03 1:12

Bonjour, cher Angshu,
Vous 皻es une v廨itable encyclop嶮ie traitant de l'Inde et de la magie de ses paysages et de ses architectures.
Une fois encore, vous nous comblez � travers cette image d'une r嶪lle beaut�.
Amiti廥.
Philippe

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2011-04-03 1:31

Hi my dear Prof. Anghuman

Gorgeous secnery shot like a painting, that makes me remind the great diversity of your country, India again. So marvelous presentation by reasonable framework and sharp focsuing in the so details.
Soft color contarst is oustanding.
Thanks for your sharing fine work and have a beatiful Saunday!

Best regards,
Takero from Tokyo backing to cold

shevchenko (20560) 2011-04-03 20:54

Hi Angshuman,
Good frame to the architectures that distribute everywhere on the slope, clear to show the unique geographical feature too, interesting composition, good color, lighting and exposure, distinct image, well done.
Ally

pablominto (53746) 2011-04-03 22:21

Hello Angshu,

Another amazing place, with the houses like carved in the steep hill sides!
I don't quite know the philosophy behind a location like this, but one might me led to think inaccessibility is a point...
Great point of view that really shows the place, dramatic landscape with a hostile feeling..!

Greetings,
Pablo -

BennyV (34748) 2011-04-04 1:56

Hello dear Angshu,

An impressive barren landscape. Great sweeping wide view. Moon-like...

Have a good week.

Benny

Graal (103040) 2011-04-04 4:55

Hi Angshuman,
amazing houses on the slopes of mountains. Dangerous places. An interesting presentation and "soldiers" in WS. Good photowork.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

jhm (211736) 2011-04-04 4:57

Hello Angshu,

What a panorama view about the mountains, with a monastry and a village, who can there come and how!
Excellent light and plesant colors in depth.
Nice decorative picture, nice old architecture image.
Excellent composition and good presentation too.
Sharpness and clarity be superb.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

lakshmip1949 (19081) 2011-04-04 4:59

Hi Anghshu,

Very scenic view with the buildings on the slope of the mountain. Great colors.

Lakshmi

yquem46 (38752) 2011-04-04 5:05

Nice shot Angshu
I did not think that HP was looking so much like Jammu Kashmir
Another place in India that i'll have to add to my already long list of places "must go"
Hip hip hip houra for the victory of indian cricket team !! Bravo
Have a nice day
All the best
Patrick

Longroute (19600) 2011-04-04 8:11

This is a fine complement to the previous one where one can have a view on these very picturesque "soldiers" (good that you have posted the ws). This place is so peculiar and photogenic that it deserve more one one shot! Here too the light conditions allowed you to capture a very appealing image.
TFS,
Donato

pajaran (115941) 2011-04-04 11:53

Pozdrav.
Lepo i jedinstveno mesto ...
Lep pogled na mesto, manastire, planinu u daljini i oblake koji donose kisu, lepa fotografija.
Dobar tekst, snimak i kompozicija, moje cestitke na dobrom radu.
Sve najbolje sa lepim secanjem.
Paja.

Google.

Hello.
Beautiful and unique place ...
Nice view of the place, monasteries, mountains in the distance and the clouds that bring rain, beautiful pictures.
Good text, photo and composition, my congratulations on the good work.
All the best with good memories.
Paja.

Fis2 (170807) 2011-04-04 13:09

Witaj Angshu!
A very curious place.
Wonderful landscape.
I like frame and colors.
Very impressive picture.
Best regards
Krzysztof

josepmarin (59385) 2011-04-04 13:47

Namaste, my friend Angshuman,
the location of this monastery spread in the middle of these mountains is impressive!
It is an a bit dangerous place, indeed, and your framing offers it to us with all its beauty and with all its graphical power, as well.
An excellent management of the light and beautiful colors, in an image with great sharpness, which they build a very attractive composition.
A great work.
Best regards,
Josep

jaywalker (16105) 2011-04-04 15:08

Hi Angshuman, Amazing housing situ in these beautiful surroundings, you have captured some excellent detail & the mountain backdrop is stunning, a great photo, kind regards Wilson.

adores (46979) 2011-04-04 17:35

Hi Angshuman!
What a landscape you have here! I like this archietcture a lot and the houses spread along the slope make it fabulous, as well as the shapes of the rocks. Very good pov and dof!

wolf38 (30) 2011-04-05 10:41

Hello Angshuman. What a magnificent sight in this urban landscape. The monastery and the surrounding buildings seem to really stick to the slopes. The monochrome color effect fits perfectly to the subject. My compliments for this stunning shot. Informative text. Rgds, Wolfgang.

ciakgiak (30) 2011-04-05 13:41

Ciao Angshuman,
il posto � di quelli che colpiscono ed emozionano al primo sguardo.
Il monastero dislocato in un simile contesto � un'autentica meraviglia architettonica ed � pervaso da un'aria di grande misticismo! Superba immagine.
Un caro abbraccio
Giorgio

jafadabret (56501) 2011-04-05 23:24

Bonjour Angshu,
Une photo extraordinaire d'un site qui ne l'est pas moins. On se demande comment on a pu b漮ir dans de telles conditions et surtout comment ces 嶮ifices arrivent � tenir.
Tr鋊 belle prise !
Amicalement
Jacques

jugnutoor (1017) 2011-04-06 10:20

Hi Angshuman, I had been to Ladakh region, and truly it needs some courage to live at that place. Beautiful composition & beautiful place.

Regards
Jugnu Toor

AiresSantos (56155) 2011-04-07 23:57

Hi Angshuman
Wonderful perspective of this amazing place
Fine colors and sharpness
Very well done
Regards

bharadwajg (157) 2011-04-09 5:32

Hello Angshuman,

Sharpnes is excellent :) Great view.. no words.. Great.

Bharadwaj

Waylim (25436) 2011-04-09 11:17

Hi Angshu,
The scenery on top of the world, so high I can hardly breath. This take me back in time to my trip in Tibet, very similar landscape and houses and the dirt road. The Monastery is even higher in the mist of the cloud. Technically good quality. You manage the light just fine with this misty and hazy conidtion and a really good POV and composition.
Way

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2011-04-10 9:28

Dear dada,
khub sundor chhobi. Like the colour tone of this image. Like the lines created by human in the giant brown screen. Like also the small houses in the stone. Great contrast and perfect light. Excellent shot. Tfs.
best wishes.
subhendu

kordinator (8738) 2011-04-11 23:09

Hello Angshuman
Another fantastic landscape.
The rocky formations are fascinating .
Fine soft light and the beautiful cloudy sky .
Nice view on the houses and mountains in the background which is giving depth to the composition.
The point of view is showing the detail of the monastery buildings.
Nicew workshop pictures,wich you shot with your dugters camera.
Great job.
Best regards
Sa惨

korbee (6619) 2011-04-18 12:04

Seems like time hasnever changed here Anghu,like the end of the world,love the hazy mountains in the far BG,and the blue part of the sky.
Your sharpness and contrast are top of the bill,and your way of framing is very professional indeed ;]]

jan

eversmile (11636) 2011-04-25 7:04

Hi Angshu!

From the three pics that you have presented here, on TE, from this Dhankar monastery, this one is my favorite, for the warmth of the light, for the sand hues of the rock formations ( not so solid, as I understand now) and for the wide space that shows how spectacular it is. I also like how the clouds seems to have taken a shape in mimicry with the mountains. The contrast between this simili desert landscape and the snowy peaks is impressive. Superb! Congratulations!
Regards
Marine

adidas5nb (5743) 2013-04-10 4:30

amazing landscape.just spectacular.good click
regards
dwaipayan