In which State is the Buddhist site Tabo Monastery located?
Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010
A. Arunachal Pradesh
B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Sikkim
D. Uttarakhand
Answer: Himachal Pradesh
Option b is the correct answer.
Tabo Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located in the Tabo village of the Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, India. Tabo Monastery is one of the oldest and most important monasteries in India and is also known as the "Ajanta of the Himalayas" for its exquisite murals and sculptures. Tabo Monastery was founded in 996 CE by the Tibetan Buddhist teacher and translator Rinchen Zangpo, who was also known as Mahauru Ramabhadra. Tabo Monastery belongs to the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism and is the second oldest continuously operating Buddhist institution in the world after the Tholing Monastery in Tibet. Tabo Monastery has nine temples, four stupas, and several caves that house ancient paintings, manuscripts, and statues. It attracts many pilgrims, tourists, and scholars from all over the world. Tabo Monastery is also the seat of the Dalai Lama's Kalachakra teachings, which are held every 12 years.