Rangdom Gompa One of the most impressive gompas is the Rangdom Gompa located about 6 km from the Shagma Kharpu village. The gompa dominates the surrounding countryside for miles around.

Lamayaru Gompa Credit: Jarkko Lavinen

It is one of the most important monasteries of the Zanskar Valley, with more than 50 monks. The gompa itself is a massive structure, consisting of lama quarters, a hall for worship, stores, quarters for guests, kitchens and working rooms.

The Rangdom Gompa is revered by most of the population living in the region. Annual offerings in the form of grain and butter are sent to the gompa. These are collected by monks who go around the villages at the close of the harvesting season. These offerings are the sustenance and mainstay of the gompa. Lands bestowed on them by the people and rulers in the past also form the mainstay of this monastery.

In 1946, the Rangdom Gompa was attacked and ransacked by the Bakerwals from Kishtwar.