Tabo is a small town in the Lahaul and Spiti district on the banks of the Spiti River in Himachal Pradesh, India. The town lies on the road between Rekong Peo and Kaza, the sub-divisional headquarters of Spiti. The town surrounds a Buddhist monastery which, according to legend, is said to be over a thousand years old
Tabo is noted for being the oldest continuously operating Buddhist enclave in both India and the Himalayas. A large number of frescoes displayed on its walls depict tales from the Buddhist pantheon.
Who built the Tabo monastery?
Tabo Monastery was founded by the Buddhist king and royal lama Yeshe Ö (Tib.: Ye shes ‘od) in 996 A.D. and carries the Tibetan name ‘Place of Happiness’ (Tib.: dPal ldan bkra zhis bde gnas gtsug lag khang).
Most commonly used in the Philippines, the tabo is a cup used in conjunction with a bucket of water. You use the tabo to scoop water out of the bucket and pour it on your bum to clean it. This was also a quite eco-friendly option as a tabo was originally made from bamboo or coconut.
​Tabo Monastery is an ancient monastery that was established in 996 CE. It is considered to be an important monastery and is often referred to as the Ajanta of the Himalayas. The complex has 9 temples and many stupas—all of which are made in mud and have been standing like this for more than 1000 years.