Situated 3,600 meters above the Spiti River, Nako is one of the most isolated villages on earth. Its location in the western Himalayas makes it virtually impossible to reach during the winter months. Despite the difficulties encountered in reaching Nako today, in the Middle Ages it was a significant Buddhist center. (...)
Situated 3,600 meters above the Spiti River, Nako is one of the most isolated villages on earth. Its location in the western Himalayas makes it virtually impossible to reach during the winter months. Despite the difficulties encountered in reaching Nako today, in the Middle Ages it was a significant Buddhist center.
Seven temples survive in the village, four of which date from the 12th century and are clustered in a sacred compound at the village edge. Two of these, Lotsaba Lhakhang and Lhakhang Gongma, retain largely unaltered wall paintings and clay sculptures created when the structures were built.
Over time, many of the temples in Nako deteriorated due to the lack of adequate maintenance to ensure their structural integrity, which allowed water to infiltrate. Excess moisture damaged many decorative surfaces and caused wooden elements to rot.
