The village of Dhankar lies in India, in the Spiti Valley, and above the village there is the temple complex of Dhankar Gompa. The first Buddhist gompa probably existed here in the ninth century. The location of the monastery buildings is noteworthy, a narrow road carved in a very steep rock leads there. The name Dhankar literally means "fort on the cliff." There are a library, museum and several temples with a beautiful view overlooking the river that flows in the valley. Most of the monks moved from Dhankar Gompa to the new monastery in the village of Shichilling that is located below.
