Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

2271 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Ancient · Buddhist · India

Sani Monastery

Sani, Zanskar, Ladakh · 33.5053°, 76.8103°

PadmasambhavaKushan
Sacred since
100 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
traditionally 2nd c. (Kushan)
Kushan

History & significance

A Drukpa Kagyu monastery in the Zanskar valley of Ladakh, a few kilometres from Padum, whose foundation is traditionally carried back to the Kushan emperor Kanishka. It is unusual among Zanskar gompas in standing on flat ground rather than a crag, and encloses the ancient Kanika stupa.

Sthala katha — the legend

Padmasambhava is said to have spent five years in a small chapel at the site, and the monastery is also linked in tradition to the yogi Naropa and to the epic king Gesar.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Kushan