Gue (Lahul and Spiti)

Gue is a village in the Lahul & Spiti district of the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. The village is about 40 km from the Tabo Monastery, at latitude 31.11 and longitude 77.16. The village is 10,000 feet above sea level and 500 km away from the state capital, between the towns of Sumdo and Tabo.

1. 1. Gue Mummy: The Self-Mummified Monk of Himachal Pradesh

In the high-altitude village of Gue in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul & Spiti district lies an extraordinary relic: a 500-year-old mummy of a Buddhist monk named Sangha Tenzin, notable for its intact teeth. Discovered in 1975 after an earthquake revealed an ancient tomb, the mummy was excavated in 2004 and has since drawn significant interest from archaeologists and travelers alike.

Gue village, typical of the Lahaul & Spiti region, offers rugged mountain landscapes and breathtaking views, including spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Amidst this picturesque setting, the mummy of Sangha Tenzin stands out as a unique and must-see attraction.

Unlike Egyptian mummification, the preservation of Sangha Tenzin is attributed to a natural self-mummification process known as Sokushinbutsu. This process, practiced by Buddhist monks, involves a lengthy and arduous regime aimed at dehydrating the body and eliminating fat and fluids. Over approximately ten years, monks would gradually starve themselves, consuming a diet of poisonous nuts, roots, herbs, and tree sap. The monks would die in a meditative posture, their bodies preserved with minimal moisture.

Today, the mummy of Sangha Tenzin is enshrined in a temple in Gue, sitting in a meditative position with open mouth and visible teeth, embodying the concept of the Living Buddha. This remarkable mummy continues to fascinate those who visit the remote and serene village of Gue.