It is at an altitude of 3,894 metres (12,774 feet) above sea level, between the towns of Tabo and Kaza, Himachal Pradesh.

The 40th head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, Pelden Gyeltshen (1601-1674), came from Dhankar.

The mountaineer and explorer Harish Kapadia describes Dhankar as following: Dankhar (3870 m.) the old capital of Spiti is a large village built on a spur or bluff which stands out into the main valley and ends in a precipice.

I was told stories about how the lamas sat in the monastery or the upper houses throwing stones at invaders.

As I approached it, I could see its corridors cut in the rock face leading to various chambers which are either used as store rooms for the villagers or as rest-houses for the travellers.

Child Sex Ratio for the Dhankhar as per census is 2143, higher than Himachal Pradesh average of 909.