Monastery Circuit
Captured on 70 mm screen on the Indian celluloid, the Gompas or the
monasteries have mysterious destination honest-to-goodness. Racked
against the backdrop of the hills, the Gompas are a collection of
Buddhist literature teaching and of course history too.
Hemis Gompa
Born in 1630, this is the largest monastery with a huge collection of
frescoes and Thangka paintings. Come June and Hemis is blown up Tse Chu
festivals of colourful masked dances.The festival commemorates the
anniversary of Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism and this
is the time when you can shop for local handicrafts.
Shanti Stupa
Shanti Stupa stands tall celebrating 2500 years of Buddhism and to
promote World Peace. Constructed by a Japanese Buddhist organization
'Shanti Stupa' is all about white dome structure. An additional sight is
that of sunset and sunrise here.
Sankar Gompa
The most impressive sight of Sankar Gompa is the colossal image of
Avalokiteshvara (The Buddhist deity of compassion) portrayed with
thousand heads and hands. Owned by Gelukpa monks it is a 2 kms distance
from city center.
Namgyal Tsemo Gompa
The 1430 reminiscent, the Namgyal Tsemo Gompa is the entrepot of
Buddhist art and manuscripts and an image of Buddha. The three storey
high buildings offers you a breathtaking view of Leh.
Lamayuru Monastery
Plumed with an additional name Yung Drung or Swastika monastery is
prerequisite visit on a tour to Ladakh. The monastery is a warehouse of
Thangka paintings and host annual festival of Lamayuru Monastery is held
every summer on the 28th and 29th days, of the 2nd month of the Tibetan
Buddhist calendar.
Shey Monastery
A palace turned Gompa, Shey Monastery has had a record of serving
Ladakhi Kings with its summer shade. The USP of Shey is its 12 meter
gold plated statue of Buddha. The Shey Gompa celebrates its annual
festival on the 30th day of the 1st month of the Tibetan Buddhist
calendar.
Alchi Gompa
The only Gompa that is located on the flat terrain in Ladakh is Alchi
Gompa. The founding father of Alchi Gompa was Ringchen Zangpo, who wa s
also a great translator. First of its kind the Alchi Gompa exhibits
influences in its architecture and design. Buddha images and statues can
be seen almost alive at the Alchi Gompa.
Likir Monastery
The center of decorousness here are the paintings, robes and artifacts
that lie silently at Likir Monastery .House of Gyalukpa sect, it is an
eighteenth century edifice that celebrated it festival from the 17th to
19th of the 12th month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar.
Spituk Monastery
Renowned for its Buddhist artifacts and Spituk festivals, Spituk
Monastery was an anticipated endeavour, by Rinchen Zangpo, to
disseminate Buddhism. Much can be fathomed by the name Spituk which
means exemplary. The Monastery perches on thew hill top overlooking the
Indus river.
Thiksey Monastery
Once gain the Thiksey Monastery is home to the monks of the Gelukpa
order and is 12 storeys high. Displayed here is pillar encrypted with
Buddhist etchings a 15 m high seated Maitreya Buddha in the main prayer
hall, and a vast collection of Buddhist art.
In the Dictionary of Buddhism
By
Type
When
the earth crust started folding and buckling as the Indian subcontinent,
Ladakh ' the land of passes' careened itself betwixt the two most mightiest
ranges; great Himalayas and Karakoram. It is on these altitudes that the
oxymorons have their say and Buddha comes alive. Barren and beautiful, cold
but quaint, Ladakh is located at the height of 2, 750 meters from where it
fetches a great deal of tourists. Sashed with pointed white peaks all where,
the desert mountain wears mist around the places and Ladakh is bedizen with
monasteries all over while the precarious passes, where you can see the
adventure buffs climbing those rocks. But before stepping your foot forward
to the Ladakh, just replace your pair of old shoes with a scarp boots and do
remember that the eligibility criteria is an escapade vein. Hit Ladakh, if
you have one. Trek up to the date Buddhist oracles, one by one, across the
mountains and rocks. 
