Ladakh has many historic monasteries called Gompas, where Buddhist monastics and nuns live, survey and pattern their faith. The monasteries of Ladakh are situated in scenic locations, on hills and mountains and have rich aggregations of Buddhist pictures, art and artifacts.
Hemis Gompa
This is the biggest monastery in Ladakh. Tourists can see beautiful pictures on the walls and the largest Thangka picture in Ladakh ( 12 meters ) . Its celebrated one-year festival is held in June-July, which is characterized by colorful cloaked dances and commemorates the day of remembrance of Padmasambhava, the laminitis of Tibetan Buddhism.
Shanti Stupa
It is an impressive white-domed construction in Chandspa that is attractively illuminated at dark. It was built by a Nipponese Buddhist organisation to mark 2500 old ages of Buddhism and to advance World Peace. It was inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1985. The positions of the sundown and dawn from the Shanti Stupa are dramatic.
Sankar Gompa
This Gompa has a expansive image of Avalokiteshvara ( The Buddhist divinity of compassion ) who is depicted with 1,000 caputs and 1,000 weaponries.
Namgyal Tsemo Gompa
This historic gompa has a rich aggregation of Buddhist art and manuscripts and an image of Buddha, which is 3 narratives high. There is a destroyed garrison in front from where you can see bird’s-eye positions of Leh Town.
Leh Palace
The Leh Palace is a smaller version of the Potala Palace in Lhasa. It was the abode of the Ladakhi royal household. Now undergoing Reconstruction, the Leh Palace besides houses the Ladakh office of the archeological preservation organisation of the Indian Government.
Stok Palace
This Palace is located on a glacial sedimentation of pebbles and overlooks Fieldss of barley. The museum here has an challenging aggregation of Buddhist art, arms, jewelry and artifacts, including thangkas painted with colorss derived from crushed cherished rocks and the ceremonial headgears are an alien sight.
Lamayuru Monastery
It is besides called the Swastika monastery and its arresting location makes it a must see on a circuit to Ladakh. There are many Thangka pictures in its chief hall. Its one-year festival is held every summer on the 28th and 29th yearss, of the 2nd month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar.
Shey Monastery
Shey Gompa was antecedently the summer castle of the Ladakhi male monarchs. A prince of Ladakh installed the 12 m tall gold-plated Cu statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, which can be seen here. Its one-year festival is held on the thirtieth twenty-four hours of the 1st month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar.
Alchi Gompa
This Gompa is situated on the Bankss of Indus and is easy accessible since it is the lone Gompa inLadakh which is located on level land. It displays a Kashmiri influence in its art and architecture and beautiful images of Buddha. Photography is non permitted within the Alchi Monastery.
Likir Monastery
This monastery has a rich aggregation of pictures, robes and artifacts. Its festival is held from the 17th to 19th of the 12th month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar.
Spituk Monastery
Known for its aggregation of Buddhist artifacts, Spituk festival is held from the 17th to 19th yearss of the 11th month of the Buddhist calendar. Further up the hill is a Mahakal Temple, where a awful image of Vajrabhairava is unveiled one time a twelvemonth at its one-year festival.
Thiksey Monastery
This monastery has many statues of Buddha, a pillar inscribed with Buddhist instructions ; a 15 m high seated Maitreya Buddha in the chief supplication hall, and a huge aggregation of Buddhist art. Its one-year festival is held from the 17th to 19th twenty-four hours of the 12th month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar.
Some safeguards to be observed while sing a monastery are:
- Take off their places before come ining a supplication country.
- Observe local frock codifications.
- Do non upset monastics at supplication, and ever inquire permission before taking exposure.
- Do non touch spiritual artifacts.
- Do non imbibe, fume in the monastery premises
- Avoid speaking aloud or upseting the peaceful atmosphere
- Most Gompas charge an admittance fee of about Rs. 25. If a fee is non charged, it is considered appropriate to go forth a contribution for the care of the monastery.
- In many Gompas, you are expected to walk around the premises merely in a clockwise way.
- Womans may non be allowed to come in the inner supplication suites of some monasteries.
