Given that monasteries in Ladakh, it is not surprising to see one in every town perched atop a hill with a breathtaking outlook. The monasteries have a strong aroma of a flawless and harmonious fusion of culture and environment. The word gompas, which refers to monasteries, means “solitary places” in Ladakhi. The gompas, also known as lamas, serve as centres of devotion where monks (also known as lamas) reside and carry out their duties. It is amazing to see them because they are so devoted to their worship and so unconcerned with the outside world.
The majority of monasteries are constructed on hillsides that have a view of a village or town. monasteries in Ladakh have stand-alone architecture and enormous walls that give them the appearance of forts. In the absence of stupas (or chortens in Ladakhi) or colourful prayer flags, they resemble forts. Some gompas, some dating back to the eleventh century, are still standing strong.
1. Hemis
All around Ladakh, there are countless monasteries in Ladakh perched atop lofty peaks. They do in fact accurately portray Buddhist culture. The Hemis festival, which draws tourists from all over the world, is held annually at the richest and largest monastery in Ladakh, the Hemis monastery. Every year, it takes place in June or July. It is a two-day religious celebration, and one of the biggest thangkas in Ladakh is unfurled there once every twelve years. The monastery belongs to the Buddhist Drukpa lineage. During the occasion, lamas perform the masked dance known as the chham.
2. Thiksey
Beautiful as it is, Thiksey Monastery stands out from the other monasteries due to its huge, imposing appearance. It is 19 km from Leh city, which is easily accessible by car. Its striking resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, is another truth. It was built in the fifteenth century and is one of the biggest monasteries in Ladakh.
The Maitreya Buddha, which is 15 metres tall, is the focal point of the monastery. It is situated in the two-story shrine room. In 1980, His Holiness the Dalai Lama dedicated the statue. The monastery’s top terrace offers a breathtaking view of the Stok Kangri peak, Shey castle, and the lush meadows that surround it. Additionally, there is an open morning prayer service. Monks who are dressed in their crimson robes sit in rows and chant every day. The energy of the Buddhist chants and mantras is palpable across the entire environment.
3. Lamayuru monastery
The Lamayuru monastery, often called the moonland in Ladakh, is without a doubt the most picturesque gompa. Like the Alchi monastery, Lamayuru is perched atop a mountain and is the oldest monastery in Ladakh. The monastery is located off the major road on the Leh-Srinagar highway, about 115 kilometres from Leh.
The main gathering hall of the gompa is constructed entirely around a cave entrance. According to legend, this area of land was at the bottom of a large lake. The lake’s sediments have changed over many years and with the passage of time to resemble a moonland.
4. Likir
Likir, which lies 60 kilometres from the city of Leh, is also thought to have been established in the eleventh century. However, the current building was reconstructed in the 18th century.
The 23-meter-tall Maitreya Buddha statue, which can be seen from quite a distance, is the monastery’s main attraction. It was opened in 1997 and is located exactly next to the main structure of the monastery.
5. Basgo
Basgo was one of the royal family’s mansions, along with Shey and Leh. The monastery was founded by Tsewang Namgyal, and it is the only monastery in all of Ladakh with murals from the 16th century that have survived. The monastery is currently being restored by UNESCO.
6. Namgyal Tsemo
The Namgyal Tsemo is Leh’s first royal mansion. It is a little, high structure that looks above Leh town. In the gompa, there is an 8-meter-tall statue of Maitreya Buddha. The complex is an abandoned edifice that houses the Mahakala statue with six arms in its gon-khang, or room of guardian deities.
7. Diskit
Ladakh’s Nubra valley is a beautiful region that is magnificent in every way. Another stunning gompa in this area is the imposing Diskit monastery, which is guaranteed to astound you. The 32-meter-tall Maitreya Buddha statue, the emblem of this ancient and substantial monastery, was dedicated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Changzen Tserab established it back in the fourteenth century.
Every year in the final week of February, Diskit witnesses the celebration of the Dosmochey festival, where inhabitants from various Nubra valley settlements gather together to take in the cham, or masked dances. Every year, the event, which commemorates the defeat of evil, is held in the middle of February.
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