Monasteries in Ladakh may belong to either the
Mahayana or the Hinayana sect of Buddhism but they play an important
role in lending the region its unique flavor. Commonly known as Gompas
in the region, besides being beautiful, these monasteries can often be
seen perched dangerously on the edge of craggy mountain faces or lone
rocks. The head lama is called a 'kushak', which means a Reincarnation.
Likir Monastery
52 km from Leh, it was founded in the 11th century by a sect known as
Klu-Kkhjil (water spirits) and was rededicated to another monastic order
(the yellow sect) in the 15th century. The original Gompa was destroyed
in a fire and the present-day Gompa was rebuilt in the 18th century. It
is home to huge clay images of Lord Buddha, several old manuscripts, a
rich collection of Thankas, old religious and domestic costumes,
implements and other such things. It is said to flourish in the 15th
century under lhawang Lodos Sangphu. Today, the monastery also belongs
to Gaylukpa School. An annual festival is held from the 17th to 19th of
the twelfth month, known as Likir festival.
Spituk Monastery
18 km from Leh, Spituk Gompa is on the hilltop near River Indus. Od-De
founded the Gompa in 11th century and was called Spituk (exemplary) by
Rinchen Zangpo, a translator that visited the place. Initially it
belonged to the Kadampa School but during the reign of King Gragspa
Bumide, he transferred it to Gayluk Pa order. The monastery has a rich
collection of ancient masks, antique arms, icons and numerous Thankas.
An annual festival, known as the Spituk festival, is held here from 17th
to 19th days of the eleventh month. There is another shrine, higher up
the hill, known as the Mahakal Temple, dedicated to the deity of
Vajrabhairava. It has a frightening face, which is unveiled only during
the annual festival in January.
Hemis
Gompa
It is the largest monastery in Ladakh, Hemis belongs to the red sect,
Brokpa. Built in 1630, 45 km south from Leh, it is not only impressive
and intriguing but also different from the other important monasteries
of Ladakh. An annual festival is held for two days in June-July in the
courtyard of the monastery to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru
Padmasambhava. The festival features dances and a colorful pageant where
good triumphs over evil along with an annual 'bazaar' where Ladakhis
from remote areas come to buy and sell wares.
Cave Monastery
The Cave Monastery of Shergole is old and small but has elegant
frescoes. A peculiar Buddhist monastery of the region, it juts out of a
brown, granite cliff and is frighteningly suspended in the middle of the
mountain. The architectural oddity of the monastery along with its
thrilling views arouses the curiosity of not only the tourists but also
the locals and it is a perfect thing that one would want to take a
photograph of, as a memento to keep forever.
Lamayuru Monastery
125 km west of Leh, Lamayuru monastery was founded in the 10th century.
According to a popular folktale, Lamayuru was once a lake. A Lama once
blessed the place so that it caused the waters of the lake to recede up
to the mountains and left the place for the monastery to be built. This
monastery is in utter ruins and only its main hall stands to this day
housing numerous Tankhyas. The Yundrung Kabgyad festival is held here
annually during summer on the 28th and 29th days of the second Tibetan
month. Lamayuru has some fascinating caves carved out of the
mountainside and is set on a high cape overlooking the village and
valley. The monastery is also known as Yung Drung (meaning 'Swastika')
and is worth seeing, if only for its beauty that surmounts that of any
other gompa of the region.
Alchi Gompa
Situated on the shores of the River Indus, Alchi Gompa is more than
thousand years old. One of the walls of the monastery features thousands
of miniature paintings of the Buddha along with three large sized images
that are made of clay and have been painted brightly to be the
highlights of the place. However, this place does not serve as active
religious center anymore and monks only look after it from the Likir.
There are numerous monasteries in Ladakh associate either with Mahayana or the Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
Jammu Kashmir » Ladakh » Monasteries of Ladakh