Ladakh
Ladakh lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet
at Kargil to 25,170 feet at
Saser Kangri in the Karakoram.
Thus summer temperatures rarely
exceed about 27 degree in
the shade, while in winter
they may plummet to minus
20 degree even in Leh. Surprisingly
though, the thin air makes
the heat of the sun even more
intense than at lower altitude,
it is said that only in Ladakh
can a man sitting in the sun
with his feet in the shade
suffer from sunstroke and
frostbite at the same time.
CHOGLAMSAR:
The
original Choglamsar village
is situated on the bank of
Indus river. The new Tibetan
refugee camp just off the
main road from Leh, which
is important center for Tibetan
Culture, History and Buddhism.
Tibetan children village has
library, Medical center, Traditional
Handicraft shop and study
center. Around one Km from TCV towards Hemis the central
Institute of Buddhist studies,
the study center for Tibetan
Buddhism and Ladakhi culture
has Tibetan painting and sculpture
school, library with good
collection of
books.
STOK PALACE MUSEUM:
Around 14 Kms from Leh, across the Choglamsar bridge.
The Stok Palace was built
by King Tsespal Tondup Namgyal
in 1825. The present Royal
family resides at Stok Palace.
The Stok Palace Museum has
vast collection of thankas,
traditional clothing and ornaments
from Royal family. The Gurphug
monastery is 1 Km from
the Palace and this is the
branch of Spituk monastery.
The festival called “Guru
Tsechu” take place on
the 9th and 10th
days of the first month of
Tibetan Lunar Calendar.
SHEY PALACE:
Shey, 15 Km south of Leh, was constructed by the first
king of Ladakh, Lhachen Palgyigon
and of successive kings. Around
12 Ft. Shakyamuni Buddha’s
statue made by copper guilt
is the largest in the region,
built by Deldan Namgyal in
1633 is a funerary memorial
to his father, king Singee
Namgyal. There is another
statue of the Buddha three
stories in height at dresthang
down the castle. Stone carving
and many chortens are scattered
around the Dresthang Gompa.
On the 30th day
of the 1st Tibetan
month celebrates shey rul-lo
and on the 10th
day of the 7th
Tibetan month the festival
of Shey Surb-lo is held.
THIKSEY
MONASTERY:
About 2 0Km south of Leh. This Gompa is situated on the
top of the hill and part of
Gelukpa order. the disciple
of Jangon Tsongkhapa, Sherab
Zangpo of stod, first built
the temple of Stagmo Lakchung
at the top of Stagmo Lakchung
at the top of the Thiksey
valley. Then Paldan Sherab
nephew of Sherb Zangpo, founded
Thiksey monastery. There are
sacred shrines and a many
precious objects to be seen.
The successive reincarnation
of the Skyabje Khampo Ringpoche
act as incharge of the monastery.
Thiksey gustor (festival)
held from 17th
to 19th day of
the 12th month.
There are chance to see prayer
in the early morning.
STAKNA
MONASTERY:
Built nearly 1580 by great scholar saint chosje Jamyang
Palkar during the reign of
king Jamyang Namgyal. The
Stakna monastery is 45 Km
south of Leh, founded on a
hill shaped Stakna (Tiger
nose). Easily accessible from
Leh town.
TAKTHOK
MONASTERY:
Around 46 Km from Leh, Takthok monastery was a meditation
cave of mahasidhas “Kunga
Phuntsog”. Later, it
started calling Takthok (rock
roof) monastery. The festival
of Takthok held on the 28th
and 29th days of
the 9th month.
HEMIS
MONASTERY:
Hemis monastery is one of the most famous and largest
of all monasteries in Ladakh,
45 Kms south of Leh founded
in 17th century
belongs to the Drukpa order.
the monastery was founded
by Stagsang Raschegn who was
invited to Ladakh by king
Singee Namgyal. The king offered
him religious estates and
attended him as his principal
guru. Hemis Tsechu (festival)
assemble annually from 9th
to 11th day of
the 5th Tibetan
month. The Gompa has well
preserved Thankas and copper
gilt statue of the lord Buddha,
various stupas made of gold
and silver and many auspicious
objects. The largest thanka
in Ladakh over 12 Mtrs. Long
is at Hemis.
MATHO
MONASTERY:
Gompa is 26 Kms south of Leh on the opposite bank of Indus
river, belongs to saskya order,
founded about five hundred
year ago by Lama Dunpa Dorjey.
The festival called “
Matho Nagrang” takes
place every year on the 14th
and 15th days of
the 1st Tibetan
month.
SPITUK
MONASTERY:
Gompa is on the hill top near Indus, around 18 Kms from
Leh. Which was founded in
11th century by
Od-De the elder brother of
Lha Lama Changchub-od, the
Gompa named Spituk (exemplary)
when Rinchen Zangpo translator
came to that place and said
that exemplary religious community
would rise. Initially it belonged
to the Kadampa school then
during the life time of king
Gragspa Bumide made it Gayluk
Pa order. the Spituk festival
held every year from 17th
to 19th days of
the 11th month.
PHYANG
MONASTERY:
Phyang is
17 Kms west of Leh on the
blue hill, belongs to Dingung
order, founded in 15th
century by Chosje Danma Kunja
Dragpa in the time of king
Jamjang Namgyal. Phyang monastery
is also called Tashi Chosang,
which mark the first established
of the Dingung to teachings
in Ladakh. The festival of
Gang-Sgnon Tsedub are held
every year from 17th
to 19th of the
1st month.
PHUKTAL
MONASTERY:
Hiking from Padum via Bardan, Mune and Char through the
right side valley of the Tserap
Lingti Chu, one reaches, after
about three days, the magnificently
situated monastery of Phuktal,
part of which is hidden in
a cave. Phuktal founded in
the middle of the 15th
century belongs to the reformed
Gelygpa and is, at present
the home of about 60 Yellow
Hat Monks. Below the large
cave lies the monks, village
with the Nyingpa Lakhang.
The cave contains the chorten
with the relics of Shesreb
Zangpo which is covered by
several layers of lime paint
RANGDUM
MONASTERY:
Rangdum is the first Buddhist monastery one encounters
on the way from Kargil to
Panikar and Parkutse. From
Kargil one can reach it in
a seven to eight hours drive
by Jeep. The monastery stands
on a hill in a mountain valley,
which in that area is rather
wide. Rangdum was founded
by the Gelugpa as in the early
16th century at
present, over 40 monks live
there under their abbot Ngari
Rinpoche.
SANI
MONASTERY:
It
takes one day drive from Kargi
via Rangdum to reach the monastery
and village of Sani, which
lies about 10 Km before Padum.
The Sani Monastery belongs
to the southern branch of
the Drukpa Kagyupa school.
This sanctuary is, however
for Buddhist of such high
importance that even other
sects worship it deeply. According
to a legend, the chorten,
standing in the oldest part
of Sani monastery dates back
to the 2nd century
A.D. The Dukhang which forms
the center of the later built
monastery part, was erected
in the early 17th
century. A few meters to the
north west of the monastery,
outside the wall, lies one
of the eight most important
cremation grounds of Tibetan
Buddhists.
TONDE
MONASTERY:
The
village of Tonde can be reached
from Padum in a four to five
hours hiking tour through
a bare, desert like plateau.
The monastery Marpa Ling stands
high above the village on
the way to the Ronde Pass.
The originally Red Hat Monastery
was reformed in time and belongs
now to the Gelugpa school.
Over 50 monks of this sect
are working in Tonde.
|
 |
|
|
|
ZANGLA
MONASTERY:
After a five hours walk from Tonde, along the right bank
of the river Zanskar
one arrives at Zangla
the main village of
the small principality
bearing the same name.
The castle of Zangla
towering on a mountain
ridge above the village
is almost entirely destroyed.
The Raja of Zangla lives,
nowadays in the village
amongst the common people.
SOLANG
VALLEY:
13 Kms is a splendid valley between Solang village and
Beas Kund. Solang valley
offers the view of the
glaciers and snow capped
mountains and Peaks.
It has some fine ski
slopes and the Mountaineering
institute has installed
a small ski lift for
training purpose.
ROHTANG
PASS:
Rohtang pass is 51 Kms from Manali on highway to Keylong/Leh.
It affords a wide Panorama
of mountain scenery
which is very spectacular.
The pass is open from
June to October each
year although trekkers
,can cross it earlier.
It is the gateway to
Lahaul Spiti, Pangi
and Leh valley. There
is a beautiful sight
of glaciers, peaks and
Chandra river down in
the Lahaul valley
LAHAUL
VALLEY:
Lahaul is marked by a central mass of almost uniformly
high mountains and massive
glaciers. The two rivers
Chandra and Bhaga which
rise on either side
of the Baralacha La,
flow through the Chandra
and Bhaga narrow valleys.
Lahaul is also a facinating
areas for Buddhist art
and culture. The monasteries
of Lahaul are rich repositories
of ancient murals, thankas,
wood carving and golden
images of Padmasambhava.
The valley lies at a
height 2745 meters above
sea level. Summer in
this valley is cool
and pleasant with green
grass and alpine flowers.
Lahaul is very difficult
and mountainous areas
which remains cut off
for 4-5 months
from the rest of the
world. Lahaul Spiti
is enclosed by high
mountain ranges from
all sides which make
the access a difficult
and sometimes impossible.
SPITI
VALLEY:
Spiti is the e sub division of Lahaul and Spiti district
with its headquarter
at Kaza. It is called
“ little Tibet”
because it has almost
the same terrain, vegetation
and climate. Spiti also
means “ middle
country”. It lies
between Tibet, Ladakh,
Kinnaur, Lahu\aul and
Kulu. The sight of mountains
in Spiti is unique.
The Spiti river is flowing
fast through deep georges
at some places. The
valley is not wide but
there are villages and
some fields where people
grow barley, buck wheat,
peas and vegetables.
|
| |
|
LEKIR
MONASTERY:
Located around 52 Kms from Leh, know as Klu-Kkhjil (water
spirits) founded in
the 14th
century by Lama Dhwang
Chosje a great champion
of meditation. The site
of the monastery was
encircled by the bodies
of two great spent spirits.
Therefore, name became
widely renowned as Lekir.
In the 15th
century the disciple
of Khasdubje know a
lhawang Lodos Sangphu
caused the monastery
to flourish. This monastery
also belongs to Gaylukpa
school. Every year from
the 17th
to 19th of
the 12th
month the Lekir festival
is held.
ALCHI
MONASTERY:
Alchi Choskor is the only monastery in the Ladakh on flat
ground, around 69 Kms
west of Leh. Largest
and most famous of all
of the temples and built
by the great translator
Ringchem Zangpo. The
temple was founded in
11th century
which accounts for the
Indian and particularly
Kashmiri influences.
RIZONG
MONASTERY:
Rizong is also known as Yuma Changchubling about 73 Kms
from Leh and around
6 Kms from main road,
founded about 138 years
ago by the great Lama
Tsultim Nima. Gompa
belong to Gelukpa order.
Dress and food provisions
are provided for all
member of the community
by the Governing body
of the monastery. The
monastery is sited in
a
most solitary
positions and there
is a nunnery place called
chulichan down the monastery.
The work of spinning
wool, milking, extracting
oil for the temple lamps
has to be performed
by all the nuns.
LAMAYURU
MONASTERY:
The
oldest and spectacularly
set Lamayuru monastery
is about 125 kms. West
of Leh, founded in the
10th century
. in 11th
century the Mahasiddha
Naropa came to this
place. Then Rinchen
Zangpo translator came
and built many temples
and stupas and then
teaching of the Kadampa
school came to flourish.
Later Jamyang Namgyal
offered it to Chosje
Danma and Digung Kargyut
school were introduced
and named Yungdrung
Therpalling. The Yundrung
Kabgyad festival is
held on the 28th
and 29th
days of the 2nd
Tibetan month.
NUBRA
VALLEY:
The
Nubra valley lies in
the north of leh and
is accessible over the
Khardungla pass 5600
Mtrs which is one of
the highest motorable
roads in the world.
The Nubra valley has
opened for Foreign Tourists
in 1994 by the Govt.
of India to expand tourists
opportunities in ladakh
region. The valley is
on the trade route from
leh to Khangar via Samsar
and Karakoram passed.
Apart from unparraled
trekking opportunities.
The valley have serval
Buddhist Gompas Diskit
Gompa is 350 years old
and is situated on the
highest point near the
village in which there
are about 120 Resident
Buddhist Monks.
TSOMORIRI
LAKE:
The Tsomoriri Lake is situated at an altitude of 4525
Mtrs & distance
of 240 Kms from
Leh. The Lake is in
the south east sector
of Ladakh. It is like
a pearl shape &
having large minerals
deposits. Korzok village
is situated on the south
west bank of this Lake.
Korzok Gompa and its
inhabitants the Nomads
(Changpas) are most
outstanding features
of this Lake. Chumathang
on the way to Korzok
is famous for medical
hot spring which is
about 140 Kms from Leh.
PANGONG
LAKE:
The Pangong Lake situated at an altitude of 4350 Mtrs,
Pangong Lake lie in
the north east of Leh.
This famous blue brackish
Lake of Pangong is 5/6
Kms wide and over 144
Kms long with half of
it running the other
side of the “INDO
CHINA BORDER”.
The mountains around
the Lake are of various
shape and colors. The
Lake with its color,
an exquisite scintillating
shade of blue, the orange
and carmine tints of
the sunset turn it into
a wondrous work of nature.
The villages, shepherd
lands and the landscape
enroute to this large
are very interesting.
This place may be approached
by across the Changla
pass (5486 Mtrs).
ZANSKAR:
Zanskar, in the Kargil sub-division of Ladakh is situated
between the Great Himalayan
range in the south and
Indus valley in the
north. The river Zanskar
which flows through
it, joins Indus river
a little below Leh.
The whole valley is
situated in the inner
Himalayas and is higher
than most other areas
of Ladakh. The greatest
attraction of Zanskar
are its Buddhist culture,
beautiful monasteries,
awe-inspiring barren
mountain shape and the
twin peaks of NUN (7135
Mtrs.) and KUN (7077
Mtrs.). Padum is the
headquarter of Zanskar
and is joined by rough
road to Kargil. The
valley is about 300
Km long and is connected
with Manali and Leh
by passes over 5000
Mtrs. Trekking on these
trails involve strenuous
walking at altitudes
between 300C and 5000
Mtrs. The people are
mainly Buddhist and
much like the people
of Ladakh in their dress,
customs and religion.
PADUM:
Once capital of the Zanskar valley, lies on top of a hill
at the far end of the
Lungnak valley. The
majority of its 400
– 500 inhabitants
are Muslims who are
engaged in trading.
At the eastern border
of Padum, a suspension
bridge cross over the
Tserap Lingti Chu. From
there a path leads along
its right bank, and
further along the river
Zanskar, towards Tonde
and Zangla. To the southwest,
slightly above Padum,
lies the Monastery of
Stagrimo, which can
be reached in 15 minutes.
The monastery of Stagrimo
belongs to the Drukpa
Kagyupa order and is
presently the home of
about 30 monks.
KARSHA
MONASTERY:
The
monastery of Karsha
lies to the left of
the river Doda. From
the Tungri bridge, it
takes four hours of
trekking and three hours
by the raft on the doda,
to reach it. The monks
quarters and temples
of this biggest monastery
of Zanskar can be seen
crawling picturesquely
up on a steep mountain
slope. The monastery
of Karsha belongs to
the Gelugpa order and
is looked after by Likir.
Like in Like, the abbot
is a brother of the
Dalai Lama. The Chamba
Ling temple, which one
encounters on the way
to the monastery, dates
back to the 11th
century whereas, the
monastery itself was
built in the 15th
century.
BARDAN
MONASTERY:
The
monastery of Bardan
can be reached from
Padum by trekking four
hours down stream. Built
on a rock, it towers
high above the Tserap
Lingti Chu. The monastery
belongs to the Drukpa
Kagyupa order, the abbot
is Stakna Rinpoche.
The monastery was founded
in the 16th
century. Its most important
room is the Dukhang,
which lies on the ground
floor. The shrine on
the first floor is dedicated
to Maitreya, the Buddha
of future ages.
|
| Kashmir
> Himachal
|
|
