Quick
Getaways near Leh
Spituk Gompa -
8 kms from Leh, standing majestically on top
of a hillock overlooking the Indus Valley, Spituk
Gompa houses a collection of ancient masks,
antique arms, icons and numerous thankas. Higher
up the hill is the Mahakal Temple, containing
the shrine of Vajrabhairava.
Shey
Gompa - This Palace Monastery has the
largest statue of Maitreya Buddha (Buddha to
come) in Ladakh. Erected in the mid 17th century,
worked out of gold and gilded copper sheets
with blue hair, it stands 17.5 metres high.
Thiksey
- In south of Leh the most beautiful
of all the monasteries in Ladakh belongs to
Gelukspa Order. Around 80 monks reside here
at present. The Thiksey festival is held in
the month of October-November.
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Hemis
Monastery - Hemis monastery is
situated at about 45 kms south of Leh,
and is one of the largest and most famous
monasteries belonging to Dukpa Order.
The Hemis festival is held in the month
of June.
Likir Gompa -
The Likir monastery is around 53 kms west
of Leh, which belongs to Gelukspa Order.
This is also worth seeing. Likir festival
takes place on the 28th & 29th of
the 12th month of Tibetan Calendar |
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Alchi Gompa
- While at
Leh you must also check out the Alchi
Gompa. The 11th century gompa is located
on the banks of the Indus River. Alchi
is one of the largest and the most famous
monasteries in Leh. You may check out
the widely renowned collection of paintings
in the Gompa.
Rizong -
Ri-dzong, situated a few kilometres up
a side-valley from Uley-Tokpo, was founded
only a century and a quarter ago by a
spiritual layman-turned-lama, with the
purpose of following the strict monastic
rules of the Gelugs-pa sect.
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Lamayuru
- Around 125 kms west of Leh, you
pass through several villages on the way
with scenic beauty especially the Moon
land type features. In Lamayuru, there
is a monastery too, which belongs to Drigunpa
Order of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery,
built on a rock is an outstanding one. |
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