| The moment you enter Ladakh, you are greeted by | | | | Festival that is celebrated here, is a much awaited |
| hemispherical Gompas, Stupas and Chortens hinting | | | | ceremony of the place. |
| towards the prominence of Buddhism here that | | | | Located in Leh, next to the Leh Palace, is the |
| sanctify the calm and impressive surroundings of the | | | | beautiful Namgyal Tsemo Monastery offering a |
| Himalayas. The hills, valleys and the gorges here seem | | | | striking view of the sceneries of Leh. The |
| to echo the Buddhist chants, as little boys dressed in | | | | three-storied monastery belongs to the 15th century |
| traditional attire of the monks pass by. The beautiful | | | | and preserves a rich statue of Maitreya or future |
| hill station wears a spiritual look owing to these | | | | Buddha, gilded in gold. A monastery of the Drugpa |
| Buddhist institutions, monasteries, pilgrimage sites, | | | | order, Chemrey Gompa is also one of the well-known |
| monastery festivals, prayer wheels, Buddhist Mandals | | | | Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh, famous for the |
| and paintings known as Thangkas. | | | | Dance Festival that takes place here and the huge |
| Mahayana and Vajrayana schools of Buddhism | | | | statue of Padmasambhava adorning its premises. |
| prevails in the region that derives its influence mostly | | | | As you get into the Stok Monastery, which is located |
| from Tibet. Lord Gautam Buddha is worshiped and his | | | | at a distanace of 15 km from Leh, you will know |
| teachings are followed by the Buddhists. The Dalai | | | | how beautiful can a religious temple get. This 14th |
| Lama is considered to be an incarnation of Lord | | | | century Gompa has beautiful murals at the entrance |
| Buddha and is revered as the Buddhist leader. Tenzing | | | | corridors. Thangkas depicting images of deities and |
| Gyatso is the current and the 14th Dalai Lama, who | | | | their manifestations decorate the walls of this |
| is continuing since the year 1933. | | | | monastery of the yellow-hat sect of Buddhists. The |
| Several Buddhist monasteries of gompas dot the city | | | | traditional mask dance takes place here, which |
| and attract travelers of diverse faiths with their | | | | witnesses a good traveler attendance. |
| sacred aura and charm. Besides a place of worship | | | | The Thikse Monastery is renowned for its |
| and practice, these monasteries also serve as an | | | | architectural brilliance, with a twelve tiered structure it |
| institution of learning and training for the monks and | | | | is one of the largest Gompas of Ladakh. It also |
| nuns who stay here. They also house museums | | | | houses a forty feet high representation of Lord |
| exhibiting Buddhist art, culture and traditions. The | | | | Buddha within the monastery premises, which is inlaid |
| Buddhist festivals that take place here are also one | | | | with gems and stones. |
| of the prime attractions of Ladakh. | | | | Other important Gompas that one can visit in Ladakh |
| The main monasteries of Ladakh include Alchi | | | | are Likir Gompa, Spituk Gompa, Sani Monastery, |
| Monastery, which dates back to 1000 AD. It has a | | | | Sankar Gompa, Rizong Gompa, Lamayuru Monastery, |
| slight resemblance with the Hindu temples due to the | | | | Phugtal Gompa, Shey Gompa, Stongdey Monastery, |
| paintings and sculptures carved out in the monastery. | | | | Matho Gompa and Rangdum Gompa. Out of these |
| Another famous monastery in Ladakh is Hemis | | | | monasteries, the Hemis and the Chemrey |
| Gompa, which is known for being the richest and the | | | | monasteries belong to the Namgyal dynasty while the |
| largest monastery among all the monasteries in | | | | Likkir and Spituk monasteries bleong to the reformist |
| Ladakh. It is ornamented with gold and silver stupas | | | | group. |
| and a copper sculpture of Lord Buddha. The Hemis | | | | |