The most beautiful monastery tours in Ladakh
The best of the monasteries in Ladakh
Ladakh is not only barren mountains and wild landscapes, but also a culturally rich Buddhist region. Not for nothing is it also called Little Tibet. Within Ladakh, you will come across a number of easily accessible monasteries – mainly in the vicinity of Léh. However, many of them are hidden high in the mountains, but the atmosphere is even more authentic. Let's take a look at the most interesting monastery tours in Ladakh
Monastery Thiksey Gompa
The most famous monastery in the Indus v
The most often visited monastery in the Indus valley, which is just twenty kilometers from Leh, looks like a miniature of Potala. If you get here really early in the morning, you do not meet here crowds of tourists – more like only meditating monks. Apart from the breathtaking view of the monastery from the bottom you will like a huge, 15-meters high, statue of Buddha occupying two entire floors of the building and the stunning views from the roof of the monastery. continue reading
Visit of Hemis Gompa
The monastery in a mountain valley
Most big monasteries in Ladakh stand like a fortress on the tops of hills, but only the one in Hemis is located in a narrow mountain valley high above the river Indus. It is definitely worth a visit. It is interesting not only for its colors, but also for the adjacent village with houses stuck to the rock. Very close is also one of the starting points to the most famous Ladack trek through the valley of river Markha. continue reading
Visit of Lamayuru
Monastery famous for festivals
Lamayuru (3 500 m asl) is an important pilgrimage site at the boundary of Muslim and Buddhist Ladakh. It is surrounded by typical „moonscape“ with a green oasis in the valley. Over green fields are old houses of mud brick stuck in the slope, where is the live nearly the same as decades ago. At the very top is a nice monastery renowned by Buddhist festivals. The town lies just a short distance from Fotu la pass (4,094 m asl), the highest point of the road from Srinagar to Leh. It's basically the last place to the west of Leh, where people hike in mass. Both those interested in Buddhist culture and trekkers come here, who set off from here to a world-famous trek Lamayuru – Padum in Zanskar. continue reading
Visit of Likir Gompa Monastery
The biggest Buddha in Ladakh
Very interesting monastery Likir is lying less than 50 kilometers from Leh in a side valley. It boasts the biggest sitting Buddha statue in Ladakh and very picturesque monastery situated on a small hill as the center of a nice oasis surrounded by high mountain desert. Because it is situated a few kilometers from the main road Shrinagar – Leh hwy, it is definitely not so frequently visited as other monasteries in the Indus valley. continue reading
Visit of Shey Gompa Monastery
Half abandoned royal palace
Only fifteen kilometers from Leh is situated the former summer royal palace Shey. Today there are more or less ruins, but the views of the Indus valley and the mountains of Stok are very nice. So it is worth to stop here – maybe on the way to more famous and interesting Thiksey monastery. continue reading
Monastery Stakna Gompa
Forgotten monastery
Almost everyone visiting Ladakh wants to see some of the many beautiful Buddhist monasteries. But only few tourists visit a small monastery in Stakne despite the fact that there are beautiful views of the Indus valley and much more famous Thiksey monastery. Moreover, there is almost divine peace and quiet. continue reading
Chemrey Gompa Monastery
A picturesque monastery on a rock promontory
Forty-five kilometres from Leh, on the way to the fairytale lake of Pangong tso, the picturesque Chemrey Monastery lies on a hill above the oasis between the desert mountains. It is surprising that, being one of the most beautiful in Ladakh, few tourists are visited. continue reading
Namgyal Tsemo Gompa Monastery
Monastery above Leh
One of the dominants of the capital of Ladakh – Leh is the Namgyal Tsemo Gompa monastery. In addition to own tours of this gompa, which basically served as a small fortress, there is also an interesting view from it throughout the old town and the surrounding mountains. The ascent to the monastery is definitely worth it, especially at sunset. continue reading
