The spectacular landscape of Ladakh, India, encapsulates snow-capped mountains, lofty Karakoram ranges, lush green patches and beautiful terrains.
Considering its sheer beauty, one should not wonder why it is often called "trekkers-paradise". The place is away from the hustle-bustle of city life and provides great therapy for the soul.
Apart from its environs, the place is hugely popular among tourists for its monasteries. Make sure to visit the following Top 5 Monastaries in Ladakh! You can find these easily in any of the Ladakh tour packages.
5 of the Most Famous Monasteries in Ladakh
Are you planning to visit Ladakh in India? If so, here is a list of some of the best Ladakh monasteries to include in your itinerary. Not only will the visit to the monasteries be totally memorable, but there are also plenty of other places to visit in the vicinity as well.
Here is a list of the most famous monasteries in Ladakh that you should visit:
The Hemis Monastery was built in 1630 and happens to be one of the largest monasteries in Ladakh. The monastery is hugely famous for its massive architectural style.
The route to the monastery in itself is mesmerizing and is popular for trekking. Being surrounded with beautiful Himalayan Mountain, this place will simply leave you awestruck.
A major festival is organized in the region for 2 days and attracts many visitors.
Another popular spot is a Hemis National Park, which is famous for its rarely seen animals and if you are lucky you might even see a snow leopard.
The Matho Monastery resides alongside the Indus River and is originated in the 16 th century. The place is extremely famous for its thangkas, which are nearly 400 years old, as well as the Nagrang festival. It's an annual festival held in the first half of March and exhibits Buddhist teachings and philosophies.
Apart from the Ladakh monastery, tourists are also attracted to the Matho museum which is located nearby. The museum exhibits a large number of Kashmiri bronze artifacts (which dates back to the 9 th century), medieval paintings, as well as modern Chinese paintings.
3. Rangdum Gomba Monastery
The Rangdum Gomba Monastery is 200 years old and is situated over a small hill, at a height of 3657m. The monastery exhibits rarely seen artifacts and statues.
The region is surrounded with snow-capped lofty mountains, barren landscape, pleasant weather and sparkling rivers. This place attracts many tourists. And what's more interesting is the monastery location which is just 130 km from Kargil.
Tip: Move beyond the rented accommodation and opt for tented accommodation to enjoy its location even further.
4. Lamayuru Monastery
The Lamayuru Monastery is one of the oldest and largest of the Ladakh Monasteries!
The place is situated on the main Leh-Kargil highway. It was founded in the 11 th century by Mahasiddhacharya Naropa and belonged to the Red-hat sect of Buddhism.
The monastery has a rich collection of wall paintings, murals, thangkas, scriptures, statues and an impressive 11 headed, 1000 eyed image of Chenzing.
Apart from its vast collection, the beauty of the landscape is another reason for tourist visits. The place is truly a delight for photographers.
5. Thiksey Gompa Monastery
Thiksey Gompa Monastery is located on the hilltop to the north of river Indus.
Built in the 15 th century, the monastery belongs to the Gelugpa order of Buddhism. The building is a 12-story complex and exhibits a large number of Buddhist arts such as Thangka paintings, statues, swords etc.
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Over to You:Ladakh is a truly magical landscape and one has to see it to believe!
- Which of these monasteries would you like to visit the most?
Originally from South Africa, now living in Australia, Jolene is a wife and a mother to three beautiful daughters. Together with her family, she is embarking on a journey towards changing her current stress-filled life to one focusing on her dreams and her passion for travel. She wants to share her stories in the hope to inspire you to chase your own dreams!
