Thiskey Gompa or Thiskey Monastery (also transliterated from Ladakhi as Tikse, Tiksey or Thiksey) (thikso
k Nambar tak pe ling) is a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery of the Yellow Hat (Gelugpa) sect, amid on top of a hill, which is about 19 km east of Leh, in Ladakh, India. It is acclaimed for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet and is the largest gompa in central Ladakh.
The monastery is located at a height of 3,600 meters (11,800 ft) in the Indus valley. It is a 12-storey circuitous and houses abounding items of Buddhist art such as stupas, statues, thangkas, wall paintings and swords. One of the capital credibility of absorption is the Maitreya (future Buddha) Temple which is installed to admire the appointment of the 14th Dalai Lama to this abbey in 1970. A 15 meters (49 feet) top statue of Maitreya, the largest such bronze in Ladakh, accoutrement two storeys of the buildings is deified in the monastery. A nunnery is as well part of the complex. The monastery is referred as ‘Mini Potala’ of India as it resembles Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. There is one big statue of Maitreya (future Buddha) which covers about two floor of the monastery that is 40 feet in height. Tara temple of Goddess Tara is another prime allure for the visitors. Apart from visiting church one can as well find some attenuate and adored stupas, statues, thangkas, wall paintings and swords in the monastery. During the early 15th century, Tsongkhapa, the originator of the transformed Gelugpa School (The Yellow Sect), sent six of his disciples to the isolated region of Tibet to spread the teachings of the new school. Tsongkhapa gave one of his disciples, Sherab Sangpo, a minute statue of Amitayus, the Buddha of longevity who is invoked for long life, health and happiness. It contain bone powder and the dew of Tsongkhapa's own blood which forced him to meet the King of Ladakh with a message seeking his aid in the transmission of Buddhist religion. The King, who was then staying in the Nubra Valley abreast Shey, abundantly admired the gift of the statue. After this meeting, the King directed his ministers to advice Sherab Sangpo to authorize a monastery of the Gelugpa adjustment in Ladakh. As a result, in 1433, Sangpo founded a small village monastery alleged Lhakhang Serpo (meaning Yellow temple) in the apple of Stagmo, to the north of the Indus River. Thiksey Monastery is the largest such structure in central Ladakh which is located on the hill slope. It is a unique building which is arranged in an ascending order and are well spaced, from the base of the hill housing the dwelling units to top of the hill enshrining the monastery and potang of the chief lama. The fascinating architecture of the monastery strongly looks like the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, the former official seat of the Dalai Lamas. The nunnery or the academy for the association of nuns is anchored within the precincts of the monastery and is managed by the Monastery Administration. In Ladakh, nunneries were captivated in a grossly inferior cachet and Buddhist nuns in accurate lived in alarming conditions. In the 1990s, acquaintance was raised on the status of the nuns in Ladakh, and Thiksey recieved a degree of international attention and support. Thiksey gustor (festival) is captivated from 17th to 19th day of the 12th month. During the festival, the religious dances are performed. These dances are accepted as Cham or affectation dances. These colorful Cham dances are an important part of the Buddhist culture. In these dances, important religious belief is told and the achievement of acceptable over devil is celebrated. This is as well annual occasions for the villagers to be together. These festivals are accompanying to added amusing activities like planning the marriages etc. The festival of the Thiksy Monastery takes abode every year on the ninth months of Tibetan calendar. The best time to visit Thiksey monastery is between May and September, as routes are closed after November due to heavy snowfall.
