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