Explore the Culture of Ladakh in These Two Buddhist Monasteries

With the majestic mountains, captivating landscapes, and crystal-clear sky, Ladakh is a paradise for bikers and nature lovers. But before you plan for your Ladakh tour package, knowing the different ways of exploring the place is important. Read on to unravel a whole new way of planning for a tour to Ladakh.

Heralded by myriad spectacular vistas, it’s the place that every traveller wants to explore. But do you know that it has much to delve into for the cultural and spiritual enthusiasts as well? Here in this web blog, we will let you know about the most popular Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh. This will help you to get a glimpse of the culture of this place.

Hemis Monastery

Situated on the western banks of the Indus River, Hemis Monastery is the biggest Buddhist monastery and belongs to the Dragon or Drukpa order. It was founded by Stagsang Raspa Nawang Gyatso’s first incarnation in 1630. It has a 900-year-old museum with an incredible collection of pious thangkas along with other artefacts. You can also find many mural paintings and statues adorning the monastery walls. The most ideal time to visit is the Hemis Festival. It falls on the ninth and tenth day of the Tibetan calendar’s fifth month. During this time, you can witness the bewildering sacred mask dance and many other cultural insights.

Monastery

As an exemplary piece of Ladakh’s architecture, Thiksey Monastery is situated 17 km south of Leh. Founded initially by Jangsem SherabZangpo in Stagmo, it was later established by Palden Zangpo, his nephew, on a hilltop. With a forty-foot Buddha statue seated on a lotus, this monastery is 12 storied and has ten temples. You should ideally visit this place at the time of The Thiksey Gustor Festival. It takes place during the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar when you can witness the Cham or sacred mask dances performed by resident nuns and monks as a holy ritual.

The key takeaway

With a glorious ancient history that dates back several centuries, these monasteries still stand strong as the epitome of Buddhist culture, tradition, customary principles, and lifestyle. What you will find in these picturesque architectural wonders is sheer sanity, peace, and bliss. Hence, always include these two magnificent monasteries in your Ladakh tour for a wholesome travelling experience.

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