It is common to find streamers of
prayer flags strung across peaks and mountain passes all over Ladakh (and other
hill-tracts of India having significant Buddhist populations). View of
fluttering streamers spanning hillocks next to the Royal Palace In Leh
Close-up of Shakyamuni mural at the
Shanti Stupa, highlighting Japanese inscriptions
The Thiksey gompa of the Gelugpa
(Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhists, is said to resemble the Potala Palace,
the original seat of the Dalai Lama in Lhasa. Located about 19km east of Leh at
an altitude of above 11,000ft, this gompa is a 12-storied complex housing
precious Buddhist religious artifacts.
The Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist
chorten on a hilltop at Chanspa
adjacent to Leh town. The stupa dedicated to world peace was built by the
Japanese monk Gyomyo Nakamura in 1991 and consecrated by HH the 14th
Dalai Lama. A walk around the stupa offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the
terrain around Leh. Restoration was underway when we visited the stupa
Detail of boddhisatva mural at the
stupa
Maintenance and restoration was underway
at the Shanti Stupa when we visited
We met this venerable Lama as we climbed up
the steep stairs to the Hemis monastery
Devotee prays turning the prayer wheel
during the festival at Hemis monastery
Lamas of all ages were in attendance at
Hemis
Shtakna gompa (monastery) of the
Drukpa sect stands on a hillock on the bank of the river Indus, about 25 km
from Leh. Established in the 16th century by a Bhutanese monk and scholar,
the word Shtakna means “tiger’s nose”
