monasteries of Ladakh

Famous monasteries of Ladakh and Zanskar

01) Thikse Monastery  :  It is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Yellow Hat School (Gelugpa) located on top of a hill, approximately 19 kilometres east of Leh in Ladakh, India. It is noted for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. It is 25 km from Leh.

02) Hemis Monastery  : is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Drukpa Lineage,locatedin Hemis, Ladakh 45 km from Leh, the monastery was built in 1672 by the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal. The annual Hemis festival honoring Padmasambhava is held here in june or in july . Hemis monastery is 40 km from Leh.

03) Alchi Monastery  :  is a Buddhist monastery, known more for its famous wall painting which date back to 11th century. It is oldest monastery of Ladakh.

04) Lamayuru monastery  : It is one of the largest monastery of Ladakh with a population of around 150 permanent monks resident. It is known for its amazing landscape . Monastery is 130 km from Leh.

05) Likir Monastery  : is a Buddhist monastery in Ladakh, located approximately 52 kilometres west of Leh It belongs to the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism and was established in 1065 by Lama Duwang Chosje, under the command of the fifth king of Ladakh, Lhachen Gyalpo.

06) Rizong monastery  : Is Yellow Hat Buddhist (Gelukpa) monastery is situated at 80 km away from Leh.. It was established in 1831 by Lama Tsultim Nima under the Gelukpa order, at Ri-rdzong. There are 50 monks in the monastery. The monastery is also called “the paradise for meditation” and is noted for its extremely strict rules and standards.

07) Chemrey Monastery  : is a 1664 Buddhist monastery, approximately 50 kilometres east of Leh, .It belongs to the Drugpa monastic order . The monastery has a notable high Padmasambhava statue.

08) Stakna Monastery  :  is a Buddhist monastery of the Drugpa school Ladakh, It is 30 kilometres from Leh on the left bank of the Indus River. It was founded in the late 16th century by a Bhutanese scholar and saint, Chosje Jamyang Palkar.

09) Matho Monastery  : is aTibetan Buddhist monastery located 26 kilometres southeast of Leh on the banks of the Indus River. It is directly opposite Thikse Monastery. Matho is the only example in Ladakh of the Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

10) Takthok Monastery or Thak Thak  : is a Buddhist monastery of 16 century located approximately 46 kilometres east of Leh. It belongs to the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and approximately 55 lamas reside there. It is the only Nyingma monastery in Ladakh.

11) Karsha Monastery or Karsha Gompa  : is a Buddhist monastery in the Padum Valley of the Zanskar region was founded by Phagspa Shesrab, under the Gelugpa Order or the Yellow Hat Order

12) Phugtal Monastery or Phugtal Gompa  : is a monastery in south-eastern Zanskar. Founded by Gangsem Sherap Sampo in the early 12th century, the monastery is a unique construction built into the cliff side like a honeycomb. It is located on the mouth of a cave on the cliff face.