At a distance of 17 km south of Leh is one one of the most beautiful monastery of Ladakh region – the Thiksey Monastery. Initially, the gompa was constructed by Sherab Zangpo at Stakmo, however, later, his nephew, Paldan Sherab, established the monastery atop a hill to the north of Indus River. The monastery, belonging to the Gelukpa order, spreads over 12 storeys with a private abode of incarnate lama at the top.
About Thiksey Monastery in Leh Ladakh:
Thiksey monastery is 18 kms. away from the middle Ladakh. This monastery is located on the hill slope and has a largest structure in Ladakh. This monastery is built 600 years ago and has a 12 storey structure. The tourist’s main attraction in this monastery is Maitreya temple which is constructed in respect of the 14th Dalai Lama’s visit in 1970. The Maitreya statue is 15 mtr. tall which covers 2 stories of the building.
Monastery building starts from hill foot which leads a flight steps towards the main monastery. The monastery has two main chambers. The entrance wall of the assembly hall shows “Wheel of Life” in mural painting. The wheel contains the image of snake, bird and pig, which represents the greed, desire and ignorance.
The main prayer room in the monastery has a number of handwritten and painted books. Monastery also has one temple which is dedicated to goddess Tara. Top floor of the monastery have Lamokhang temple, in which only male persons are permitted to go. A room above this temple is used as a school to teach boys from which some of themes are selected as Lamas.
An annual festival in monastery’s enclosure is held which is known as Gustor Ritual. This festival is held from 17th October to 19th November. In this festival, there sacred dance i.e. mask dance is performed. A trade fair is also held at the base of the monastery in which all local people gathers there and socializes and trade with each other. This monastery also provided other facilities like medical facility, hotels, restaurants etc.
History of Thiksey Monastery in Leh Ladakh:
Restoration of the old monasteries in Ladakh, including the Thiksey monastery, is being carried out by the Archeological Survey of India, at the request of the concerned Monastery administration. This, however, has not been without its controversy. It is said that the traditional mud and stone courtyards have been changed to granite, which has marred the brightness of the place. Similarly, the restored right wing of the monastery involving construction of new kitchen, the dining hall for the monks by replacing the old traditional central courtyard has caused dissonance to the entire old edifice of the monastery. As a result, a balance to the restoration and renovation works has been sought to retain the old order in consonance with the new works.
Festival :
The annual festival of Thiksey is celebrated in the 9th month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar. The festival is marked by the famous as well as sacred mask dance or Chham. In 2006, this festival will be celebrated on November 8 and 9 while in 2007, it will be celebrated on October 28 and 29.
Other Attractions :
Shey Monastery : The erstwhile residence of the royal family of Ladakh, the Shey monastery is at a distance of around 15 km from Leh. It belongs to the red hat order. The highlight of the monastery is a huge gold plated copper statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. All around the monastery, there are stone carvings and chortens which serve to enhance the overall appeal. The annual festival of Shey is celebrated on the 30th day of the 1st month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar.
Stakna Monastery: On the right bank of river Indus, the Stakna Monastery stands on a hill shaped like a tiger’s nose. It is from here that the monastery draws its name since the word stakna means tiger’s nose. Leh is around 25 km in the northern direction from here. The most important attraction of the monastery is an image of Arya Avalokitesvara. With around 30 residing monks, Stakna Monastery is a rather a small one. However, it has quiet a few other monasteries attached to it. Significant amongst these are the monasteries at Mud, Kharu, Stakrimo and Bardan.
Hemis Monastery : Hemis commands the distinction of being the largest and the most important monastery in the Ladakh region. It is situated around 45 km away from the town of Leh and belongs to the Drukpa or the red hat sect. The annual festival of Hemis is celebrated for 2 days during the months of June and July and marks the birth day of Guru Padmasambhava.
How to Reach :
By Air – The airport at Leh is the closest one to reach the Thiksey monastery. Jet Airways and Alliance flights connect Leh to destinations like Delhi, Chandigarh, Srinagar and Jammu.
By Rail – Nearest railhead from Leh lies at a distance of 680 km at Jammu Tawi.
By Road – By road, Leh is linked to Delhi via Srinagar- Zoji La Pass route and Manali Rohtang pass. Both the routes are open between specific months, mainly between June to October.
Location : Approximately 18 km from Leh
Belongs To : Gelukpa Order
Founded By : Spon Paldan Sherab, nephew of Sherab Zangpo
Founded In : 1430 AD
Highlights : One of the most beautiful monasteries of Ladakh
Festivals : Gustor Festival