GOMPAS OF LADAKH
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Basgo
Gompa
Basgo is situated about 40 km west of Leh.
The complex of buildings includes a ruined fortress dating from before the 15th
century, two large temples and a small shrine. Presently, one lama from the
Hemis gompa is the caretaker at the temple.
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Chemre Gompa
Chemre gompa is located 40 km south of Leh in the Chemre Valley. Situated atop
a rocky outcropping in the valley, it resembles a medieval European castle when
seen from the rear. The gompa has a Dukhang and two temples above it.
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Hemis Gompa
Hemis gompa was built in 1620 by the king-architect Singe Namgyal, a great patron
of Buddhism who filled Hemis with gold statues, stupas set with precious stones
and thankas brought from many places including Tibet.
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Lamayuru
Gompa
Lamayuru gompa, with its medieval village seemingly growing out of the rocky
hillside, below it lies 15 km east of the Fatu La on the Srinagar-Leh Highway.
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Likir Gompa
Likir gompa was established in the 15th century and early in its history became
responsible for the oversight of Alchi gompa, to which it has posted lamas up
to the present day. The gompa is set on an isolated ridge a few kilometers north
of Saspol. The road approaching the gompa makes a wide semi-circle around its
base, affording beautiful views of the gompa from different vantage points.
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Matho Gompa
Matho gompa was first established in the 16th century by Tungpa Dorje after
he had traveled extensively in Tibet. Matho is the only representative monastery
in Ladakh of the Sakya order of Tibetan Buddhism. This is a particular religious
order. Centered on the Sa-skya monastery in Tibet, which was founded in 1075
AD. Today the gompa has about 60 lamas and 30 novices from the larger gompas
in Ladakh.
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Phyang Gompa
Phyang gompa is also known in Ladakhi as the Gouon gompa, meaning "blue
peak" for it is beautifully situated on a hilltop above the small village
of Chhiwang, about 22 km west of Leh. The monastery was built by King Lkra-Shis-Namgyal,
founder of the Namgyal dynasty in 1500 after defeating the last of the Lha-Chen
kings. Lkra-Shis-Namgyal ruled from 1500 to 1532 and during his reign, filled
the monastery with beautiful statues, thankas and copies of the Kandshur
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Sankar Gompa
Sankar gompa is a subsidiary of Spitok, having the same head lama. Sankar is
easily visited on foot from Leh, lying as it does in Leh's suburbs. The gompa
is 90 years old but is located on the site of a small temple that was built
some 500 years ago. About 25 lamas of the yellow-hat sect are attached to Sankar
gompa but only a few live here permanently.
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Shey Gompa
Shey palace was built in 1645 by Deldon Namgyal as a summer residence for the
kings of Ladakh. It is the oldest palace in Ladakh and above the palace is an
even older ruined fortress. From the palace one can get the views of the ranges
in the south to the Thiksey gompa and in the west to the Zanskar mountain ranges.
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Spituk Gompa
Spituk gompa was built about 550 years ago by Gyalpo Bumide, although one temple,
dedicated to Mahakala was built about 900 years ago. The Spitok is probably
derived from the Central Tibetan language and means "Effective as an Example",
referring to the fact that this was the Tibetans' first monastery in Ladakh.
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Stakna Gompa
Stakna meaning "Tiger's Nose" is built some 500 years ago on the summit
of a high rock in the middle of the Indus Valley. This is a small monastery
housing some 35 lamas of the red-hat sect of Buddhism. Although small, it has
several sister monasteries, including three in the Zanskar valley.
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Stok Gompa
Stok gompa is a subsidiary of Spituk and both were founded by the same lama,
Nawang Lotus, during the reign of King Takpa Bumbde. The oldest parts of the
gompa are some 550 years old though the main Dukhang is only about fifty years
old. Stok belongs to the yellow-hat sect of Buddhism and has about 20 lamas
living there.
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Tak Thok
Gompa
The Rimpoche of Tak Thok is from Tibet and is highly respected by Ladakhis.
The gompa houses about 55 lamas of the Nying-ma-pa sect of Buddhism, also known
as the "Old Order". Members of this sect are followers of Padme Sambhava's
teachings and Tak Thok is the only gompa in Ladakh that follows this order.
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Thiksey Gompa
Thiksey gompa was built some 600 years ago and consists of 12 levels ascending
a hillside, culminating in an incarnate Lama's private apartments at the summit.
The gompa contains 10 temples; below the monastery itself are chapels and "houses"
stretching down the hillside. Some 100 monks of the yellow-hat sect of Buddhism
live here.
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