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Nestled in the
Western Himalayas
, Ladakh has always fascinated people. Ladakh popularly
known as “
Hermit
Kingdom
”,Images of a stark and barren landscape juxtaposed alongside lush
green fields, monasteries precariously perched on mountaintops, and an intriguing
blend of cultures.
For centuries Ladakh remained closed to the outside
world due to heavy snow fall . |
Ladakh is one of the only
few places where one can experience Tibetan Buddhism being practiced in its
original form.
Leh, the capital city of
Ladakh, was once the central meeting-point for trade caravans from Central Asia and the
plains of India
.Ladakh has about 13 major Gompas (Monasteries) of which
HEMIS is
considered the Gompa of Gompas.
It is
the most important monastery of Ladakh with a concealed entrance, a huge courtyard
flanked by two big temples. In the month of June, the famous Hemis festival is
held, when a large number of tourists visit it.
Other Places of Interest
Lamayuru
Lamaru famous for the oldest monastery dating back to the tenth century.It is mostly in ruins and only the main hall exists today.
Spituk (
8 kms from Leh, )
Spituk stands on top of a hillock overlooking
the
Indus
valley. This 15th century monastery houses a collection of ancient masks, antique
arms, and an awe-inspiring image of Kali. The face of the Kali image is kept
covered and revealed only at the annual function in January every two years.
Shey ( 15 kms from
Leh, )
Shey, about 15 kms from Leh was once the residence of the
royal family and is famous for its gilded statue of Buddha that stands at a height
of 7.5 meters. A visit to this monastery, however, needs prior permission from the
Lama.
Alchi ( 70 kms from Leh
)
A little village, is known as jewel among
the religious sites in Ladakh.It is
popularly known as Chos-kor (religious enclave) and comprises of 5 temples which
are perhaps the richest in their collection of paintings and images in the
Du-Khang (the Assembly Hall), and the three storied Sum-Tsek.
Enroute Leh Kargil
,one comes across Kargil 204 Km famous for Zanskar
Valley
|
The best time to visit ; The best time to visit
early June to mid-September
How To Get
There
| By Air |
There is only one flight in a week, on
Sunday from Srinagar, |
| By Rail |
The Nearest Rail head is Jammu |
| Road |
Leh
(434 kms),from Srinagar It is also linked by road to Manali in Himachal
Pradesh. |
|
|
Jammu &
Kashmir
