Kharsha Monastery.

Ringed by the Zanskar range, Kharsha Monastery defies the dominating presence of the mountains. This sixteen century Gelukpa Monastery wears a new look as ti has been renovated recently. India.

Ladakh

Stacked like matchboxes, Ki monastery uses every inch of space available in the hilly terrain. The basement of the monastery has a cache of arms, the remains of turbulent past. Ladakh India.

Stacked like matchboxes, Ki monastery uses every inch of space available in the hilly terrain. The basement of the monastery has a cache of arms, the remains of turbulent past. Ladakh India.

Spituk Monastery

See_thub (exemplary) popularly known as the Spituk Gonpa is one of the prominient Ge.Lug.Pa monasteries. It was founded by King Grab.Pa.Bum.lde in the last 14th century A.d. The site for the monastery was granted by the king to the two emisaries sent by Tson.Kha.Pa for installation of the statue of the Tse.Pag.med which is said to have originated from thenose blood of Tsong.Kha.Pa. The statue was insalled within the 10 feet high statue of Buddha in the assembly hall of the monastery. In the main temple, at the upper end there are the seats for His Holiness Dalai Lama and Bakula Rinpoche. It also houses the statues of Shakyamuni Tsong.Kha.Pa and His two disciples; Yamantakha and Avalokiteswara. There are the Kangyur and Tangyur (The Discourses and Commentaries) in wooden shelves on the left of the hall and paintings of the protector deities on the walls. The Chow.Khang on the upper floor houses the statue of the Chow in the central position brought from Tibet in 1960. A statue of Padma Sambhava to its right and a silver plated Chang.Chub.chorten to the left. To the right of Chow.Khang is Dolma Lakhang which houses twenty one copper gilt Taras. Each Tara holds a long stemmed lotus and has seven eyes (eyes of Knowledge). These statues were also brought from Tibet by present incarnate Lama. The statues of Dolma is worshipped in all the monasteries irrespective of different sects and hymns of Domla are recited daily by monks and laymen alike. The Chikhang below the main monstery houses the status of Lord Buddha, with his two disciples and Yamantaka. there are paintings of the protector deities on the walls. The inner temple contains several precious statues and Cham Sring, the protector deities of the monastery. Spituk Gustor, the annual moastic festival takes place fromt eh 26th to 28th of the 11th Tibetan month. Ladakh, India.

Spituk Monastery

See_thub (exemplary) popularly known as the Spituk Gonpa is one of the prominient Ge.Lug.Pa monasteries. It was founded by King Grab.Pa.Bum.lde in the last 14th century A.d. The site for the monastery was granted by the king to the two emisaries sent by Tson.Kha.Pa for installation of the statue of the Tse.Pag.med which is said to have originated from thenose blood of Tsong.Kha.Pa. The statue was insalled within the 10 feet high statue of Buddha in the assembly hall of the monastery. In the main temple, at the upper end there are the seats for His Holiness Dalai Lama and Bakula Rinpoche. It also houses the statues of Shakyamuni Tsong.Kha.Pa and His two disciples; Yamantakha and Avalokiteswara. There are the Kangyur and Tangyur (The Discourses and Commentaries) in wooden shelves on the left of the hall and paintings of the protector deities on the walls. The Chow.Khang on the upper floor houses the statue of the Chow in the central position brought from Tibet in 1960. A statue of Padma Sambhava to its right and a silver plated Chang.Chub.chorten to the left. To the right of Chow.Khang is Dolma Lakhang which houses twenty one copper gilt Taras. Each Tara holds a long stemmed lotus and has seven eyes (eyes of Knowledge). These statues were also brought from Tibet by present incarnate Lama. The statues of Dolma is worshipped in all the monasteries irrespective of different sects and hymns of Domla are recited daily by monks and laymen alike. The Chikhang below the main monstery houses the status of Lord Buddha, with his two disciples and Yamantaka. there are paintings of the protector deities on the walls. The inner temple contains several precious statues and Cham Sring, the protector deities of the monastery. Spituk Gustor, the annual moastic festival takes place fromt eh 26th to 28th of the 11th Tibetan month. Ladakh, India.

Likir Monastery

Likir Monastery. Ladakh, India.

Stok Palace. Ladakh, India.

Stok Palace. Ladakh, India.

Stok Palace. Ladakh, India.

Temisgam

Chortens on the way to Temisgam. Ladakh, India.

Stok Palace. Ladakh, India.

Chortens with Stok palace on the background. Outside Leh, India.

Stok Palace. Ladakh, India.

Chortens outside Stok Palace. Outside Leh. India.

Spituk Monastery

Ladakh's largest chorten built by a King on the way to Spituk Monastery. Ladakh, India.

Likir chortens

Chortens below Likir monastery with red corners protecting from evil spirits. Ladakh, India.

Ladhak

The dominant religion of Ladakh, India is Buddhism, especially in the central and eastern areas. The Chortens on the way makes Ladakh a holy place with eternity of peace. Ladakh, India.

Nurla village, Ladakh, India.

The village protector or Lha of Nurla. Juniper is replaced every year by the family who tends the Lhato. Ladakh, India.

Nurla village, Ladakh, India.

Chortens with apricot blossoms near Nurla. Ladakh, India.

Nurla village, Ladakh, India.

Chortens with apricot blossoms near Nurla. Ladakh, india.

Thiksey Monastery. Ladakh, India.

Stupa below Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh, India

Thiksey Monastery. Ladakh, India.

Stupa below Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh, India

Ladakh

Monks dancing around the flagpole in Matho monastery in Ladakh, the dance ends with the dismembering of an effigy made of flour, symbolizing the destruction of evil. Ladakh, India.

Ladakh

Monks dancing around the flagpole in Matho monastery in Ladakh, the dance ends with the dismembering of an effigy made of flour, symbolizing the destruction of evil. Ladakh, India.

Buddhist Cham dancers perform at the annual festival in Matho Monastery. A ritual dance performed by monks wearing grotesque masks, it ends with the symbolic destruction of evil. Ladakh, India.

Ladakh

Buddhist Cham dancers perform at the annual festival in Matho Monastery. A ritual dance performed by monks wearing grotesque masks, it ends with the symbolic destruction of evil. Ladakh, India.

Ladakh

Masked dancers. Matho Monastery. A ritual dance performed by monks wearing grotesque masks, it ends with the symbolic destruction of evil. Ladakh, India.

Oracle. Ladakh, India

Oracle at Matho monastery, cutting his tongue with sword. In course of annual festival he reaches a trance-like-state—which people attribute to the magical force and religious frenzy—and begins to inflict wounds on the himself while answering people’s queries on their lives. Ladakh, India.

Ladakh

Oracle at Matho monastery, cutting his tongue with sword. In course of annual festival he reaches a trance-like-state—which people attribute to the magical force and religious frenzy—and begins to inflict wounds on the himself while answering people’s queries on their lives. Ladakh, India.

Statue of Buddhas in various poses at the Thiksey Monastery in Ladakh. Each gesture signifies an abstract principle; the hair is done in distinctive Gandhara (Indo-Greek) style. Ladakh, India.

Cham dance spectators. Matho Monastery. Ladakh, India.

Ladakh

Monks relaxing. Ladakh, India.