ALCHI MONASTERY
Alchi Gompa is located near the small village of Saspol. It is one of the earliest monasteries built in Ladakh, dating from the 11th century.
DISKIT MONASTERY
The Nubra Valley lies north of Leh and is accessible over the Khardung la (18,500 feet/5,600 m), one of the highest motorable roads in the
HEMIS MONASTERY
Hemis Gompa was built in 1620 by the king-architect Singe Namgyal who was a great patron of Buddhism. He filled Hemis with golden statues,
KARSHA MONASTERY
Spend the day visiting some of the nearby gompas. Karsha, the largest and most important monastery in Zanskar, lies on the other side of the Dodu river, a two- to three-hour walk away.
LAMAYURU MONASTERY
Lamayuru Gompa lies 15 km east of the Fatu La on the Srinagar-Leh Highway, with its medieval village seemingly growing out of the rocky hillside below it.
LIKIR MONASTERY
Likir 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
MATHO GOMPA
Matho Gompa lies about 20 km south of Leh and offers spectacular views of the Ladakh Mountain Range from its perch on top of a ridge. Matho
PHUGTAL MONASTERY
Phugtal monastery is like a honeycomb, cut into a rock under a gignantic grotto and has more than 70 Monks.
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
SANKAR GOMPA
Sanker Gompa is a subsidiary of Spitok gompa, having the same head lama. Sankar is easily visited on foot from Leh, lying as it does in Leh's suburbs.
SHEY MONASTERY
The palace was built in 1645 by king Deldan 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.
SPITOK GOMPA
Spitok Gompa was built about 550 years ago by Gyalpo Bumlde, although one temple, dedicated to Mahakala was built about 900 years ago. Spitok gompa contains both old temples and those built
STOK GOMPA
Stok Gompa is a subsidiary of Spitok and both were founded by the same lama, Nawang Lotus, during the reign of King Takpa Bumlde.
STOKNA GOMPA
Stokna Gompa is a small monastery housing 35 lamas of the red-hat sect. Although small, it has several sister monasteries, including three in the
TAK THOK GOMPA
Tak Thok Gompa is situated some ten kilometers further up from Chemre in the Chemre Valley. The Rimpoche or head lama of Tak Thok is from Tibet
THIKSEY MONASTERY
Thiksey Gompa was built some 600 years ago and consists of 12 levels ascending a hillside, culminating in an Incarnate Lama's private