subject: Leh Ladakh Hill Station: Abode of Colorful Gompas [print this page] Leh Ladakh Hill Station: Abode of Colorful Gompas
Leh is like an oasis of green fields in the midst of the Karakoram ranges in the north and the Great Himalayas in the south. It is located at an altitude of 3505 meters above sea level on the snow-covered fringes of the Himalayan Mountains. The magical charm of Himalayas summons scores of tourists to this place who wants to explore rough and rugged Himalayan terrains. It is also the center of Tibeto-Buddhist culture since ages which can be seen in its colorful gompas or monasteries which are scattered around this place. The panoramic landscapes along with availability of adventure sports facilities make Ladakh Trip an indelible experience for tourists. Some of the known attractions of Leh Ladakh Hill Station are:
Hemis Gompa
It is the biggest monastery in Ladakh which is located 45 km to the south of Leh. This is the house of Brokpa or a Red Hat monk which was Gompa was built in 1630. It is one of the highest settlements of the world situated at an altitude of 12,000 feet above sea level. This monastery is the oldest one belonging to the Kargyu School. Scores of tourists visit this place during their Ladakh Trip. Inside this gompa one can see beautiful frescoes and paintings on the walls. It also has the largest Thangka painting in Ladakh which is about 12 meter in length.
Shanti Stupa
This is an impressive white-domed structure located on the hilltop at Changspa. It was constructed by a Japanese Buddhist organization in order to commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism. This Shanti Stupa was inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the year 1985. This stupa gives spectacular look when illuminated at night. Apart from this it is also known attraction from where tourists can get best view of the sunrise from the Himalayan backdrop.
Shey Monastery
It is situated 15 km south of Leh in a small village Shey. For centuries this monastery served as the royal residence of the Kingdoms who ruled this place. The prime attraction of the monastery is the Tibetan style stone carvings of Maitreya Buddha which is 17.5 meters high made up of copper and beautifully adorned with precious stones.
Some of the other well known destinations of this place are Alchi Gompa, Likir Monastery,Spituk Monastery, Thiksey Monastery and Thiksey Monastery.
