Page 144 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

142  DELHI & THE NOR TH

Monasteries Along the Indus

Several of Ladakh’s world-famous monasteries are
situated along the Indus Valley, the region’s historical
and cultural heartland. Typically, a Ladakhi monastery
(gompa) stands on a hill or ridge above the village that
adjoins it. Its upper part consists of temples (lhakhang)
and assembly halls (dukhang), together with the
gonkhang, the Temple of the Fearsome Guardian
Deities. The monks’ dwellings spill picturesquely
down the hillside. The monasteries are still active
centres of worship, so approach them respectfully. Monks dancing in the courtyard of
Lamayuru Monastery

. Basgo has
beautiful 16th-
century murals
in its fort and
temple dedicated
to Maitreya, the
. Likir, founded in the 12th century, houses a Future Buddha. It
fine collection of thangkas and images, the latter was the capital of
enclosed in beautifully carved wooden frames. Lower Ladakh in
the 14th and
15th centuries.
Kargil

Indus
Likir
Lamayuru
Ri-dzong
Basgo Nubra Valley
Alchi
(see pp144–6) Leh
(see pp136–7)
Indus
Shey
Zanskar Valley Stok Thikse
Hemis (see p144) is Darhuk
Ri-dzong is built on top of a ridge Ladakh’s largest and
of glacial debris, which blocks a richest monastery. Stakna Thak-thok
winding gorge. It was founded in It has superb murals
the 1840s by the Gelugpa sect, 0 kilometres 15 and thangkas. Chemrey
and its monks follow a particularly Hemis
austere regime. 0 miles 15

Lamayuru is dramatically
situated on a high spur
overlooking an eerily eroded
landscape. Believed to date Manali
to the 11th century, its oldest
temple has a famous image
of Vairocana, the Central Stakna, built in the early 17th
Buddha of Meditation (see century, has an exquisite silver
p150). Lamayuru also has a chorten in its dukhang, surrounded
fine collection of thangkas. by vividly coloured murals.

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp695–6 and p708 For keys to symbols see back flap

142-143_EW_India.indd 142 26/04/17 11:43 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm