|
|
|
Ladakh Pilgrimage |
|
|
|
Buddhist Pilgrimage
in Ladakh
Buddhism, especially the Trans-Himalayan Buddhism from
Tibet is the very essence of living in Ladakh. Partly
because of the royal patronage, the central part of
Ladakh has the greatest concentration of major Gompas or
monasteries. Monasteries of Phyang, Hemis and Chemrey
belong to the Namgyal dynasty period and are a major
attraction during their monastic festivals. The
reformist group monasteries are also well represented in
central Ladakh by Thikse, Likkir, Rhidzong and Spituk.
|
 |
|
|
Buddhist study centers have
been set up at both Leh and Choglamsar. Summer meditation
sessions are held at the Mahabodhi Meditation Center on
Changspa Lane. It is mainly along the course of this valley
that about 10,000 strong, mainly Buddhists lives here. Within
the mountain ramparts of this lost Shangrila stand a number of
ancient yet active monastic establishments. Some of these
religious foundations have evolved around remote meditation
caves believed to have been used by a succession of famous
Buddhist saints for prolonged meditation in pursuit of
knowledge and enlightenment. Some of the Buddhist Pilgrimage
centres in Ladakh are Padum, Stongdey, Zangla, Sani, Zanskar. |
|
|
|
Padum in
Ladakh
Once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Zanskar,
Padum (3505 m) is the present day administrative
headquarters of the region. With a population of nearly
1500, Padum can be described as the most populous
settlement of Zanskar. Incidentally, it is only in Padum
that there is a community of Muslims constituting nearly
half of the population. Now, Padum has become famous as
a major trekking base and a popular tourist destination.
The nearest |
 |
|
|
monument is a set of ancient
rock carving on a huge boulder near the river bank, just below
the old town. These date back to the 8th century and provide
epigraphic evidence that the region was under the influence of
North Indian Buddhism since ancient times. The Starrimo
Monastery with about 30 resident monks clings to a
tree-covered ridge above the old town. Across the expanse of
cultivation lies the old village of Pibiting, dominated by its
picturesque hilltop monastery, a superb manifestation of stupa
architecture. |
|
|
|
Stongdey in
Ladakh
The monastery of Stongdey lies 18 kms. to the north of
Padum, on the road leading to Zangla. Stondey was an old
foundation associated with the Tibetan Yogi, Marpa, and
is now the second largest monastic establishment of
Zanskar, inhabited by 60 Gelukpa monks. The sprawling
whitewashed complex has a number of temples, where each
temple is a repository of the region's rich monastic
legacy. Stongdey can be reached by foot in about 4 hours
along the recently laid rough road. The climb
|
 |
|
|
up to the monastery is
rather strenuous, but it is worth to enjoy the breathtaking
scenery of the valley. |
|
|
|
Zangla in Ladakh
Lying deep in the northern arm of Zanskar at the end of
the 35 km long rough road from Padum, Zangla was being
ruled by a titular king till his death a few years back.
The old castle now in ruins except from a small chapel,
occupies a hill, overlooking the desert valley below.
Nearby is the old nunnery which can be visited to know
the austere life style of the small monastic community
of nuns. The village lies mid-way between Stongdey and
Zangla. Zangla is the nodal point on the popular Padum -
|
 |
|
|
Stongdey - Zangla - Karsha -
Padum tour, which covers most of the cultural places of
Zanskar. The old rope suspension bridge spanning the
tumultuous Zanskar near Zangla, a rare feat of folk
engineering, is now no more in use, but still visible. The
river is now crossed by a temporary footbridge for approaching
the left banks along which the trail to Karsha follows. Zangla
is also the take-off point for the Padum-Markha valley treks.
|
|
|
|
Sani in Ladakh
This picturesque village is situated about 6 kms west of Padum,
on the road to Kargil. The chief attraction here is the castle
like monastery which, unlike other monasteries of the region,
is built on level ground. Its initial foundation is associated
with Kanishka on account of the Kanika Stupa which stands in
the backyard of the walled complex. The main building
comprises of a huge multi column central prayer hall housing
an array of statues of popular Buddhists divinities and Drugpa
(Old Schools) high saints. The most interesting frescoes can
be seen in a small, almost discarded chapel at the back of the
main building, whose walls are adorned with stucco murals
depicting landscapes and floral designs based on the life of
Padmasambhava. Adjoining this monastic complex is an old
cemetery surrounded by a ring of ancient rock carving which
reflect Indian artistic influence. Sani is also associated
with Naropa, the famous Indian yogi from Vikramsila, who is
said to have sat in meditation for some time under the Kanika
Stupa. The site is now occupied by a small room housing a
veiled bronze figure of the Yogi, which is
unveiled, once a year in late July. A 2-day long festival is
held to celebrate this occasion, which is attended by people
from far away and monks from Bardan Monastery perform masked
dances as ritual offering. |
|
|
|
Zanskar in
Ladakh
About 20 kms. south of Rangdum stands the Pazila
watershed across which lies Zanskar, the most isolated
of all the trans Himalayan Valleys. The Panzila Top
(4401 m) is the picturesque tableland adorned with two
small alpine lakes and surrounded by snow covered peaks.
As the Zanskar road winds down the steep slopes of the
watershed to the head of the Stod Valley, one of
Zanskar's main tributary valleys, the majestic
Drang-Drung glacier looms into full view. The
Drang-Drung glacier is perhaps the largest glacier in
Ladakh, outside the Siachen formation. It is from the
cliff-like snout of this extensive glacier that the Stod
or Doda River, the main tributary of river Zanskar,
rises. Zanskar comprises of a tri-armed valley system
lying between the Great Himalayan Range and the Zanskar
mountain. The three arms radiate like star towards the
west, north and south from a wide central expanse where
the region's two principal drainage meet to form
|
 |
|
|
the main Zanskar River. It
is mainly along the course of this valley that about 10,000
strong, mainly Buddhists lives here. Spread over an estimated
geographical area of 5000 square kms, high rise mountains and
deep gorges surround Zanskar. The area remains inaccessible
for nearly 8 months a year due to heavy snowfall resulting in
closure of all the access passes, including the Penzi-la.
Today, Zanskar is one of the last few surviving cultural
centre of Tibet. |
|
More... |
|
