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Phugtal Monastery or Phugtal Gompa is a Tibetan buddhist
monastery and is situated in Zanskar valley of Ladakh at a
height of 3850 meters which is in south-eastern Zanskar,
Ladakh in northern India. Phugtal monastery was founded by
Gangsem Sherap Sampo, a Tibetan Buddhist guru in the early
12th century, the monastery is a unique construction built
into the cliff side like a honeycomb. It is situated on the
mouth of a cave on the cliff face of a lateral gorge of a
major tributary of the Lungnak (Lingti-Tsarap) River.
Phugtal meaning through caves, It is a 2-storied structure
painted in traditional Ladakhi colors of red, black and
yellow, the highlights of the monastery comprise frescoes and
ceiling ornamentations in an old Gompa which belong to same
era as that of Alchi Monastery. There are three large and one
small prayer room and a library. One of the main attraction
here is a hollow in the rock in the cave over the monastery,
the level of water in this hollow never drops down despite any
amount of water being drawn from it , this water is believed
to have curative powers. Phugtakl monastery is home to about
70 monks and the monastery has a library and prayer rooms.
Phugtal monastery is one of the most isolated monastery in
Zanskar region in Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir, the
12th century Phuktal Gompa stands at the mouth of lateral
gorge of the Lungnak or Lingti-Tsarap River. From a distance,
the monastery looks like a honeycomb. The name Phutkal means
cave in the local language.Phugtal monastery is one of the
holiest places of pilgrimage for Tibetan Buddhists.Though it
was constructed in 12th century, it was hidden treasure for
many until Hungaraian Alexander Cosmo de Koros visited the
place and stayed between the periods of 1826-27.
The monastery made up of mud and wood, has four prayer rooms
and a library. Frescoes and ceiling decorate the old chapel
and are popular with tourists.
Trekking is the only means to reach the monastery which has
ensured it remained isolated and cut off from the rest of the
region. At Phuktal Gonpa the main focus is the practice of
vasika, posadha, and pravarna, the three basic observances for
monks prescribed by Buddha Sakyamuni. |
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