Top 5 Places A Traveler Shouldn't Miss In Ladakh
Ladakh region consists of two districts, Leh and Kargil. There are many places one can visit around these two districts but some places just cannot be missed. 5 such places which anybody traveling to Ladakh shouldn’t miss are listed below-
Hemis Monastery
This monastery was built in the 16th century by King Singge Namgyal. It is one of the largest Monasteries in Ladakh. Hemis Monastery belongs to the red sect Brokpa of Buddhist order. It is known for its unique architectural splendour. The most important annual festival of Ladakh is celebrated at this Monastery. This festival marks the birth of Guru Padmasambhava in Ladakh and is celebrated for two days in June-July. This festival is a celebration of good over evil. This monastery also witnesses the annual bazaar of the year around the same time of the festival.
Thiksey Monastery
One of the finest examples of Ladaki architecture is found in this Monastery. It is 20km away from Leh. Thiksey Monastery was founded by Poldan Sherab, nephew of Sherab Zangpo. It has a number of stupas, paintings and also a large pillar full of Buddhist teachings. The unique part of this Monastery is that it has a museum which has sacred items like royal sword among other handicrafts. The museum overall reflects the culture of the time this monastery was built, it is very well maintained. The prayer hall is 15mt high and this Monastery has a seated Buddha statue.
Alchi Monastery
This monastery is on the banks of the river Indus in the Alchi village. It dates back to 11th century. Alchi Monastery is known for the thousands of miniature Buddha paintings, unique mandalas and huge statues of deities. This Monastery is different as it has an assembly hall and a separate main temple and is 3 storeyed. Unlike other monasteries, Alchi Monastery has Kashmiri style architecture.
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Saspol Caves
Right at the middle of the Saspol village are located these four caves which are richly adorned with paintings of Buddhist pantheon from the 13th-14th century A.D., representing a fusion of Indian and Tibetan Buddhist art. The caves have simple planning, no columns, some caves basically are shelters. The view from the top of the caves is of the wide beautiful Indus valley. The conservation of these caves is undertaken by the Likir Monastery and the local village community.
Shanti Stupa
Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist white-domed stupa (chorten) on a hilltop in Chanspa, Leh district. It was built by Japanese Buddhists and Ladakh Buddhists. It is situated at a height of 11800 feet and has 580 steps to reach the hilltop. There is a roadway till the top build recently which is popular among tourists. However, many people say that the challenging climb and three rounds of the stupa can make your wishes come true.
Lakes like Pangkong, Tsomoriri, and Tso Kar are popular tourist destinations. However, above 5 places are unique and have quite a lot of significance in understanding Ladakh as a region and therefore shouldn’t be missed. There is a minimum entry fee for the monasteries and around June-Sept is a good time to visit all the places in Ladakh.