It is said that Palden Zangpo and Sherab Zangpo, disciples of a Buddhist guru, were performing rituals at a small village-monastery in the northern side of Indus Valley. As we climbed further, we felt a bit difficult to breathe while walking. Several small shrines devoted to guardian deities including the Protector Deity of Thiksey (Cham-Spring) can be seen between the courtyard and the staircase. Yoga is the science of achieving absolute union with the divine. The Assembly Hall has a seat for the Dalai Lama in the center, for the Head Lama in its right and a deity is pictured on the left. This intimate personal connection allows us to reach deeper and more meaningfully into the culture and community. Dainelli, Giotto. 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You can either stay at Chamba Hotel or at the monastery, which offers neat rooms and food at a reasonable and budget-friendly price. If you have any queries related to Thiksey Monastery, feel free to contact us. Sun, sand, sea and festivals for your mind, body and soul. The wheel has images of a bird, a snake and, a pig inscribed on it that signify attachment, aversion, and ignorance. Step out and travel with an ideal holiday planning done by our experts based on personalized experiences over guidebooks. 7: Kanika Chorten (above the access roadon the old path). Fig. Khosla, Romi. The statue of Maitreya Buddha is placed in this monastery. While choosing a site for the monastery, an unusual event occurred that eventually led to the setting up of the monastery at Thiksey. In 1,770, the Lama of Hanle Monastery directed his elder son to inherit the throne of Ladakh while other princes should serve as Lamas at the Thiksey Monastery. The first incarnate of Bakula, Jangsem Sherab Tsangpo (13951457), worked hard to establish the new reforms of Tsonkhapa in Ladakh. In addition to capturing these events in photos, BJenjoyed conversation, some good-natured ribbing, and a good luck head rub by the Dalai Lama himself. Right: Paintings inside the chorten depicting various lineage gurus and deities of the Mahayana pantheon. Ladakh only opened to tourism in 1974, and30,000 foreign tourists visit Ladakh each year. The best time to visit this magnificent Thiksey Monastery is during summers from April to July. For the best experience at Thiksey Monastery, visit during the time of festivals. In fact, at times, he good word that make strangers friends is jullay. For a more respectful jullay to monks, you can say Choktsel Jullay!, RetreaTours founders Lauren Rathvon and BJ Graf have a very special relationship with Thiksey Monastery. When they started to search for the same, they reached Thiksey where they found the Torma being carried by the crows. We walked our way up to the red-yellow mansions where the main temple complexes were located. In front of Chamba are windows through which his protective gaze falls over the village. Right: Chamba (Maitreya) profile. Below: General view of the Tsangkhang (antechamber of the dukhang) with sculptures of Guru Padmasambhava, Shakyamuni and Maitreya. The King had already heard of Tsongkhapa and his reforms. As they were approaching the spot, two crows snatched the vessel with the torma and flew away. Thiskey monastery is sometimes mistaken for Kee Gompa of Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh. As we climbed further, we felt a bit difficult to breathe while walking. Daily esoteric rituals continue to be performed here by senior monks, out of public view. Sanjay Dhar is an art conservator and heritage management consultant specialising in conservation of wall paintings. WE facilitate yoga retreats, meditation experiences, cultural tours, and more in this special part of the world. We climbed the staircase and entered the prayer hall and temple of the monastery. Thiksey monastery - Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir As the monastery remains closed from November until the end April, it is advisable to visit this beautiful monastery from September until the end of November. It has large sculptures of Shakyamuni, Maitreya and Padmasambhava seated on the altar (Fig. 10). The hill is crowned with buildings painted yellow and red to emphasize the hierarchy within the monastic order and signalling the nature of the buildings. 6 a & b). The entrance portico has paintings visibly of a later date (20th century), the main feature of these paintings is a limited colour palate (Fig. The trend of holding an annual photang was started by the Drukchen (head of the Drukpa Kagyupa sect). 7a). The walls also have paintings, now covered in soot, with similarities in technique to other sites of the same date (late 16th to 17th century) (Fig. [emailprotected]. But it should be noted that October marks the beginning of winter and the temperatures drop below zero degrees at night. One of the most important ceremonies of the festival is the enactment of the assassination of King Lang Darma, who ruled Tibet from 838 CE to 841 CE. And is administered by the Monastery Administration. The monastery is painted in colors that perfectly blend with Ladakh's surroundings. So, before visiting Ladakh, subscribe for an Airtel, BSNL, or Jio postpaid SIM card. And while they were performing rituals, two crows came and flew away with the Torma offerings. After performing sacred rituals at Stagmo temple, the lamas (uncle and nephew) took the ritual torma (figures and objects made of flour) to be disposed of. (Image by Sanjay Dhar). In the 1990s, Thiksey received a degree of international support and attention when some awareness programs on the stature of nuns were launched in Ladakh. He has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Ladakhi lamas (monks) and lay people since his narrow escape from Tibet during the Chinese invasion. Get the best deals to explore Leh in our, Itinerary Guide How to plan your Itinerary for Thiksey Monastery, We climbed the staircase and entered the prayer hall and temple of the monastery. Is there a festival to see in Thiksey Monastery? The entrance of the temple was built in a wooden gallery painted with floral designs and unique frescos of Asanga, Nagarjuna, Sakyamuni and, six great Indian scholars. Nyarma, one of the earliest sites in Ladakh believed to have been established by Rinchen Tsangpo, has ruins of an early temple and several stupas dating to the 11th century CE. The monastery also has charge of many chortens in Shey and Nyarma. In Recent Researches on the Himalaya, edited by Prem Singh Jina, 117121. Next to this wall, is the main prayer room which has many painted and handwritten books. And is famous for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. After receiving the gifts, the King gave orders to help Sherab Zangpo establish a monastery of the Gelugpa order in Ladakh. At 4 pm, the monastery remains closed for some 15 minutes for a tea break. Hemis Tsechu of Ladakh. 2a). Lodash _.falsey() Method - GeeksforGeeks If you learn one word of Ladakhi, let it be Jullay. This all-purpose phrase meanshello, goodbye, please, and thank you. It is often compared with the Potala Palace in Lhasa, on account of its general appearance, as it occupies the entire south face of a hill (Fig. There are many things to do in Leh you can partake in activities like River Rafting, Camel and Jeep safari, Trekking and Mountain biking. Located at an altitude of 11,800 ft (3,600 m), the Thiksey monastery is a twelve-story building. There was a souvenir shop and a restaurant to our left. THIKSEY MONASTERY. Free parking is also available for visitors. Buddhist Iconography. The vibrant colours and excessive detailing of jewellery create a psychedelic effect. Book your flight tickets early, as the prices would go higher during the peak season. Which state do dashers make the most money? : r/doordash - Reddit Planning an Itinerary for Thiksey monastery without an expert guide is not an easy task. Thiksey Monastery is located in the Thiksey village of Leh district in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. Built around the 16th century, Thiksey is the main centre for a small sub-order of the Gelugpa sect with a resident Kushok (head lama) who runs the order with a firm hand, in strict accordance with the Vinaya texts. The second one is its spectacular location and the third one is its close proximity to Leh City. Read Indian Governmenttravel guidelines. To get the best experience, make sure to visit the monastery as early as possible. It is dedicated to the lineage gurus and the Rinpoche (the incarnate) whose quarters are located close by. I have seen many statues, but this Maitreya is very special for me. Read on to know more about this marvellous monastery. Rest on the first day of your arrival to acclimatize yourself. An 11-headed six-armed Avalokitesvara is depicted (this is from an earlier period and in a damaged state) and the centre of the wall has Shakyamuni flanked in three rows by the five Tathagata Buddhas. He studied conservation at the National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology, New Delhi followed by a 2 year diploma at the Universit Internazionale dellArte, Italy. Inside this 12 storey structure, you can witness many stupas, statues, and Buddhist artifacts. An annual festival held in the monastery precincts is known as the Gustor ritual, which is held from the 17th to 19th day of the ninth month of the Tibetan calendar(OctoberNovember). Areas of painting exposed to direct sunlight are often faded. Thiksey Monastery, affiliated to Gelugpa or the Yellow Hat sect of Buddhism, is located at a distance of around 19 km from the town of Leh. He made regular offerings to Jokhang in Lhasa and the Dalai Lama in the Dripung Monastery. Upon searching, the disciples found those torma offerings on a rock, where, later on, they built Thiksey Monastery. You can also visit several other places, such as Assembly Hall, Tara Temple and Lamokhang Temple. (Image by Sanjay Dhar). Since the festival is based on Tibetan Lunar Calendar, therefore the exact dates of the Gustor festival vary each year.