SPIRITUAL PLACES NEAR LEH LADAKH IN INDIA

In this post, we will  take you to the spiritual places in places to visit in India  along Srinagar road near Leh Ladakh in India. 

SPITUK 

This monastery is 8 km from Leh. The monastery with three chaples here was founded in 11th century but the buildings, in a series of tiers with courtyards date from the 15th century. 

This is the seat of the head Lama. The long 16th-17th century Du-khang is the largest building and has two rows of seats the lenghth of the walls to a thorne at the far end. Sculptures and miniature chortens are displayed on the altar. Spituk has a collection of ancient Jelbagh masks, icons and arms including some rescued from the Potala Palace in Lhasa.    

MAHAKAL TEMPLE 

Situated higher up the hill contains a shrine of Vajra bhairava, often mistaken for the goddess Kali. The terrifying face is only unveiled once a year in Jan during the festival. Vajra bhairava is one of the very few structures in Ladakh which is built to please a tantric deity who had great powers. 

The chambers of this Vajra bhairava is covered with ancient paintings which depict myths and legends associated with this shrine. Some of the pictures are of a terrifying nature and they are very different from colorful yet inocent depictions found in Gompas in Ladakh.  

PHYANG 

It is 16 km from Leh. It belongs to the Red Hat Kagyupa sect, with its 16th century Gouon monastery built by the founder of the Namgyal dynasty. It houses hundreds of statues including some Kashmiri bronzes, thanglus and manuscript copies of the Kangyur and Tengyur, temple walls have colour painting centering on the eight emblems of happiness which have been restored.  

This monastery is one of the earliest monasteries in Ladakh belonging to Drigungpa school. After the monastery was built, it specialised in drigung teachings. 

BASGO 

The road passes through Basgo village with the ruins of a Buddhist citadel impressively sited on a spur overlooking the Indus Valley. It served as a royal residence for several periods between the 15th and 17th centuries. 

Basgo embedded in the early days of Ladakh and is frequently mentioned in the Ladhaki Chronicles when it was a political and cultural centre. 

The monastery is situated on top of the hill towering over the ruins of the ancient town and is noted for its Buddha statue and murals.   

Among the ruins only two temples have survived. The higher Maitreya Temple in which Maitreya statue is at the rear of the hall, flanked by Bodhisatvas. Some murals from the early period illustrating the Tibetan Buddhist style have also survived on the walls and ceiling. 

The second one is the Serzang Temple with a carved doorway contains another large Maitreya image whose head rises through the ceiling into a windowed boxlike structure which can be seen by climbing up to the gallery above. 

In the above post we provide you little glimps about spiritual places and monasteries in places to visit in india, these spiritual places and monasteries are located in Leh Ladakh.