Jammu & Kashmir Sankar Monastery
Sankar Monastery is one of the BuddistGompas which are within easy walk from Leh, which is considered the subsidiary of SpitukGompa.
SankarGompa is famous for its architecture, and Avalokitesvara’s figure with 1,000 heads and arms is an amazing sight in the Monastary. While there are about 20 monks living here, the visitors time is restricted to morning 7 to 10 am and evening 5 to 7 pm.
Founded by
Sankar Monastery was founded by by the Red Hat Institution , however they were taken over by the Yellow Hat sect during 15th Century. Gelug Pa order Monks often inhabit this Monasterywho are considered successive incarnations ofSkyabsjeBakula Rinpoche.
Description
Sankar Monastery is one of modern type with impressive cluster of buildings constructed amidst trees across the town, in the Khardung La area in a 5,359 m pass that leads to the Shyok and Nubra Valleys from Leh.
The monastery has steps that lead to 'Dukhang' which is the assembly hall. One has to go through a double door entry to reach Dukhang, while on the right of the doors, three green drums are located which is the place for Gyeskos. The left side of Dukhang entrance door leads to Wheel of Life with Yama holding it.
The paintings of the Monastery walls carry figures of mandalas and also the details of Tibetan calendar. The Monastery has guest rooms and a library, while the rooms where Abbot uses are those in the first floor.
The monastery houses many other images too, like that of Sakyamuni , the Historical Buddha, the Present image of Buddha, also the future Buddha Maitreya , besides the White Guardian and the Buddha of Medicine Amchi.
As daily obligation, lamas from this Monastery would make a visit every day , morning and evening, to the mid-sixteenth century fort at NamgyalTsemo, situated at the peak above Leh to perform the rituals at the temples associated with the fort and also to light the lamps lit with butter.
Nearby Attractions
There are a number of monasteries around SankarMonastry, which are favourite locations for the tourists to visit mostly by trekking as part of Monastery circuit tour. These include
- Thiksey Monastery, which is of Gelug Pa order pertaining to Tibetan Buddhism, established in 15th Century, which is considered one of the most beautiful monasteries in Ladakh circuit, where Shrines and paintings are of very adorable nature and it is one of 12 Storey Structure.
- Matho Monastery, situated on the banks of Indus River, the village Matho located at the tip of a deep gorge in the Zanskar Range and this is the only Monastry in the circuit which belongs to Sakya Pa sect.
- Hemis Monastery is one intitiated in the year 1630, belonging to the Drug Pa Order of Tibetan Buddhism, which is the biggest and large among monasteries in the circuit.
- Likir Monastery is known for its picturesque location belonging to Gulug Pa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, which was established in 1605.
- Shey Monastery’s uniqueness comes from its three-storey copper-coated Buddha Shakyamuni statue, commissioned in the year 1655 and King DeldanNamgial constructed it.
- Alchi Monastery is another Buddhist monastery and it is known more for its structure as monastic complex, situated in Alchi Village.
- Stakna Monastery is a monastery of the Drugpa sect in Leh district which was founded ChosjeJamyangPalkar of Bhutan in the late 16th century .
- PhyangMonastery,which is located 15 or 16 kilometres west of Leh , established in 1515 is unique for its frescoes collections from the earliest royal period, and its 900 year old museum of thangkas, war implements and paintings.
- The ChemdayMonastery which was founded by Lama TagsangRaschen in the early 1640s, with a Padmaasambhava statue and rare paintings as its treasure.
- The Takthok Monastery which was the abode of MahasiddhaKungaPhuntsog and is established in Caves.
How to Reach
For reaching Leh by train , one can travel upto the nearest Jammu railway station, which is about 734 km far.
A bus from Manali , which is in 453 km distance from Leh would be a good choice, however, the Manali - Leh road is not open throughout the year, although one can take the bus during the months from mid-June to mid-October, when the road will be open.
There are air services available to Leh from Delhi and also from Srinagar , different airlines offering services.
JKSRTC provides bus service to Leh from Srinagar to Leh covering 700 km, sometimes taking two days travel time, while HRTC provides service to Leh from Manali , covering 474 km distance , which also takes about 20 hours travel.
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