Monastries In India

Jammu & Kashmir Stanka Monastery

Stanka Monastery, also called StankaGompa, is a Buddhist establishment of amazing architecture positioned in a 60 m high rock in an isolated location, which is located 25 km distance from Leh. This monastery is also famous asTiger’s Nose Monastery, because the rock in which the monastery is constructed is in the shape of a Tiger.

Founded by

Buddist Scholar and a great personaliatyGsjeJamyangPalkar was the one who raised this Monastery in the year 1580 AD.

The monastery propagates Buddhist idealsthrough the literature it keeps in its library, besides the artifacts and paintings of Tibetan Buddhism is has with it.

This monastery is construced in the style of Drukpa sect artitecture prevalent among Tibetan Buddhism.

Description

StaknaGompa is feast for the eyes of the visitors, because it is an embodiment of cultural heritage and the religious significance of Buddhism.

This monastery has a marble statue of Avalokiteswara which is known to have been brought from Assam. There is also a museum here which displays wonderful collections of arms and military appliances preserved from incidents relating to this region.

Nearby attractions

Those who visit SankarGompa Monastery should visit the following places as well:

• General Zorawar's Fort is an ancient fort, situated above Leh Palace, but presently in a dilapidated condition, was the place where the  private wealth of the rulers of Dogra those days was kept. One can reach this place in 30 minutes trekking.
• Hall of Fame is a museum kept in  SpitukKargil Road, in about 4 km from Leh City, maintained in memory of those warriors who gave their lives in Indo Pakistan war.
• Leh Palace is an imposing structure of 17th century, which is a nine storey residential place of Namgyal Kings. One can walk down to this spot which is within 2 km reach.
• Shanti Stupa is a monument established by Japanese Buddhist propagating Peace, which was opened in 1985 by Dalai Lama.
• Stok Palace is a wonderful piece of architecture in Leh district, across the Indus River, built by King TsespalNamgyal  in 1825 AD, which place one can reach by travel by jeeps or share taxis.

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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