Your best monastery experience in Ladakh

If you have to rate your best 3 experiences, which monasteries would you choose and why?

Thiksey and Shey top the list,simply because they look the best(IMO),have great views, are less visited compared to say Alchi, are located in nice villages where you can go for walks.
I also like Rizong,it's quite isolated,and very very few tourists come up there,and road to Rizong is just great, nice eroded,rugged pinkish-brownish mountains with nice formations.
Likir and Alchi were so-so for me.

Chemre is another little-visited jewel. Belongs to Hemis.

Hemis is overrated and irritating.

I love Alchi though

My best experience was Hemis the village, not the monastery.
It might be because it was an unplanned stop on our motorcycle ride through ladakh.

But loved the small village which appears after going around those small hills. Such a beautiful village and such innocent people. We stayed in a homestay.

I am not sure on what is a monastery experience? Does it have to do something about the so called spiritual experience?

Well for me the entire location and beauty of the place was because of the scenic moments due to the time of the day and the kind of people we met.

Like lamayaru was crazy (met an arrogant monk) and hot, we did it at noon.

While Hemis, Diskit and even Shanti stupa (if I can include that) were beautiful, gave me peace, and calmed our tires nerves after the ride.

Hey, what's wrong with Hemis? More details pls?

I agree with NIR on Chemre / Chemdey. I liked Alchi, Likir, Diskit and Thiksey the best amongst all those I visited. In all these places I was able to speak with one or more lamas who stay there, ask questions about anything that struck me as odd / different / interesting. Hemis has just too many tourists (I didnt attend the morning prayer for this very reason though I had initially planned to and had even done an overnight stay there). Although Alchi sees lots of tourists, since they dont allow photography puts off a fair number too and also many visitors wont stay for long. Its very old and atmospheric.

Anyone joined the morning prayer sessions? Any details to share?

I went to emis during the festival last year,try to schedule your visit accordingly,it's a good experience even though it's heavily touristed and crowded.

Chemdey gompa:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1123687...61780201804322

TagThog gompa:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1123687...61578569884290

Tangste gompa:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1123687...81956730086258

Likir gompa:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1123687...71447089955250

Diskit gompa:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1123687...65101869117906

Hemis gompa:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1123687...70805530702834

Thikshey gompa:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1123687...70500805533698

Seeing Diskit Gompa when HH the DL visited, they had it all spruced up and it is a natural beauty on the lofty crag, and a place to be careful of your step. The stroll up the hill to the top is a fine experience.

Tiny and ancient, Wanla Gompa sits atop a small crag overlooking the beautiful valley that forms the alternative (western) end of the cross Zanskar trek. A miniature treasure, the roadworks prevented me reaching it to photograph it properly last visit.

Zanskar gompas are almost all in excellent locations, from tiny village top ridges to giant centres of learning. I doubt any has a more expansive view than Karsha in late afternoon - looking over the Stod and Lungnak confluence, the township of Padum and the mighty Himalaya range immediately behind.

Most spectacular gompa in Ladakh is fairly easy, and anyone who does not draw breath at first sight should check they still have a pulse; I am talking of Phugtal Gompa, high above the surging Tsarap torrent. There are very few places here where you can move without carefully checking your footing, but perhaps Christopher Nolan will discover it one day and put it in a Batman film someday.

Honourable mentions: Tak Tok, with a lyrical sweet older section sitting atop the green pastures looking back to the Stok range; lonely Chemde, a mighty structure on a huge crag; Bardan, for the unique dog kennel and vertiginous height over the Lungnak river, and hidden passageways and magnificent prayer wheel; age old Lamayuru, both the gompa where we shared tea with the head lama one winter and the massive views of it from the old road above; Rangdum Gompa, in the most expansive location anywhere I have seen in the Tibetan world; and close to Leh, Spitok Gompa, wonderful views in all directions, and a pilot's eye view of the approach to Leh airport.

I particularly love the 'Rinchen Zangpo' gompas from the 10th century, and how well they have lasted. By the way, Thikse is the most photographed gompa in the world and is also a must see place, despite the commercialism, buses, and messy environs. One of the lamas has a nice dog too, who looks right at home - and who wouldn't?

Hello Kunsjoi,

I'm new to this forum. Just registered because I'm planning on a package tour to Ladakh next year. I've never been in India before.

I've just looked at the picture you shared here, and they are amazing !

I have Nikon D90 camera and took it on my trip to Peru this summer. Unfortunately I didn't know enough about the camera to make special photo's. I just set it on 'auto' all the time.
Now for my next travels, I want to experiment with the camera and learn how to use it properly, so I can make photo's like the ones you made in Ladakh.

Just one question, did you use a polarisation filter ? I did use a UV-filter, but heard that polarisation filter is really necessary.

Anyway, seeing your wonderful photoalbum just made me decide definitely on Ladakh next summer. Looks like heaven on Earth.

best regards,
Iris

Iris - Heaven it is !!! But the pictures are decpetive. The weather, the terrain and the experience is tougher while the pictures always look beautiful and heavenly.

Do make the experience heavenly and not hellish, read on AMS , road conditions and a lot of other things like food, weather etc.

Hi New Traveller,

Last year I've travelled to Peru, the Andes. Also high altitudes up to 4900m (highest point).

The package tour I'm planning to take to Ladakh is well organised and has no trekking in its itinerary...I don't mind bad road conditions or long driving hours from one place to another.
And I do realize that the circumstances in mountain areas can be harsh, living conditions and weather. You can tell by looking at the pictures of the people who live there. And the Andes people of Peru remind me a bit of what I see in Ladakhi people. They look similar, deep wrinkled sunburnt skin.
It strikes me too that there are similarities between the Himalayan and Andes people, like the little stone towers they make. I don't know what they are called. I knew people put stone towers in the Himalaya to ask for protection, but I was stunned to see that they do exactly the same in the Andes....

What I do regret about my trip to Peru is that I didn't know my camera enough and didn't take a polarisation filter with me. That can make the difference between photo's like the ones kunsjoi made and just average tourist photo's like I made in Peru. A real shame when you stand on Machu Picchu and see the sunrise...a perfect time for pictures. Mines are nice, but they could have been much better. Especially since I had the camera with al the necessary options possible to make stunning photo's too.
I don't want to make that mistake again. Not when I go to a part of the world I've always dreamed about :-)

I took medication to the Andes, but the local Coca tea was sufficient for me, I didn't need Diamox. I will take my pills to Ladakh though. You never know when altitude sickness might strike. I've heard of people who had no trouble in the Himalaya but got sick in the Andes and vice versa.

But thanks for the advice. I'm reading almost daily on this forum now that I decided on going to Ladakh next year. I won't leave unprepared, but I have an open and adventurous mind. I've learned to be patient and expect the unexpected....After our Inca Trail we got stuck on Machu Picchu...the last bus was gone and the mountain was empty..there's a fancy hotel there, but we waited for 3 hours in the dark outside until someone got us transportation back to Aqua Calientes, the village at the base of Machu Picchu. It turned out to be a most special experience we'll never forget...a completely deserted Machu Picchu...with only millions of stars above us...freezing cold...it was magic. :-)
I wonder what Ladakh will be like, but I'm certain I'll find it enriching and I'm so looking forward to it.

Best regards,
Iris

Good to hear on your peru experience. Iris have a good trip and happy clicking