Ladakh

Polularly known as "Hermit Kingdom", Ladakh is a land of snow carved peaks, translucent Lakes, barren terrain and mystic culture. Quite like Tibet it has a great buddhist tradition which is evident from the high monk to people ratio of 1: 8 . It has about 13 major Gompas (Monasteries) of which HEMIS is considered the Gompa of Gompas. It has the patronage of the Royal Family. It is the most important monastery of Ladakh with a concealed entrance, a huge courtyard flanked by two big temples. In the month on June, the famous Hemis festival is held, when a large number of tourists visit it.

Alchi, a little village, 70 kms from Leh in Jammu & Kashmir, is known as a jewel among the religious sites in Ladakh. Abandoned centuries ago, this monastery has been lovingly maintained by the monks at Likhir, the nearest functioning Gompa. It is popularly known as Chos-kor (Religious enclave) and comprises of 5 temples which are perhaps the richest in their collection of paintings and images in the Du-Khang (the Assembly Hall), and the three storied Sum- Tsek. Its murals, dating back to the 11th and 12th Centuries, pre-date the Tibetan style of painting which is found in all other Gompas. Some of them are reminiscent of the painting of the far off Ajanta Caves and are presumed to be almost the sole survivors of the buddhist style, currently in Kashmir during the first millenium AD.