Mesmerizing Ladakh – Part 4: Thiksey Monastery

Thiksey Gompa or Thiksay Monastery is located on top of a hill in Thiksey village approximately 19 km from east of Leh. Affiliated with the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism this monastery resembles the Potala Place in Lhasa, Tibet. This monastery is the largest in central Ladakh which contains a separate buildings for female nuns. The monastery is located at an altitude of 11,800 meters. This twelve storey complex houses many items of Budhist art such as stupas, statues, thangkas, wall painting and swords.

One of the main attractions is the Maitreya Temple installed to commemorate the visit of the 14th Dalai Lama to the monastery in 1970. It contains a 15 meters high statue of Maitreya, the largest such statue in Ladakh covering two storeys of the building.

A temple is also dedicated to goddess Tara with her 21 images placed in glass covered wooden shelves.

Thiksey Monastery - view from the road
Thiksey Monastery – view from the road
Thiksey Monastery - a closer view
Thiksey Monastery – a closer view
Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Monastery - The ornamental gate
Thiksey Monastery – The ornamental gate
A closer view of the ornamental gate
A closer view of the ornamental gate
The monk issuing the entry tickets to the monastery
The monk issuing the entry tickets to the monastery
Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Monastery
The forecourt
The forecourt
Towards the upper level
Towards the upper level
Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Monastery
Murals inside the monastery
Murals inside the monastery
A closer view
A closer view
A closer view
A closer view
Closer view
Closer view
Closer view
Closer view
Murals inside the monastery
Murals inside the monastery
Murals inside the monastery
Murals inside the monastery
The statue of Maitreya
The statue of Maitreya
The statue of Maitreya
The statue of Maitreya
The holy manuscripts
The holy manuscripts
Inside the sanctum
Inside the sanctum
Goddess Tara
Goddess Tara
The prayer hall
The prayer hall
Inside the prayer hall
Inside the prayer hall
The colourful wooden panels
The colourful wooden panels
The colourful wooden panels
The colourful wooden panels
The colourful wooden panels
The colourful wooden panels
Inside the prayer hall
Inside the prayer hall
Inside the prayer hall
Inside the prayer hall
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
Stunning views from top of the monastery
The Stupas
The Stupas
The Stupas
The Stupas
Around the monastery
Around the monastery
Around the courtyard
Around the courtyard
Around the courtyard
Around the courtyard
Around the courtyard
Around the courtyard

There was a movie shoot going on in the premises of the monastery during our visit.

The movie crew on job in the forecourt
The movie crew on job in the forecourt
Movie shooting
Movie shooting
Movie shooting
Movie shooting
Movie shooting
Movie shooting
The monks watching the movie shoot from the first floor
The monks watching the movie shoot from the first floor

8 thoughts on “Mesmerizing Ladakh – Part 4: Thiksey Monastery”

  1. I did not realize these photos are large format. I went back through and looked at some of the photos again. You provided us with a great photo trip! Thanks for sharing.

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