✬ Weather : 9° C ✬.✬ Time Required: 3 hours ✬.✬ Height : 3700 square meters ✬.✬ Established in : 1065 AD ✬.✬ Built By : Lama Duwang Chosje
Established during the reign on Lhachen Gyalpo, the fifth king of Ladakh ✬.✬ Entry Fee: INR 30 per person ✬.✬ Timings : 6:00 - 13:00 and 13:30 - 18:00 ✬.
✬ Likir Gompa ✬
✬ Likir Monastery is the oldest monastery in Ladakh, located in the beautiful Likir village, about 52 km from Leh. Belonging to the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the main attraction here is the 75 feet tall sitting statue of Maitreya Buddha covered in gold. There are also various images of patron deities, murals and thangkas adorning the walls of the assembly hall. ✬
✬ The monastery is the seat of the Dalai Lama's youngest brother, Ngari Rinpoche. 'Likir' means 'Naga-circle' which represents the body of two great serpent souls- Nanda and Takako. It is believed that these serpents protected the monastery. ✬
✬ Currently, there is a school inside the Likir Monastery run by the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies and a library open to visitors where old manuscripts, volumes and books on Buddhism and the teachings of Tsong Khapa are kept. A temple named Gonkhang is also present in the complex which houses the images of Shakyamuni and Tsongkhapa. The most captivating event is the annual Likir Monastery festival which includes Cham dances performed by lamas and an exhibition of the monastery collection. ✬
