Ladakh tourism provides the opportunity to trek in a cold desert,
nestling in the arid region of Himalayas with wide river valleys on whose
fertile soil vegetation and villages have sprung up with its ancient culture.
Various Ladakh Packages lead you
through Alchi monastery in the remote corner of Ladakh, which is the house of rare manuscripts and ancient painting
culture. Today, Alchi monastery is probably the most important Buddhist site in
Ladakh.
It is reached by a short deviation
from the main Leh to Srinagar road.
The settlement is made up of four separate villages surrounded by fields. The trek
leads you through above an older settlement with chortens, the newer settlement
with guest houses, and a small row of shops. Track ends in a parking area where
souvenir shops and a centuries old tree. According to local people, the tree has
grown from the walking stick of Lotsava Rinchen Zango. He was the translator of
many Indian Buddhist texts into Tibetan and founded Alchi Gompa in 10th
century.
You have to go round the outside
of Alchi Gompa which is surrounded by a wall with small prayer wheels. Rinchen Zango the founder of the Alchi Gompa,
brought sculptors and wood carvers from Kashmir. They were abandoned in the 15th
C. The wall paintings are some of the oldest surviving paintings in Ladakh,
painted with semi precious stones. They are considered to be among the rarest
and most widespread examples of Buddhist art in Leh Ladakh. Photography is not allowed in any of the temples. Pictures
of inside of the temples in the form of post-cards and books are for sale in the
Dukhang.
Try and visit in the mornings
when it is very peaceful and find a monk to unlock temples. The site consists
of the Dukhang, Sumstek and Manjushri Lhakhangs were built between 12th
and 13th century. The Lotsava and Soma Lhakhangs are built later.
The Dukhang is at the heart of the complex and is the largest of the temples. In
fact, there is a similarity in paintings between Alchi murals and Maharashtra’s
Ajanta Caves. Alchi Monastery is a classic example of Kashmiri Buddhist art,
which is different from Tibetan.
Destination@Doorstep, a reliable
tour operator of India has launched various Ladakh packages in affordable cost. These packages have comfortable
night-stay that gives you full entertainment and the essence of natural beauty in
Leh Ladakh. All packages will take
you through Alchi monastery.
Plan your vacation now, call us
on 1800-103-2228 (toll free in India) or visit our website
http://www.destination-doorstep.com/leh/
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