Leh Ladakh

The union territory of Ladakh forms one of the popular buddhist tourist destinations in India and is considered one of the best places to visit in India for a Buddhist pilgrimage tour. Ladakh, as a region, follows two main religions, with Buddhism being one of them. The Buddhism followed in Ladakh is of two different types namely, the Mahayana and the Vajrayana, with Nyngma, Kagyud, Shakya and Geluk, as the four sects that practice the religion. Buddhism and its practices can be seen in not only the monasteries, but also in the culture and the lifestyle of the people in the region. At Ladakh, one can witness an abundance of Buddhist monasteries and numerous monks who have dedicated their life to this practice. These monasteries not only provide support religiously but also aid in educating the monks who reside within.

Ever since the advent of Buddhism in Ladakh, it has attracted numerous pilgrims who visit the town to partake in the joyous celebrations that take place as part of the ritual calendars, as well as to find a sense of peace and calm that cannot be found anywhere else. Ladakh and the Himalayan region follow a type of Tantric Buddhism that uses a method of chants, mantras, and meditation to invoke a sense of enlightenment through deities. These chants and way of worship is what makes Ladakh as a Buddhist pilgrimage destination, a favored one, with these chants even being recognized under UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for being unique and important for the Buddhist devotees of Ladakh. Although Ladakh has an abundance of Buddhist monasteries that dot its landscape, there are some prominent ones that must be visited on a tour to this Buddhist region in the Himalayas.

The monastery that is the most popular one among others include the Hemis Monastery and is known for being the largest and the richest of all the monasteries in Ladakh. Managed by the Drukpa sect, Hemis Monastery is most known for its annual Hemis Festival, in remembrance of Guru Padmasambhava, a Buddhist monk who helped spread the knowledge of tantric Buddhism throughout the region of the Himalayas to what it is today. The monastery also has several Buddhist artifacts that date back to centuries. Counted among the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, the Alchi Monastery is also one of the monasteries that must be visited on a visit to the union territory. The monastery was founded by Guru Rinchen Zangpo and is recognised for its architecture that makes it stand out from the rest.

Located in the Alchi Village, the monastery showcases an assembly hall and wall paintings in Kashmiri style, and is famous for its large, four-armed statue of the Buddha. The monastery itself is divided into three main structures and is named as Dukhang, Sum Tsek, and Manjushri Temple, with Sum Tsek being the one housing the four-armed Buddha statue that takes up to two floors of the temple itself. Another fascinating monastery located in Ladakh is the Phuktal Monastery. A monastery that can only be reached by foot, the Phuktal Monastery in Ladakh is unique owing to its location. The monastery is situated on the mouth of a cave and hence, makes for a challenging feat to reach. The land of tantric Buddhism, Ladakh is a mesmerizing land to explore for those interested in learning more about the religion. With soothing mantras, calming and welcoming monasteries, Ladakh is the best place to visit for a pilgrimage tour of Buddhism.