Spituk Monastery

Spituk Monastery

Location: Around 8 km from Leh
Belongs To: First to Kadampa School and later to Tsongkhapa Order
Founded By: Od-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od
Founded In: 11th Century
Attractions: Gustor Festival

Approximately 8 km from Leh there is Spituk Monastery of Ladakh. Towering over a conical, the 3-chapel monastery dates back to the 11th century, when it was founded century by Od-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od. Inside the monastery, the main statue is that of Lord Buddha. Then, there is also a sacred image of Amitayus. The image, about a finger high in length, was presented by Tsongkhapa to Takspa Bum-Lde.

The Spituk Monastery consists of the five thanakas and a collection of ancient masks, antique arms, along with this the image of Mahakaal. The major attraction of the Spituk Monastery is the Gustoor Festival. Its an annual event or festival that is celebrated from 27th to 29th day of the 11th Tibetan month. In this festival sacred dance is also done. All Stok, Sankar and Saboo monasteries are the branch of the Spituk Monastery only. Some little above the monastery there is the shrine with the Vajrabhairava as the presiding deity. The face of the deity is shown to the devotees once in a year and that is during the annual festival which is held in the January.

Festival:
The annual festival is held in the monastery which is celebrated at every 11th month of the Buddhist calendar from 17th to 19th day. The conclusion of the ceremony takes place with the ceremony that is known as the Argham or killing. The killing depicts the destruction of all kinds of evils.

Other Attractions:
Stok Palace and Museum:
Stok Palace is the place where the royal family resides. It was made in the first half of the 19th century by the King Tsespal Tondup Namgyal. Behind the palace there is the museum that is having the items like the crown, ceremonial dresses and jewelery of the king of Ladakh. The palace is situated at the distance of the 14 km in the south east direction from Leh.

Shey Palace and Gompa:
About 15 km south of Leh the Shey Palace has been established by King Deldan Namgyal in the 17th century. The major attraction of the statue is that it is copper guilt statue of Buddha Shakyamuni which is as high as three storey. There is another rock carved statue that of five Buddha is distinctly noticeable on the roadside below the palace. The statue, it is believed, was probably carved during the reign of Sengye Namgyal.

Thiksey Monastery:
One can enjoy the the beautiful monastery of the Ladakh region. At the distance of the 17 km from the south of Leh at the top of the hill at the north of the river Indus. In the monastery there are the images of the Shakyamuni Buddha, Maitriya Buddha, Vajra Bhairava, Mahakala and Dharmakaya.

How to Reach?
By Air: Flights from Leh airport connect the town to the quite a few major destinations like Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar.

By Road: Leh can be reached easily through roadways from Srinagar and Manali. Through roadways taxis are also available to take any traveler to Spituk.

Trip to the Spituk Monastery
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