Full Day sightseeing with guide and picnic lunch to SHEY, THIKSEY, HEMIS.
SHEY: Situated on a hillock 15km. Upstream from Leh was once the residence of the royal family . According to tradition, it was the seat of power of the Pre Tibetan kings. A 7.5 meter high copper statue of Buddha, plated with gold, and the largest of its kind is installed here.
THIKSE:Spectacularly sighted, Thikse is one of the largest and architecturally most impressive Gompa. There are several temples in this Gompa, containing images stupas and wall paintings of Buddha which are exquisite.
HEMIS:It is the wealthiest , best known and biggest Gompa of Ladakh. Its popularity stems from the major annual festival held here in summer. The festival is in honor of Guru Padma Sambhav's birth anniversary. It also has the largest Thanka in Ladakh, which is unfurled once in 12 years ( next in 2004 ). Hemis was built in 1630 during the reign of Sengge Namgyal , an illustrious ruler of Ladakh. It flourished under the Namgyal dynasty for the royalty favored for Drugkpa Sect, which managed the monastery. It is divided into two, the Assembly Hall on the right and the main temple on the left. The hall, Dukhang, is also used as a ' Green room ' by the dancers during the festival. The temple is known as Tshogkhang. The verandahs have a surfeit of frescoes among them the Buddhist Wheel of Life ( Kalachakra ) and the Lord of the four quarters, besides rows of prayer wheels.
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