ABOUT THE
Attraction
A spectacular cave monastery in Jammu and Kashmir's Zanskar region, Dzongkhul is built like a swallow's nest on the rock face in the Ating gorge. The monastery is associated with the Buddhist monk Naropa (956-1041 CE), who is believed to have meditated in two caves here, around which the monastery has been built. Pilgrims visit to see what is said to be the impression of the monk's footprint on a stone. The monastery, which belongs to the Drukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism, has stunning and detailed frescos on the cave walls, which are said to have been created by Zhadpa Dorje, a famous painter and scholar about 300 years ago. There are no proper roads to this monastery and to reach it, one has to trek from the Umasi-la pass.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Hemis Monastery
Situated on the western banks of the Indus river, the Hemis monastery is one of the largest and most richly endowed monastery of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.
Alchi Monastery
Dating back to nearly one thousand years, the monastery has strong Tibetan influence in its art and architecture.
Ambaran Monastery
Though in ruins now, the brick stupa seems to resemble the ones excavated at Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh. Excavations have led to the discovery of bases of stupas and votive stupas, and walls of a monastery, and many important antiquities.