04 Stakna, Hemis & Thiksey Monasteries + Road Adventure on a Suzuki Jimny

Stakna Gompa is on the west bank of the Indus, about 25 km south of Leh. Stakna' which means 'tiger's nose', was built on a hill, shaped like a tiger's nose.
It was established by Chosje Jamyang Palkar, a great scholar and saint from Bhutan. Around 1580 AD, Dharmaraja Namgial offered many religious estates to the saint. Stakna was one of them. Today it is headed by the revered Je Khenpo of Bhutan
The main image in the temple is that of Arya Avalokitesvara. He is said to be from Kamrup, Assam and is a tenth-level bodhisattva, associated with great compassion or mahakaruṇā.
Stakna belongs the southern branch of the Drukpa Kagyu sect which split from the parent order in the seventeenth century owing to a dispute over who the true reincarnation of the 4th Gyalwang Drukpa was. About 30 monks live here.
Hemis, 45 km from Leh towards the south, a slight climb off the Leh Manali Highway, it lies at the foot of a mountain at an altitude of about 12000 ft. It is one of the biggest and richest Buddhist monasteries of India.
It belongs to the Drukpa lineage, one of the independent new schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Hemis monastery existed before the 11th century and is one of the main Buddhist schools of the Himalayas founded by the great Indian saint Naropa. It was reestablished in 1672 by King Sengge Namgyal.
It has a rich collection of priceless ancient relics made of copper, silver, gold, precious stones and colourful tapestries and hosts the popular Hemis festival June 16-17, which we missed by a week.
Thiksey Gompa is one of the most beautiful and largest of monasteries, 18 km south of Leh. It follows the Gelukpa order of Buddhism.
It was initially built by one Sherab Zangpo of Stod at Stakmo. Later in 1430 his nephew, Spon Paldan Sherab reconstructed the monastery at its present location on a hilltop at an altitude of 11800 m, north of Indus River. The 12 storied complex has sacred shrines and a fabulous collection of priceless ancient artefacts and relics.
Over the years, Skyabsje Khanpo Rinpoche's reincarnations have been leading it. At a point, the monastery controlled over 1300 acres of land and 25 villages. Princes such as Jigsmet Namgyal have served here as lamas. About 80 monks live here.
The Thiksey administration takes care of ten other monasteries in the region. Diskit, Spituk, Likir and Stok are some, and it hosts the Gustor festival annually.

[@atulanvids]

Very informative account of your beautiful journey. I hope you're able to do you've been looking to do for a long time with your Jimny.