I am sure I have been present at monasteries around lunch time, but only at Karsha monastery did I hear a conch being blown informing all the resident lamas, about 120 in all, it was time for the meals.
The 11th century monastery was built by Buddhist master Zanskar Lotsawa Phakpa Sherab who introduced Buddhism to this valley. Its thirty building, constructed in a cascade style along a hill face, have come up over the centuries and not all at one go. He was followed by other masters like Tungpa gyaltsa Pa, Thapuwa Dhamcheu Gyaltsen and Dupkhang Guelek Gyatso who established Karsha a major scholastic centre of Buddhist studies. [continue reading…]
Tagged as:
buddhism,
karsha,
Kashmir,
Ladakh,
monastery,
padum,
Zanskar
When driving around Ladakh, always have a spare seat in the car. And stocks of chocolates and sweets.
[Click on image for a larger view]
Coming back from Zanskar, I stopped to capture the image of yellow and green fields of a village glowing in the setting sun. Three passing village women stopped to ask for a lift. The first question my mind asked me was where to? There was nothing for miles before and after this village. Anyway, I could not really help them as my car was full with friends on that occasion. With luggage overflowing in the boot. They sweetly kept insisting only for me to point out there was no space. [continue reading…]
Tagged as:
Ladakh,
padum,
Zanskar
Boys will be boys, even when they are being groomed to be Buddhist Lamas. When I started taking pictures of some young Lamas at the Karsha Monastery located near the town of Padum in the Zanskar Valley (in the Ladakh region of the Indian Himalayan state of Jammu & Kashmir), not only did they start posing specially for the camera, they also started jostling to be in the camera frame exclusively. It led to a bit of friendly bashing, adding to the fun of the afternoon while I was there. Boys will remain boys. [continue reading…]
Tagged as:
gompa,
Himalayas,
india,
karsha,
Kashmir,
Kunzum,
Ladakh,
lama,
lamas,
monastery,
padum,
tourism,
travel,
Zanskar
