Feature by Aditi Kumaria Hingu
The Thiksey Gompa is a Buddhist monastery in Ladakh. It is located on top of a hill in Thiksey village, approximately 19 kilometres east of Leh.
It is the largest gompa in central Ladakh and has a strong resemblance to the Potala Palace in Tibet (the traditional seat of the Dalai Lama). The monastery is located at an altitude of 3,600 metres (11,800 feet). It is a twelve-story complex and looks perched on the hillside.
The buildings are arranged in an ascending order of importance and are well spaced. The foothills have the dwelling units and the school for children training to become lamas (monks). The top of the hill has the main monastery with 10 temples and the potang (official residence) of the chief lama.
The Gompa is also famous for the Maitreya Temple that was installed to commemorate the visit of the Dalai Lama in 1970. The temple has a 15 metres (49 feet) high statue of Maitreya (also known as future Buddha). The statue is two stories high. The gompa also has many items of Buddhist art like stupas, statues, wall paintings and swords. Many thangkas (traditional Buddhist art on cloth) are also installed in the Gompa.
The annual Thiksey festival is held in October- November. Sacred dances such as the mask dance or Cham Dance are performed as a part of this festival. Fairs are held at the foothill and many people come to participate in the festivities.