Culture Tours

Karsha Monastery

Karsha Monastery, also known as the Karsha Chamspaling, was built by Phagspa Shesrab. It was founded by the translator Phagspa Shesrab, under the Yellow Hat sect. It is the largest pilgrimage center in Zanskar and predominantly known for Avalokiteshvara temple, which dilates the era of Rinchen Zangpo through its wall paintings. Currently, the monastery is governed by the younger brother of the Dalai Lama. Inside the monastery, tourists can see the relics of Dorje Rinchen. The most spectacular feature of the monastery is the cloth painting made of gold and colorful threads depicting the day from the life of Buddha surrounded by his tutelary deities.

Stongday Monastery

Stongday Monastery is the second largest and the oldest monasteries in the Zanskar region. Its beauty captivates the beholder with sprawling whitewashed complex soaring above the Rocky Mountains. This 11th-century old monastery is a must visit attraction located about 20 kilometres away from Padum. It displays several artistic works in the seven temples inside the monastery. Amongst the temples Tshogs-khang is beautifully decorated with exquisite paintings of the deities, the paintings are made with a black background which are outlined with gold. Stongday is also a home to over 60 Gelukpa monks. Famous for its wealth of Buddhist relics, the monastery showcases it to the visitors to admire. The auspicious time to visit this popular tourist attraction is during the Gustor Festival which is held on the 28th - 29th day of every eleventh month of the Tibetan calendar in Stongdey monastery.

Phuktal Monastery

The Phugthal complex spills out of the mouth of a huge Phugtal Gompa in Ladakhave high up in the sheer mountain face of a lateral gorge through which a major tributary of the southern Lungnak (Lingti-Tsarap) River flows. Perhaps, the most isolated monastic establishment of Zanskar, its foundation date back to the early 12th century ; at least one old chappel, among the several several of which it is composed, has frescos and ceiling decorations reflecting strong Indian artistic and iconographic influence. Phugthal is accessible from the Padum-Manali trekking route through a 7 km long trail that branches off from the Purney Bridge on the main trail. This unique monastic establishment is inhabited by a resident community of about 40 monks.

Padum Headquater

Padum is a head quarter of zanskar is situated in the middle.Here is available everything like Hotel,Guest house ,Restaurant,Taxi.

Sani Monastery

The monastery is located on a flat area in the centre of the village. It is among the oldest monastic institutions of Tibetan Buddhism in Ladakh and Zanskar. A 6m-high stupa called Kanika Chorten is believed to have been constructed in the 2nd century.

Bardan Monastery

Bardan Monastery or Bardan Gompa is a 17th-century Buddhist monastery, approximately 12 kilometres south of Padum, in Zanskar, Ladakh, northern India at the side of the Lungnak river. It belongs to the Dugpa-Kargyud monastic order and was one of the first monasteries of this sect to be established in Zanskar.

Zongkul Monastery

The monastery is built on a rock face containing two caves. According to the legend the famous Indian scholar-saint Naropa meditated for two years in the lower cave where his footprint can be seen on a rock near the entrance. Beautiful frescoes on the cave walls were painted by Zhadpa Dorje who visited the monastery some 300 years ago.

Rangdum Monastery

Rangdum monastry is very beautiful and old .At the end of Suru valley, Rangdum is the first Buddhist village on the road to Zanskar. The gompa, located on a small hill, belongs to the Gelugpa order.Here are more then 50 monks and also gonpa school.

Pensila

There is only one Pass between kargil to Zanskar is name is Pensila.On the way can see the Nun and Kun peak near the village of Pharkachik the last village of kargil.