Buddhism Seems To Be The Soul Of Northern Parts Of India

If you are planning a vacation somewhere in North of India, I would suggest that you that you must go through Jammu Kashmir Ladakh tour packages and finalise one amongst them. And as you would glance through the packages, you would come to know that Buddhism is very prominent in these Northern regiosn of India. From Kashmir, Buddhism spread to Ladakh, Tiber, Central Asia and China. Today, Ladakh boasts of around 50 percent of Buddhist population and a number of monasteries and gompa perched atop hills. Ladakh is the centre of Buddhism in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Leh, the capital of Ladakh, is a base for visiting many Buddhist monasteries in the regions. There are actually two monastery circuits which can be taken while you are in Leh. The first one covers Shey, Thiksey, Stakna, Matto, Chembray,Tak-Tok and Hemis while the second one covers Spituk, Phyang, Likir, Alchi, Ridzong and Lamayuru. The Leh monasteries represent all the four schools of Buddhism - Nyingmapa (the oldest one), Drukpa, Saskyapa and Gelugspa (the newest one but most well represented).

Perhaps the most important monastery of Ladakh, Hemis lies at a distance of 45 km from Leh. The monastery was founded in the 1630s during the reign of Sengye Namgyal and is the wealthiest one in the region. Today, the highlight of the monastery is its two day annual festival, the Hemis festival, which coincides with the period when the tourists start pouring in the state. A large number of these tourists visit the monastery to be a part of the festival where monks wear masks and perform dances to the clashing of cymbals. Every 12th year, the festival's attraction multiplies because this is the time when the most valuable possession of the monastery, a huge pearl decorated thangka of Padmasambhava, is unfurled for public sighting. The last time it was unfurled was in the year 2004. Lamayuru monastery is one of the earliest monasteries of Ladakh and stands on a promonotory, some 120 km west of Leh. The monastery, founded in the 10th century, is in need of bit of preservation since almost entire structure is in ruins excepting the assembly hall. Lamayuru celebrates its festival, YundrungKabgyad, on the 28th and 29th days of the second Tibetan month.Thiksey and Spituk monasteries are yet another major tourist attractions.

You will have a wonderful time at these Buddhist places. So, just go and enjoy!