Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/09/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ladakh being a Buddhist area is full of monasteries, so much so, I have always wondered how on earth they all support themselves. I suppose on donations and Government grants as is usual for these institutions. There are tons of monks around also, as, at least in these parts, one of the sons in each Buddhist family becomes a monk, and joins into a monastery in early childhood, at the age of 5 or so. Whether this is because of a lack of jobs in this barren place, or a skewed sex ratio, I do not know. Of course, they keep in touch with their family, and come back to live with them from time to time, it is actually analogous to a boarding school. Anyway, we visited a couple, and saw quite a few - and here are some photographs. Like most monasteries, they are usually dramatically perched on a peak, entailing much huffing and puffing to get there: Shanti Stupa: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/India/Ladakh/Ladakh_20130901_0204.jpg.html Sankar Gompa: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/India/Ladakh/Ladakh_20130904_1220.jpg.html Chemrey Gompa (Long View): http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/India/Ladakh/Ladakh_20130903_0629.jpg.html Chemrey Gompa (Pano Crop): http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/India/Ladakh/Ladakh_20130903_0629P.jpg.html Chemrey Gompa (Short View): http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/India/Ladakh/Ladakh_20130903_0624.jpg.html Likir Gompa: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/India/Ladakh/Ladakh_20130831_0188.jpg.html Prayer Wheel: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/India/Ladakh/Ladakh_20130831_0173.jpg.html Please see LARGE Comments and criticism, as ever, welcome. Cheers Jayanand