​Alchi Monastery

Alchi Monastery or Alchi Gompa (monastery and temple complex) lies about 65 km from Leh on the banks of the Indus River. Alchi is regarded as one of the most important Buddhist centers in Ladakh and also as one of the monastic jewels of Ladakh. The Alchi Monastery dates back to nearly one thousand years and so the effect of the Tibetan influence can be seen in the local culture. There are five shrines in the Choskor Temple Complex which has some splendid wall paintings. One of its walls features thousands of miniature-sized pictures of the Buddha. Three large-sized images made of clay painted brightly are its focal attraction. No longer an active religious center, it is looked after by monks from the Likir Monastery. For the last 500 years, religion is not practiced in the Alchi Monastery. Over a while, the Yellow Hat sect (Gelugpa) shifted their religious activities to another place which is 30 km away, known as Likir. The surroundings of Alchi Gompa offer a very friendly atmosphere for visitors as there are small restaurants, tea stalls, and souvenir shops welcoming tourists.

History

Alchi Monastery has a rich historical significance due to which it is greatly valued even today. It was built between 958 and 1055 AD. According to popular tales, King Yeshe Of Guge wanted to spread Buddhism in the Himalayan region.
Therefore, he appointed twenty-one scholars for the same. However, harsh weather conditions led to most of them collapsing before they reached the heights of the Himalayas, and only two scholars including Rinchen Zangpo survived. It is said that these two established 108 monasteries in the region, but only a few, including Alchi, have survived till today.

Structure

What makes the Alchi monastery stand out in terms of structure is the fact that instead of one large complex, it has four sections. The main section, however, is the most famous as it has the main Buddha statue. The religious reverence for it is extremely high, as Buddhists from all over the world come to see it. There are three temples- Dukhang (assembly hall), 'Jam-dpal lHa-Khang (Manjushri temple), and gTsug-lag-Khang (main temple). The walls here also have intricate designs that portray the legacy of Buddhism.