Stakna Monastery

Secluded and perched on a hill top is Stakna Monastery, on the banks of the Indus River, and gives the visitors an adorable view of Hemis, panoramic and exemplary. The structure of the monastery is not equal to the other monasteries in Ladakh but the scenery around would make up the blank appearance of the building. This is yet another Buddhist monastery that belongs to the Drugpa sect, located at a distance of around 25 km from Leh. There are around 30 Buddhist monks are staying in the monastery currently.

History

A Bhutanese scholar in the 16th century came to Leh for establishing the monastery. His name is Chosje Jamyang Palkar who was a saint as well. The name Stakna means tiger’s nose because the hill resembled exactly a tiger’s nose as the natives say.

Structure

As you come to the courtyard, you will be able to witness a huge assembly hall like in other monasteries. The walls of the assembly hall are beautified with the paintings of Sakyamuni, Tsephakmad, and Amchi. A seven feet tall Chorten in silver color has portrayed a figure of Lord Buddha with some notes. The paintings of Bodhisattva, Padma Sambhava and Tshong-san-Gompa arrayed parallel to the hall give a mesmerizing charm to the monastery.