Buddhist Monasteries in India

Aug. 1, 2009 - PRLog -- Buddhism was found in India way back in 580 BC by Gautam Buddha. Gautam Buddha was also known by the name of Siddhartha and was born in Lumbini in Nepal. He left his home in search of enlightenment at the age of 29 years. Slowly Buddhism spread to the different regions on the globe and became a famous religion.

Monasteries mean the workplace and habitat of monks and nuns. There are a number of Buddhist Monasteries or temples in various parts of India and other countries.

Buddhist Monasteries in Ladakh

Most of the population of Ladakh include Buddhists. There are a number of beautiful and ancient Buddhist monasteries in the mystical land of Ladakh. These monasteries are also famous by the name of Gompas and have rich collection of ancient Buddhist literature, tankhas, sculptures, murals and scriptures.

Some of the famous Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh include Alchi Gompa, Hemis Gompa, Likir Gompa, Phyang Monastery, Phugtal Gompa, Rangdum Gompa, Rhizong Gompa, Shanti Stupa, Shey Gompa, Stok Gompa and Thiksey monastery.

Buddhist Monasteries in Himachal Pradesh

Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh is the headquarters of Tibetan Government in exile and it is the holy seat of His Holiness Dalai Lama. There is a beautiful Gompa located in Dharamshala. Apart from this, one of the most famous and ancient monasteries of the world is located in Spiti Valley, which is known by the name of Tabo Monastery. It is located at an altitude of 3,050 meters above sea level and was built in 960 AD. It was also the main contributor in the growth of Tibetan art from 11th century to 20th century.

Another important Gompa in Himachal is known as Dhankar Gompa, which is located at an altitude of 12,774 feet in Kaza valley. There are a number of other monasteries in Shimla, Solan and Sundernagar.

Buddhist Monasteries in Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh also has a sizeable population of Buddhists. Though there are a number of monasteries in Arunachal, but the famous monasteries are located in Bomdila and Tawang. Tawang is one of the largest and the oldest Buddhist monasteries in India. It is also the birth place of 6th Dalai Lama. It was built way back in 1860-61.

Buddhist Monasteries in Sikkim

Sikkim is a small state located in North Eastern India and is a home to sizeable Buddhist population. Monasteries in Sikkim also preserves some of the ancient manuscripts and scriptures. Enchey, Phodong, Phensang, Ralang, Rumtek and Tashiding are some of the beautiful monasteries in Sikkim which are visited by a large number of visitors every year.

Apart from these famous Buddhist monasteries, there are a number of Gompas in various parts of India like Karnataka and Uttarakhand, where there are Tibetan and Buddhist settlements.

Know more about the Buddhist monasteries of India : http://www.leh-ladakh.com/ladakh-monasteries.html