Adventure in the Himalayas

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Saturday, 24 August 2019 - Traveled to Diskit Monastery in the Nubra Valley, explored the long stair climb through ancient assembly halls and hilltop views over the Shyok and Nubra River valleys, saw the 106-foot Maitreya Buddha statue overlooking Diskit village, and enjoyed dramatic Himalayan mountain scenery including snow on peaks and valley splits on the return journey.

The Diskit Monastery built in the 14th century. It is the oldest and largest Buddhist monastery in the Nubra Valley.

india2019 — Diskit Monastery is connected to Mongol mythology in that the monastery is believed to be the place where an evil anti-Buddhist Mongol demon once lived and was killed near the monastery grounds but is said to have been resurrected several times.

india2019 — A door in the older part of the monastery. The hole next to the door is the locking mechanism where one has to reach through the wall to engage.

india2019 — We have hiked many steps up the hill as the structures of the monastery seem to just keep going up.

Here the view is down the Shyok River valley towards Pakistan.

india2019 — I was not able to bring the camera into the old assembly hall which had very terrifying statues. This is the newer assembly hall

These are the decorations along the walls.

india2019 — As we walked into the new assembly hall we noticed two people meditating - they were the couple we met 3 days ago at the Alchi Monastery over 100 miles away and over a mountain range!!!! We were so excited and began talking - and the monks kicked us out of the assembly hall for being too loud.

This photograph is down the assembly hall to a Maitreya Buddha statue.

india2019 — The light from a humble candle is said to symbolize the enlightenment of the Buddha.

india2019 — On a hill below the Diskit Monastery is a 106-foot statue of the Maitreya Buddha.

india2019 — Stupa with the mountains in the background

india2019 — The statue's construction was started in 2006, and it was consecrated by the Dalai Lama on 25 July 2010. The statue was built with three main functions in mind - protection of Diskit Village, prevention of further war with Pakistan, and to promote world peace.

india2019 — Diskit Monastery is very long going up the hill. We entered the complex at the far right and climbed to the far top left where the assembly hall is all the way at the top.

india2019 — The Shyok River valley from the hill of the Maitreya Buddha.

india2019 — Top of the gate into the Diskit Monastery.

india2019 — Snow on the mountains down the Nubra Valley.

india2019 — The split - to the left is the Shyok River valley and to the right is the Nubra River valley. They meet below Diskit. To the left is Pakistan and to the right is into the Himalayas and K12.

india2019 — On our trip from the Nubra Valley to Leh we wandered up and over the Ladakh mountains. This valley was populated, but the terrain down to the water was tough. You can see the green where people have settled on the edge of the river valley.

india2019 — Here we are at Khardung La which is about 18,000 feet above sea level. Again we were told to spend only 10-15 minutes at the pass before heading down because of the thin air.

india2019 — I spent too much time running around taking pictures and was slightly dizzy.

india2019 — Three stupas high in Khardung La pass.

india2019 — Leh from Khardung La Road with the Himalayas in the background.

india2019 — Namgyal Tsemo Monastery high on a hill over Leh

india2019 — Ladakh mountains.

india2019 — Shanti Stupa was built by both Japanese Buddhists and Ladakh Buddhists. Construction started in 1983 and the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso inaugurated the Shanti Stupa in August 1991

india2019 — The Shanti Stupa was built to promote world peace and prosperity and to commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism. It is considered a symbol of the ties between the people of Japan and Ladakh.

india2019 — Golden buddha.

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