Thikse Monastery

A gompa, or Tibetan-style monastery, associated with the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism is known as Thikse Gompa or Thikse Monastery (also transliterated from Ladakhi as Tiksey, Thiksey, or Thiksay). It is situated on top of a hill in Thiksey, Ladakh, India, about 19 km (12 mi) east of Leh. It is the biggest gompa in central Ladakh and is renowned for its similarity to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Of particular importance, it contains a separate group of structures for female renunciates that have been the subject of major recent development and reorganization.

The Lamokhang temple, which is located in the upper level of the monastery, is home to a large collection of sacred texts, including the Kangyur and the Stangyur. Men only are permitted on this floor. At the monastery's entrance are large stupas and mani walls. Boys from the nearby villages are taught in a tiny chamber located above the temple, and some of these boys are eventually chosen to become lamas.

The Gustor ritual, an annual celebration held in the monastic grounds, takes place from the 17th to the 19th day of the ninth Tibetan lunar month (October–November). This ceremony includes sacred dances like the mask dance and the cham dance. Another unique aspect is the trade fair that is conducted at the foot of the monastery, when locals from all over Ladakh come together to exchange goods, mingle, and interact. Smaller celebrations are perfect for sand mandalas. Numerous worshipers attend the morning prayers at this monastery around 7:00am, which feature synchronized reciting of sutras.

Location: Thiksey, Ladakh, India