Beautiful Monasteries of India 1. Thiksey Monastery: Thiksey village, Ladakh Thiksey Monastery is the largest monastery in central Ladakh district in Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated 18 kms from Leh in the Indus Valley. The monastery is famous for its architecture and stunning location with its buildings structured in a hierarchal order. 2. Hemis Monastery: Hemis, Ladakh Hemis monastery is believed to be the wealthiest monastery in Leh, The monastery was founded by the 1st incarnation of Stagsang Raspa Nawang Gyatso in 1630, when he was invited to Ladakh by the king Singay Namgial who offered him a religious estate in the region. 3. Stakna Monastery: Stakna, Ladakh Stakna Gompa or Stakna Monastery is a Buddhist Monastery located approximately 45 kms outside Leh. The monastery was built on a hill shaped like a tiger’s nose and so its name was derived. 4. Thai Monastery: Bodhgaya, Bihar The Thai Monastery or Buddhist Temple in Bodh Gaya was built in 1956 by Thailand’s Monarch on the request of the then, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to strengthen relations between the two countries. It is unique and the only Thai Temple in India. This temple displays the elegance of Thai architecture. 5. Og Min Ogyen Mindroling Monastery: Dehradun, Uttarakhand The Og Min Mindroling Monastery is located in Clement Town area of Dehradun and is locally known as the Tibetan Monastery. The Mindroling Monastery is a major study center for Buddhist monks as it has a college for advanced Buddhist Studies. 6. Ralang Monastery: Ravangla, Sikkim The Ralang Monastery is located around 6 kms from Ravangla, in the southern portion of Sikkim. As per records, the monastery was constructed post the pilgrimage of the of the fourth Chogyal. After his return, the Karmapa performed the Rabney or blessing. 7. Shechen monastery: Bodhgaya, Bihar In 1996 Rabjam Rinpoche, with the participation of dedicated volunteers and donors built the Shechen Monastery. The monastery complex is located a few minutes’ walk from the Great Stupa. The main building houses a temple with frescoes depicting the life of the Buddha, painted by teachers and students from the Tsering Art School. 8. Bon Monastery: Kewzing, Sikkim The Bon monastery at Kewzing, the only one of its kind in Sikkim, was established in the latter half of 1980’s and is a symbol of the determination of the Bonpo people in Kewzing to preserve their religious traditions. 9. Gonjang Monastery: Gangtok, Sikkim The foundation stone of Gonjang Monastery in Gangtok was laid by H.H. the XIVth Dalai Lama in the year 1981. It started with a small group of monk students in the Sheda but has emerged as one of the prime centers of Buddhist learning in Sikkim. 10.Tawang Monastery: Arunachal Pradesh Tawang Monastery, in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, is the largest monastery in India and second in size worldwide only to the Potala Palace in Tibet. It is situated at an elevation of about 10,000 feet (3,000 m), with a commanding view of t
