Leh Laddakh is the land of rugged mountains, snow capped peaks and beautiful monasteries where the Buddhist monks reside. The Bardan Monastery is one such monastery in Leh- Ladakh, which is tucked away in the rugged Himalayas. These monasteries have an excellent collection of Thangka paintings and symbols of rich cultural heritage of Buddhist society. Bardan Monastery in Leh- Ladakh which is also called the Bardan Gompa, dates back to the 17th century and it has under its association a number of other monasteries.
About Bardan Monastery:
Bardan Monastery of Ladakh, standing atop a rocky crag, lies at a distance of approximately 12 km to the south of Padum. It belongs to the Dugpa-Kargyud monastic order. It was one of the first centers of Dugpa-Kargyud monastic order to be set up in Zanskar. Bardan Gompa dates back to the 17th century. A number of smaller monasteries in the region come under the management of Bardan.
Bardan Gompa consists of a large Dukhang, assembly hall. All the other structures within the monastery are structured around the hall. It boasts of some of the most magnificent statues of Buddhist divinities, along with some small stupas in clay, bronze, wood and copper. A shrine devoted to Maitreya, the Buddha of future ages, stands on the first floor. The highlight of the monastery is the its giant prayer wheel which is around 1.8 mtrs high. The monastery, home to some 50 monks, is a branch of Stakna Monastery and looks after the functioning of other smaller monasteries like Sani.
Getting there :
By Road: National Highway NH-1D connects Leh to the rest of the country. JKSRTC provide service from Srinagar to Leh (700 km), which takes two days.
By Rail: The nearest railway station in Jammu Tawi, which is well connected to many cites in India, especially in the northern part.
By Air: Leh has an airport, flights from which are mainly connected with Delhi.
Location: Ladakh
State: Jammu and Kashmir
Best Time To Visit: June to September
Weather: 14°C – 40°C
Nearest Town/City: Srinagar
Nearest Railhead: Srinagar<
Nearest Airport: Jammu
Local Language(s): Ladakhi
STD Code: 01982
