Stakna Monastery or Stakna Gompa is a monastery belonging to the Buddhist community of the Drugpa organization in Stakna, Leh region of Ladakh in the northern part of India. The monastery is at a distance of about 21 to 25 kilometers from Leh and situated on the left bank of the Indus River.
History
Stakna Monastery is an old Buddhist temple where the monk’s worship. The place is roosted on a slope, which is formed like that of a nose of the tiger (Stakna). The name, truly signifying the 'tiger's nose' and was given since it was based on a slope that formed like a tiger's nose. It was established in the late sixteenth century by a Bhutanese researcher and holy person, Choose Jamyang Palkar. It is among the few religious estates that were presented to Chosje Jamyang Palkar. He was a prestigious researcher and holy person. Dharmaraja Jamyang Namgyal was the person who offered it in the year 1580, in the wake of welcoming the researcher to Ladakh. Out of the few idols and pictures in the monastery, the most important one is that of Arya Avalokitesvara from Assam's Kamrup district. Aside from being a significant shrine, it is the home of more than 30 Buddhist monks. The monastery is headed by the rebirth of Stakna Tulku, who is a respected Lama. The devout head and monks convey forward the genealogy of the Dugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism.
It is the main Bhutanese Drukpa Kagyu religious shrine in Ladakh, headed by the Je Khenpo in Bhutan, though the other Drukpa cloisters in Ladakh are of the Gyalwang Drukpa's school, based at Hemis. This split in the Drukpa Kagyu heredity happened in the seventeenth century when there was a disagreement regarding who was the genuine reincarnation of the fourth Gyalwang Drukpa.
The progressive reincarnations of the Stakna Tulku keep on filling in as the officeholders of the monastery, safeguarding the lessons of the Dugpa order. Stakna Gompa additionally has various monasteries connected to it, to be specific Mud and Kharu and those of Stakrimo, Bardan and Sani in Zanskar.
Architecture
On entering the courtyard at the center of the Stakna Monastery, one can see the Dukhang (primary assembly lobby). The head lama got seven feet high, silver gilded chorten raised inside the Dukhang, during the 1950s. The chorten consists of a sculpture of the Buddha and also several Buddhist writings. The left wall of the Dukhang is enhanced with three new works of art, those of the Tsephakmad (a Buddhist god), Sakyamuni (The Historical Buddha) and Amchi (the Medical Buddha).
There is a wall on the opposite side of the Dukhang entrance which is also painted with three pictures, those of a Bodhisattva, Padma Sambhava (eighth-century Indian Buddhist researcher and interpreter of Buddhist writings into Tibetan) and Tshong-san-gompa (an early ruler of Tibet). To one side of the lobby are the statues of Sakyamuni (Past Buddha), the Present Buddha and Maitreya (Future Buddha). Also, the throne of the head lama of Stakna lies on the left side of the Dukhang.
Once you reach the Stakna Monastery you will have a lot of Photograph Opportunities. Lying on the bank of the Indus River, on a high hillock, this monastery offers some diverse displays of nature and distant provinces. These aspects make it a perfect spot for clicking delightful photos.
How to reach
Stakna Monastery is situated ta 25 km from Leh and it can be reached by taxi or cab. Tourists can also rent a bike from the city and visit here. The nearest airport is the Leh airport which is situated at a distance of 26 km. People going to Leh from Manali can stop here and seeks blessings.
Best time to visit
Summer season is the ideal time to visit the monastery when the region experiences warm weather during the day time.
Places to visit near Stakna Monastery
Thiksey Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Chemrey Monastery, and Hemis National Park are the famous places to visit near the Stakna Monastery.
