Diskit Monastery
Diskit Monastery also known as Deskit Gompa or Diskit Gompa is the oldest and largest Buddhist monastery (gompa) in Diskit, Nubra Valley of the Leh district of Ladakh. It is 115 km north of Leh.
| Diskit Monastery Galdan Tashi Chuling Gompa | |
|---|---|
Diskit Monastery | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Tibetan Buddhism |
| Sect | Gelugpa |
| Deity | Tsong Khapa |
| Festivals | Desmochhey |
| Location | |
| Location | Diskit, Nubra, Leh, Ladakh, India |
Location within India | |
| Geographic coordinates | 34°32′28″N 77°33′37″E |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Tibetan Architecture |
| Founder | Changzem Tserab Zangpo |
| Located in Diskit village, the headquarters of Nubra Valley | |
It belongs to the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism and was founded by Changzem Tserab Zangpo, a disciple of Tsong Khapa, founder of Gelugpa, in the 14th century. It is a sub-gompa of the Thikse gompa.
Lachung Temple and Hundur Monastery are also located nearby, the latter below the main road near a bridge.
The monastery has a statue of Cho Rinpoche (Crowned Buddha) in the prayer hall, a huge drum and several images of fierce guardian deities. An elevated cupola of the monastery depicts a fresco of the Tashilhunpo Monastery of Tibet.
The monastery administration runs a school, with support from a non-government organization known as the "Tibet Support Group". The school has computer facilities and teaches science subjects, in English, to Tibetan children of the region.
A popular festival known as Dosmoche or the "Festival of the Scapegoat" is held in the precincts of the monastery in February, largely attended by people from villages of the Nubra Valley since the other regions in Leh are inaccessible during this period due to heavy snowfall.