Photos

The 'reformed' gompa of Ri-Dzong was founded only a 100 years ago, to give full expression to the monastic ideal of the Ge-lugs-pa. It has maintained its strict adherence to the rules of monastic life, and has the distiction of being the only one of the major central Ladakh monasteries to have remained so far off the beaten track that even now cannot be approached except on foot.

The track to Ri-Dzong leaves main road along the Indus at Ule-tokpo, between Saspol and Nayurla, to follow the valley of tributary stream; a couple kilometers up continue on foot located is the gompa. The gompa is situated at a point where two spurs approach each other from either side and the gorge is further blocked by a ridge of debris, deposited by some cataclysm, landslide or earthquake, geological agaes agao. Thus the gompa building rises high above the footpath, fill the whole width of gorge, blocking any further view. The word gompa means "mountain fort" and looking at this gompa sounds very true.

This monastery have much stricter discipline, and the only monastery do not have individual cooking arrangements, but a communal kitchen. They have around 30 monks and 12 nuns.

What you see in view is located at bottom is the Gompa school, and above rises high is the gompa.

Note: The image is not altered to get the ray effect. I wish I know how that effect came.