Chemre Gompa

One of the most sought after Gompa’s in Leh, Chemre Gompa is situated 40 km from Ladakh at the top of hill of rocky terrain in Chemre Valley. When we see it from the rear, it seems to be medieval European Castle and it contains two temples and a Dukhnag. It has been established by Tibetan Lama, Stagtshang Raspa, in his 4th and 5th incarnations around 350 years ago. Today, there are more than 120 lamas living at red-hat sect at Chemre.

As you enter the central courtyard, Dukhnag is the place for prayers and meals. The temple contains two images of Chemre’s founder, Stagtshang Raspa. Opposite of these images, a mural of Sakyamuni (future Buddha) with his two disciples is worth seeing attraction. On the other side of the painting, there are two large images of mandals; Kalachakra and Akshobhya. The remaining sides of the paintings include thousand pictures of Buddha.

At the upper level of Dukhang, there is the Lama Lha-khang or Lama temple which includes images of various lamas, incarnation of Buddha and other deities as well as religious texts.

As we reaches at the highest point of Gompa, we find a new temple devoted to Padme Sambhaya, 8th century Indian Buddhist who expanded Buddhism in Tibet and deciphered several Buddhist texts from their original written from of Pali and Sanskrit into Tibetan. The picture of Padme Sambhya not only describes his grand figure but also shown as fighting with demons.

Just opposite of statue of Padme Sambhawa, the left wall depicts pictures of Buddha and his several incarnations of Tibetan Buddhism. The wall is painted by Ladakhi artist in 1977 and boasts of finest wall murals, decorated columns and roofstuts.