Stakna Monastery is raised on a 60m high-isolated rock, located in Stakna in Leh district of J&K. It is few kilometers upstream from Thiksey. The monastery was constructed in 1580 by a great scholar saint Chosje Jamyang Palkar, stepbrother to King Singge Namgyal, during the reign of King Jamyang Namgyal. He was a member of the Drukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Located on the left bank of the Indus, the Gompa, on top of a mountain, is shaped like a tiger bounding up towards the sky, with the monastery itself perched on the nose. Thus it is also known by the name `Tiger`s Nose Monastery`. The significance of the Stakna Monastery lies in its marble statue of Avalokiteshvara brought from Assam. There is a small museum that exhibits a fascinating collection of armory and arms. This small monastery houses about 35 Lamas of the red-hat sect of Buddhism.

The monastery consists of the head Lama`s private department, a Dukhang (main temple and assembly hall) and rooms of the lamas and their entourage. The paintings on the walls are worth a view. The three statues of the Past, Present and Future Maitreya Buddha are on the right side of the Dukhang. The monasteries at Mud and Kharu and those of Stakrimo, Bardan and Sani in Zanskar are the monasteries attached to Stakna. Stakna Monastery is on the way to Stok and Hemis. Leh is at a distance of 25km. Regular buses pass by the shrine. By road, it is a 30-minute walk up a sharp hill.

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