Dotted with a number of monasteries, the land of Ladakh is the abode of religion and worship with a tranquil environ that pervades the land. The serenity and simplicity of the culture and religion that are depicted in the bunch of monasteries have an impact on the mind and soul of the inhabitants.

Most of the great monastic establishments of Central Tibet were in the nature of universities with accommodation and teaching provided for thousands of monks from all over the Tibetan cultural area. The religious places of the sixteenth century at Namgyal Tsemo and Basgo have murals that, in style and content, seem to occupy an intermediate position between Alchi and the later gompas. The `gompas` or the monasteries were decorated in a specific style like the verandahs of the `du-khang`, or main temple of the `gompas`, are invariably decorated with representations of the Lords of the Four Quarters, and the `Samsara Chakra` connoting the Wheel of Life. The Lords are mythological figures of great antiquity, and are depicted as warriors in the Mongol tradition. Lord of the North is Kuvera, a yellow figure who holds a banner in his right hand and a mongoose in his left; Vimdhaka, Lord of the South, is either green or blue, and instead of a helmet wears an elephant`s head carrying a sword. Dhritarashtra, who rules the East, is white and plays a lute; and Lord of the West is Virupaksha, who is red and carries a `chorten` in his hand have also been engraved on the walls of the monasteries. Of a more purely didactic purpose is the Wheel of Life, which is supported by a grotesque Yamantaka. Also known as the Kala Chakra, the Wheel of Time, or Dharma Chakra, Wheel of the Law, this represents the cycle of existence which has to be endured time after time by all souls. The most popular of the female deities represented in the `gompas` are the Green and White Taras in Tibetan Dolma Dolkar, and Dolma Doljan. Spituk seems to be the `gompa` with the greatest devotion of the Taras. It has a whole room devoted to the twenty-three manifestations of Tara.

Ladakh is the land of monasteries and this is the land where Buddhism is practiced with all the ramifications of this religion. The `gompas` are the creative excellence of the land. The first recorded royal residence at Leh was Tashi Namgyal`s fort at Namgyal Tsemo, the peak above the town. It is no longer inhabited, but the temples associated with the fort are maintained by a lama from Sankar Gompa, down in the valley. This `gompa` is built by King Tashi Namgyal and it dates back to the year 1430. This `gompa` of Ladakh possesses a three-story high solid gold idol of Maitrieya Buddha which is also known as the laughing Buddha along with a statue of Avaloketesvara and Manjushri, approximately one story high. This `gompa` of Ladakh is decked with numerous manuscripts and frescoes. Being a subsidiary of the Spituk Gompa, the Sankar `gompa` of Ladakh is located at a distance of approximately 3 km from the town of Leh. The `gompa,` a pleasing cluster of buildings and `chorten` nestling among trees on the edge of the village, is a relatively modern foundation. This is the residence of Spituk`s head lama. Sankar is one of the few `gompas` to have definite visiting hours, morning and evening. Apart from these monasteries, here are monasteries like Spituk Gompa, which was founded early in the fifteenth century apparently on the site of an eleventh-century monastery. This was the first Ge-lugs-pa establishment in Ladakh, and this is reflected in its name which in Tibetan connotes `Effective as an Example`. The `gompa` is situated almost at the summit of a small but precipitous and craggy hill, about eight kilometres down the Indus from Leh, above the fields and houses of Spituk village. Even more than most `gompas`, it seems to be a maze of dark passages and unexpected shrines in odd corners.

The Phiyang Gompa of Ladakh crowns a small hill dominating the village of the same name. It is situated in a valley just off the main road down the Indus, about fifteen kilometres from Leh. One of the two Dri-gung-pa monasteries in Ladakh, it was founded by King Tashi Namgyal in the third quarter of the sixteenth century. This monastery is embellished with paintings and images in bright radiant colours. Among the treasures of Phiyang are a collection of Kashmiri Buddhist bronzes and a few pieces of old arms and armour. Another major destination which is remarkable for the monasteries is Shey. Incorporated in the palace of Shey is a temple with a huge copper-gilt image of Sakyamuni, said to date from the time of Deldan Namgyal. The lamps burning in front if the image includes an enormous one of silver studded with turquoises, an object of high craftsmanship. The main attraction, here as at the palace, is a gigantic Sakyamuni image, probably erected at the instance of Sengge Namgyal. The paintings on the walls, probably done faithfully to the same designs as in the original temple, are bright without being garish. They represent the sixteen `arhats`, Buddha`s original disciples, along the two side walls. On the front wall various deities are represented. In the same complex are a couple of small tantric shrines, and a temple of the Buddha Amitabh (Boundless Light), one of the Five Buddhas. Here too the walls are painted with representations of the Thousand Buddhas. Another important monument at Shey represents the Five Buddhas of Meditation, five manifestations of Buddhahood, distinguished by their several mudras or hand gestures, and by their animal vehicles, shown beneath them. This probably dates from early in the period of Tibetan cultural influence.

Tikse is one of the largest and most impressive of the central Ladakh monasteries. A motorable track connects the monastery to the road. Tikse was established during the original period of Ge-lugs-pa expansion in Ladakh, probably about the middle of the fifteenth century. It may have had its origin as a daughter house of the small chapel of Stagmo seven kilometres north. Another monastery of Ladakh is Hemis which was founded in the 1630s by Stag-tsang-ras-pa under the royal patronage of Sengge Namgyal. Hemis is the largest and richest of the Ladakh `gompas`. It nestles into the mountainside a little way up a winding glen in the mountains of the Zanskar range, about forty kilometres up the Indus from Leh. Of all the monasteries, Hemis is the one which most gives the impression that it is conscious of being on show. The verandah of the monastery has been reconstructed and the usual paintings of the Wheel of Life and the Lords of the Four Quarters are executed in an unusual rather naive style. They are accompanied by the Old Man of Long Life with a symbolic composition in which an elephant supports a monkey, who carries on his back a rabbit, who in his turn supports a bird who pecks fruit from a tree.

Equipped with virgin mountainous beauty, Ladakh is a seat of numerous monasteries. Ladakh is the house of Alchi Monastery, though is no longer an active spiritual establishment. The Alchi monastery dates back to the year 1000 A.D. and was established by Rinchen Zangpo, the Translator who referred to this monastery in his biographies. This monastery is well constructed with a tint of Indian culture. The monastery is sited at a distance of approximately 67 km to the west of Leh. Three sacred temples are associated with this monastery and make up a major part of the Alchi Gompa of Ladakh. Innumerable images inside the monastery including that of Vairocana with the ones of the five Buddha Families, along with their attendant deities. Spituk Monastery is yet another excellent example of ancient Buddhist construction; the Spituk Monastery commands a magnificent view of the Indus Valley for an extensive stretch.

In addition to a large number of Ladakh, monasteries like Phyang Monastery, Thikse Monastery, Lekir Monastery, Rizong Monastery, Lamayuru Monastery, Stakna Monastery, Stok Gompa, Thonde Monastery, Trakthogk Monastery, Wanla Monastery, Zongkhul Monastery, Matho Monastery, Phutkal Monastery, Samstemling Gompa, Sani Monastery, Chimre Gompa, Deskit Monastery, Gurphug Monastery are some of the well known monasteries of Ladakh.