Diskit seems to be boring on first impression but it possesses an attractive old town image where low balconied houses lie below the main road. The other road ascends to the hillside above the town to Diskit`s picturesque and serene Gompa built in the year 1420. If you`re on foot, follow the long Mani wall, which continues on the other side of the road, and track the path that winds upwards from its end to the monastery, from there, is a steep walk of around thirty minutes which will make you reach the temple.
Local legends say that a Mongol demon, sworn enemy of Lord Buddha was slain here only. But his lifeless soul kept coming here near the Gompa. The small Lachung temple above is the ancient temple here. Soot-soiled murals face a huge Tsong-kha-Pa statue, topped with a Gelug-Pa yellow hat. In the heart of the Gompa, the Du-khang`s remarkable mural, filling a raised cupola above the hall, depicts Tibet`s Tashilhunpo gompa, where the Panchen Lama is receiving a long stream of visitors approaching on camels, horses and carts. Finally, the Rangyu Lang and Tsangyu Lang temples act as storerooms for hundreds of Mongolian and Tibetan texts.
Accommodation in Diskit
Accommodation in Diskit is enormously available. Olthang Guest house has a wide range of rooms offering attractive services, such as food made up of home-grown vegetables and the picturesque garden are served for dinner in the dining hall, which duals its services by opening bar in the evenings. You can camp here for Rs. 80. Follow the road down from the prayer wheel and along the Mani wall on your right through a chorten gate to enjoy Sun Rise which has cheap beds, shared bathrooms and a pleasant garden. Further down the road, behind a set of chortens, is the homely Karakoram Guest House which has good food in the traditional Ladakhi kitchen and camping spots in the garden for Rs30. Another 100m down the lane is the pleasant Thachung, which has beautiful sunny glass rooms and clean bathrooms. All the guesthouses will provide food.
