Alchi Monastery - The wonder of India
Alchi (1020AD) - Marvel of Ladakh and Kashmir
Alchi represents the pinnacle of Trans-Himalayan art.
These magnificent wall paintings, dated between 11th – 13th century AD, are from Alchi monastery located 65 kms west of Leh. King Yeshe Od of Guge and famous scholar Rinchen Zangpo have built 108 monasteries in Tibetan region. Out of these 3 temples were believed to be created in one night – Sumda, Mangyu and Alchi.
The Sumtseg, a three storied building is one of the most outstanding artistic creations in Kashmir. It houses 3 colossal statues of Bodhisattvas. The sculpture of Avalokiteshwara stands 4m high and his dhoti is filled with miniature paintings of palaces, temples and royal life. The Alchi murals combine the best of Kashmiri and Tibetian art and provide a rare glimpse of the peaceful coexistence of Buddhism and Shaivaism traditions in Kashmir. It is remarkable that the stone colors used don’t show any sign of fading and glows even after 1000 years.
The tallest sculpture of Maitreya stands 5m tall and his dhoti is depicted with 50 roundels showing various episodes of Buddha Shakyamuni. The important paintings show the birth of Price Siddhartha at Lumbini gardens, the young prince undergoing penance, attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, preaching to 5 companions at Sarnath and images of Akshobhaya Buddha. They are breathtakingly beautiful and real.
The third giant sculpture of orange hue is that of Manjushri. There are 84 mahasiddhas depicted on his dhoti in chequered squares. On the upper storey above the head of Manjushri is the painting of standing Tara with 8 hands. On the right hand wall of Sumtseg, there are 1000 miniature paintings of Manjushri painted in 5 colours. The central icon is the 4-armed golden Manjushri holding a sword and a book decorated with intricate gold work.
This iconic painting of the Lady of Alchi is that of Shyama Tara seated in a sun disc. Note this style of painting where the almond shaped eyes is projected beyond the outline of the face, a style perfected earlier in Ellora and Ajanta.
Alchi represents the pinnacle of trans-Himalayan art where beauty and divinity reaches the exquisite levels of Ajanta and South Indian Temples.
What differentiates Alchi from other imposing hill top monasteries in Ladakh is that it is small and built in the valley with flat roofs. It’s status as a backwater possibly saved it from being destroyed in the many Mughal and Dogra wars.
The cold dry desert of Ladakh has helped preserve the beautiful paintings. However recent rains resulting from climate changes are causing massive destruction to the mud walls & wooden ceilings. Negligence arising out of infighting between monks and ASI is preventing proper restoration work.
Visit Alchi before it is too late and lost forever in the wheels of time.
How to reach - Alchi can be reached from Leh (66Kms) or Srinagar - Kargil (383Kms). Stay near Alchi or Lamayaru and plan a visit to Alchi and Likir Monasteries.
You can watch the beauty of Tabo Monastery here -
Enchanted Alchi, ‘Paintings of India’ (Excerpts).
Excerpts from Crossroads of the World (The 11th century Buddhist murals in Ladakh and Lahaul-Spiti.)
A film by culture historian Benoy K Behl.
Please also see Benoy K Behl's books ‘The Art of India’ in 2 vols; ‘Buddhism: The Path of Compassion’; ‘The Ajanta Caves’ and 'Hindu Deities Worshipped in Japan'.
Alchi Monastery/Gompa - Oldest Buddhist Monastery @ Ladakh
Alchi Monastery or Alchi Gompa is a Buddhist monastery, known more as a monastic complex (chos-'khor) of temples in Alchi village in the Leh District, of the Indian state under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council of Jammu and Kashmir. The complex comprises four separate settlements in the Alchi village in the lower Ladakh region with monuments dated to different periods. Of these four hamlets, Alchi monastery is said to be the oldest and most famous. It is administered by the Likir Monastery.[1][2][3]
Alchi is also part of the three villages (all in lower Ladakh region) which constitute the ‘Alchi group of monuments’; the other two villages adjoining Alchi are the Mangyu and Sumda Chun. The monuments in these three villages are stated to be of “unique style and workmanship’, but the Alchi monastic complex is the best known.[1][2]
The monastery complex was built, according to local tradition, by the great translator Guru Rinchen Zangpo between 958 and 1055. However, inscriptions in the preserved monuments ascribe it to a Tibetan noble called Kal-dan Shes-rab later in the 11th century.[2][4] Dukhang or Assembly Hall and the Main Temple (gTsug-lag-khang), which is a three-storied temple called the Sumtseg (gSum-brtsegs), are built in Kashmiri style as seen in many monasteries; the third temple is called the Manjushri Temple ('Jam-dpal lHa-khang). Chortens are also an important part of the complex.[1][2]
The artistic and spiritual details of both Buddhism and the Hindu kings of that time in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are reflected in the wall paintings in the monastery. These are some of the oldest surviving paintings in Ladakh. The complex also has huge statues of the Buddha and elaborate wood carvings and art-work comparable to the baroque style.[2][5] Shakti Maira has vividly explained the beauty of this small monastery.[6]
Alchi Village, Leh Ladhak HD
Alchi is a village in the leh district of Jammu and Kashmir. India.
It is located in the Khalsi Tehsil, on the Bank of Indus River 70 km downstream from the capital in Leh.
A magical village in leh.
The World Famous Alchi Monastery, Ladakh
A Travels With Sheila fact - 99% (if not 100%) of the tourists in Ladakh will visit the world famous Alchi Monastery founded in the 11th century by the Great Translator Ringchem Zangpo on his return from India. Not only because it has some of the oldest surviving painting inside but because the frescoes are beyond exquisite. An easy to do day trip and everyone does it...
Lama Zangpo was known as the Great Translator because he translated Indian Buddhist scriptures into the Tibetan Language. Photographing the frescoes inside is strictly forbidden and our guide told us, truthfully, that one of the guardian monks broke a tourist's wrist when he tried to sneak one. Buy the postcards HERE. They are not on sale anywhere else in Ladakh, AND bring a flashlight. It is quite dark in the inner rooms.
Incredible Alchi Monastery in Leh, Ladakh [Must Visit] [GoPro vlog]
I took a journey to Leh, and having reached there early in April, there was not much happening in Leh - so I decided to take a trip to nearby places.
This is my journey from Leh to Alchi, on the way to Lamayuru.
Shot using GoPro Hero 4 (Silver)
Credits:
Long Road Ahead B by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (
Source:
Artist:
- leh to alchi vlog
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Alchi monastery Leh, Ladakh, Alchi village Leh, Ladakh
Alchi is a village in the Leh district. On the bank of Indus River 70 km downstream from the capital in Leh. Unlike the other gompas in Ladakh, Alchi is situated on lowland, not on a hilltop.
Video Contents Overview :
- Alchi Village
- Alchi Monastery
- Handicrafts local market
- Alchi Natural Spring, Streams
- Stupas
- Buddhist art in Kashmir. Du-Khang is the earliest temple at Alchi, founded by Kal-dan Shes-rab around the 11th century AD.
#alchivillagelehladakh #alchimonastery #alchinaturalspringstreams #alchistupas #salinkumar #malayalam #english
Alchi Monastery | Ladakh Road Trip | Alchi Gompa | Leh | Ladakh | Rinchen Zangpo | Jammu Kashmir |
Alchi Monastery | Alchi Gompa | Leh | Ladakh | Rinchen Zangpo | Jammu and Kashmir | India - October 2018
Alchi Village and Monastery, Ladakh, India
VIDEO0045.mp4
Alchi monastery ladakh
Alchi monastery ladakh
India - Ladakh - Alchi & Likir
India - Ladakh - Alchi & Likir
0:14 Alchi; 3:47 monastyr Likir;
Alchi Monastery
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Alchi Monastery or Alchi Gompa is a Buddhist monastery, known more as a monastic complex of temples in Alchi village in the Leh District, of the Indian state under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council of Jammu and Kashmir.The complex comprises four separate settlements in the Alchi village in the lower Ladakh region with monuments dated to different periods.Of these four hamlets, Alchi monastery is said to be the oldest and most famous.It is administered by the Likir Monastery.
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Day 3 - Bike Trip to Alchi Monastery, Leh - Newfangled Girl
Enjoying the adventure of one world on two wheels in Leh-Ladakh. We rented bikes from Leh town & headed towards Alchi Monastery. We drove to Magnetic hills, visited Gurudwara Pathar Sahib and Sangam Valley.
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INDIA | Ladakh Road Trip 2017 - Alchi and Likir Monastery
Road trip in Ladakhm, India is breathtaking (literal). In this video, you'll see desserts and snow-capped mountains.
For more of my narrative and stories, log on to
Alchi Choskor oldest surviving monastic complex of Ladakh
J'ai créé cette vidéo à l'aide de l'application de montage de vidéos YouTube (
India - HIGH WAY to Alchi in Ladakh
India - HIGH WAY to Alchi in Ladakh
04:04 Mulbekh; 13:18 Fotu-La; 13:48 Lamayuru; 19:00 Indus
Music: Indian Colours - Sina Vodjani;
ALCHI MONASTERY, MAGNETIC HILLS, SANGAM
Magnet Hill is a Cyclops hill located near Leh in Ladakh, India.The layout of the area and surrounding slopes create the appearance of a hill. The hill road is actually a downhill road. Objects and cars on the hill road may appear to roll uphill in defiance of gravity when they are, in fact, rolling downhill. Magnetic Hill is a gravity hill located near Leh in Ladakh, India. The hill is alleged to have magnetic properties strong enough to pull cars uphill and force passing aircraft to increase their altitude in order to escape magnetic interference; in reality, the effect is an optical illusion created by the gravity hill.
The hill is located on the Leh-Kargil-Batalik national highway and is bordered by the Sindhu river. The Indian Army maintains a Sikh Gurudwara near the hill where Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism, meditated in the 15th century. Due to both the Gurudwara and the gravity hill, the area has become a popular sightseeing destination.
Sounds unbelievable, but it's true.
A hill near picturesque Leh has magnetic properties which attract metallic objects, making vehicles move up at a speed of about 20 km per hour with their engines off.
Alchi Monastery Leh Ladakh
Alchi Monastery is a group of ancient Buddhist shrines that together form one of the most important religious centres in Ladakh.
Alchi Monastery is a Buddhist monastery, known more as a monastic complex of temples in Alchi village in the Leh District, of the Indian state under the Ladakh.
The monastery complex was built, according to local tradition, by the great translator Guru Rinchen Zangpo between 958 and 1055.
Alchi Gompa- ladakh
Alchi Gompa on my roadtrip to Ladakh