Phuktal Monastery, Buddhist monastery in Kargil district, India
Phuktal is a Gelugpa monastery in the Kargil region of Ladakh, built into a steep limestone wall and towering above the Lungnak River. The buildings grow out of the rock caves and are joined by narrow wooden stairs and galleries, while the white and ochre facades glow against the grey cliff.
A Buddhist scholar founded a meditation site here in the 12th century within the natural caves. The present buildings were added over several centuries, while the compound served as a refuge for monks fleeing conflicts in Tibet.
The name comes from the Tibetan word for cave, and the compound houses young monks who learn to read and write here. Visitors can enter the prayer room and see how the monks carry out their rituals, while butter lamps flicker and the scent of incense fills the air.
The walk from the nearest village Padum takes about three to four days on foot, and you cross several rivers on suspension bridges. The trek is demanding because of the altitude, and you should take time to adjust to the thin air.
A natural spring rises in the middle of the prayer room and flows through the whole compound. The monks drink from this spring and use it for religious ceremonies, because they believe the water holds sacred properties.
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