INTRODUCTION TO JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Jammu and Kashmir is one of the holiest state of sacred Temples, mosques and monasteries in India …… A place full of legends and tales of gods walking the earth and every where the stepped they left their marks ……

INTRODUCTION TO LADAKH Today our search for divine take us  to one of the highest places in the world…..a place closest to paradise, also known as 'the Moon Land', Ladakh is one of the most unique destinations on the planet…Situated in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. Ladakh is vast land with some of most spectacular sights in the world…. This high altitude region of particularly challenging topography and extreme weather conditions is not just any hill station for everyone to visit…..   Ladakh is exquisite and possesses an endearing scenic magnetism and abundant natural gifts.

Ladakh the land of monks is home to some of the most amazing monasteries in the world…….

Buddhism is the prominent religion and a way of life here …

People lead a very minimalistic and happy life; they will always greet you with a smile, which reflects their inner peace which they have attained through their Buddhist believes….

Buddhism is believed to have first preached in Ladakh by missionaries sent by King Ashoka in 3^rd century B.C

Buddhism is divided into different sects mainly Hinayana and Mahayana. Hinayanis aim for self nirvana, or enlightenment, They lead a life of a sanyasi… whereas the Mahayanis believe in nirvana of all living beings…… Hence they are called Maha meaning Great, and Hina means inferior…  

Then later Mahayana gave way to another sect — Vajrayana, the vehicle of the thunderbolt. In the 11th and 12th century

Ladakh has a deep influence of Tibetan Buddhism, which follows the Mahayana and Vajrayana thought. Both these forms worship Buddha as a deity who has attained Nirvan.

Ladakh has around 30 monasteries each of them is a museum of a sort with detail mural work, beautiful idols, sacred writings and religious instruments. These monasteries are the pride of Ladakh and also the main source of spiritual and materialist needs of the people.

Monasteries are often built on a higher platform like a Hill or a mountain slope residing over the village below protecting it… These structures are no less than a fort and rise up floor by floor commanding over the entire area around……   

SLATES

Part of Jammu and Kashmir in India, Ladakh was opened to tourists in the mid-70s and since then, thousands of people from around the world have visited this citadel of Himalayan Buddhism. But Ladakh still doesn’t get the number of tourist it truly deserves…..