Blog Challenge, Festival of Words 2017 by Write Tribe, LadakhTravelDiaries, Travel

| Day-3 | Map to a moonland in Ladakh | WriteTribe – Festival of Words 2017 |

Day-3 prompt in the #festivalofwords is to take a map and detail out a place (virtual or real) and I couldn’t think of a better place than the famous “Moonland” of Ladakh which has stunningly gorgeous landscape, thanks to the nature induced lunar-scape formations. This is also the location of one of the most ancient and largest Monasteries in Ladakh.

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Google map shows the route between FotuLa pass and Leh, via Lama Yuru Monastery
Ladakh 2012
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Approaching the town of Lama yuru monastery which is situated just after Fotu La pass (highest pass on Srinagar-Leh Highway) and 100 km before the capital town of Leh – Ladakh 2012
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Lama Yuru Monastery or the Eternal Monastery or the YungDrung Tharpaling Monastery is one of the oldest and largest Gompas (monastery) in this region. 
Ladakh 2012
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Lama Yuru Gompa seems to be precariously balanced atop the golden sand dune -like cliffs which are a natural formation due to the continuous erosion by the weather elements here.
Ladakh 2012
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Awestruck by the beautifully detailed out Stupas at the Lama yuru Monastery Ladakh 2012
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Lama Yuru Gompa is the main seat of  Driku Kagyu tradition, with over 50 monasteries and 400 monks registered under it Ladakh 2012
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Its believed that one prays and turns the Prayer Wheels in clockwise direction to send the prayers to the lord. Lama Yuru – Ladakh 2012
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View of the Meditation Hill where the monks quarters and meditation hall is situated.
Lama Yuru, Ladakh 2012
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Its said that there was a huge lake here and the 10th century monk Naropa struck a crack in the mountain to drain the water and clear the land to build this monastery. Over time, erosion has created surreal land formations here which closely resemble the lunar scape, thereby earning it the name “MoonLand”. 
LamaYuru, Ladakh 2012
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The interiors of the monastery houses some colourful hand painted  murals on the walls, depicting the folk-lore of the sect of Buddhism followed here.
LamaYuru, Ladakh 2012

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Local man with a prayer wheel
Lama Yuru Monastery Ladakh 2012

Have you been to this surreal landscape? What do you think of it?

 I am taking part in The Write Tribe Festival of Words #6

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Catch my other posts here:

Day -1

Day – 2

 

Linking up for #wordsante with Namysaysso for every post deserves some love

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52 thoughts on “| Day-3 | Map to a moonland in Ladakh | WriteTribe – Festival of Words 2017 |

  1. The place looks very serene, and that is very appealing. 🙂 I don’t know if/when I’d travel to this place, but thank you for the virtual visit through your photography, Shalini.

    1. Thanks Vinay! I feel its a must travel region atleast once in your life. The stark landscapes and the changing weather moods lend such a beautiful look to the terrain here.

    1. Interesting to hear that Sunita – moon map!!! I need to check this out when I come to Bombay soon!! 😉

    1. Thanks so much Anagha for such warm words of praise – you really seem to have read this through and through!!! 🙂

  2. All the photos are simply awesome especially with the white clouds at play in them. I especially like the monastery standing on top of the sand dune like hill. The work of erosion does cause my mind to think about how old this terrain must be.

    1. They say this terain is as old as the 10th century Anamika – as in then there was a lake there that dried up to make way for the monastery!! Later the sun and winds played its role in shaping it! The receding waters too etched a few patterns – its just stunning. I dont think I captured it all that well!!

  3. This brought back some lovely memories of our trip to Leh in 2009. We went via Srinagar and had stayed for the night at Kargil and then at Uletokpo (a camping site) and then moved to Leh. Leh should be on everyone’s travel list.
    Gorgeous captures as usual, Shalini!

    1. I had also traveled through Srinagar and Kargil and had researched this place. So made a detour before reaching Leh and we are so glad we did that! Its simply a stunning place for sure!!

  4. Ladakh is one of the top places I’d love to visit simply because of it’s sheer magnificence of nature. Thanks for showing us Moonland, it has such a poetic ring to it, na? It’s so divinely beautiful!

    1. Thanks so much Venice – yeah thats what they call it there. Would you believe it there are hotels and homestays named after it there? 😉

  5. Amazing pictures. I am planning to go to this beautiful place this month. Your pictures and the descriptions have piqued my curiosity even more. Thanks for the lovely post.

    1. Oh I am waiting to hear all about your trip. We should plan to meet up as soon as you are back and raring to meet up!! I will bring the cookies!! 🙂 Enjoy your trip and have loads of fun but take lots of care of your health and travel as light as possible. Do carry a sipper to stay hydrated – sip sip sip – thats the mantra to follow there.

    1. Oh the prayer wheels are just an amazing sight Z – you get to see them in every monastery! I hope you get to see them soon’ dont forget to turn them and make a wish!

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