Ladakh the Land of High Passes in the Himalayas
The 4th International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh from 21 Aug – 01 Sep 2015 (12D/11N)
Morning view of Namra Hotel Camping, Tingmosgang
Day 10 (30.08.2015) – To Bodhkharbu (60km) on the way to Lamayuru Monastery, Ladakh
In the morning, we visited the Mahabodhi branch school and hostel at Bodhkharbu which was established in 2004. Bodhkharbu is a very remote village at a distance of 170km in the west of Ladakh which is a part of Kargil District. With a population of over a thousand, it had only one Government High School, where the teachers and facilities existed only on papers. For many years the children from all the surrounding villages had access only to this School. At the request and participation of the local villagers, Ven. Sanghasena, decided to open a Mahabodhi Branch School in Bodhkharbu which was much needed for the basic education of children in that neglected area between Leh and Kargil district. The Mahabodhi School was finally opened in 2004 and presently there are 150 students pursuing their education.
Students and parents performed Ladakhis cultural dance followed by student award ceremony by Sanghasena.
Visited the 11th century Lamayuru Monastery surrounded by mountains and Moon Land landscape. Visited the old fortress and Maitri Buddha Temple at Tingmonsgang, an ancient capital of Ladakh.
Sleeping at Namra Hotel Camping, Tingmosgang, Ladakh. 
In the morning, cross the Indus River in Ladakh's Tingmosgang.
In the morning, we crossed the mountain valleys in Ladakh's Tingmosgang towards Bodhkharbu.
Bodhkharbu region in Ladakh is known for its spectacular martian landscape.
Ven. Sanghasena took some time to meditate in this lunar landscape in Bodhkharbu.
Passing through a village on the way to Bodhkharbu from Leh, Ladakh.
Many cyclists on the way from Leh to Bodhkharbu, Ladakh.
Bodhkharbu region in Ladakh is known for its spectacular martian landscape.
The winding road all the way up to the highest point of Bodhkharbu region.
Bodhkharbu region in Ladakh is known for its spectacular martian landscape.
Bodhkharbu region in Ladakh is known for its spectacular martian landscape.
Bodhkharbu region in Ladakh is known for its spectacular martian landscape.
Ching Neng Bin and cyclist at FotuLa Top 13,479ft, is the highest point of Srinagar-Leh highway, Ladakh.
FotuLa Top at 13,479 ft is the highest point of Srinagar-Leh highway in Ladakh.
Ching Neng Bin at FotuLa Top 13,479ft, is the highest point of Srinagar-Leh highway in Ladakh.
Ching Neng Bin, Jerry Ong, Datuk Seri Dr.Victor Wee at FotuLa Top 13,479ft, on Srinagar-Leh highway.
FotuLa Top 13,479ft, is the highest point of Srinagar-Leh highway in Ladakh.
From FotuLa Top @ 13,479ft, we walked down the trek to the road below for our waiting cars.
From FotuLa Top @ 13,479ft, we walked down the trek to the road below for our waiting cars.
From FotuLa Top @ 13,479ft, we walked down the trek to the road below for our waiting cars.
From FotuLa Top @ 13,479ft, we walked down the trek to the road below for our waiting cars.
From FotuLa Top @ 13,479ft, we walked down the trek to the road below for our waiting cars.
From FotuLa Top @ 13,479ft, we walked down the trek to the road below for our waiting cars.
From FotuLa Top @ 13,479ft, we walked down the trek to the road below for our waiting cars.
Bodhkharbu region in Ladakh is known for its spectacular martian landscape.
Bodhkharbu region in Ladakh is known for its spectacular martian landscape.
Bodhkharbu region in Ladakh is known for its spectacular martian landscape.
Bodhkharbu region in Ladakh is known for its spectacular martian landscape.
Arrived at Mahabodhi branch school hostel at Bodhkharbu which was constructed for students coming from far-flung villages like Hinaskut 8km, Kanji 12km, Kundik 2km, FotolsLok 8km and Kukso 12km away.
Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena briefed us on the set up of the school and hostel at Bodhkharbu, Ladakh.
Mahabodhi branch school hostel at Bodhkharbu, Ladakh.
Parents line the road to welcome us at Mahabodhi branch school at Bodhkharbu.
Arrived at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu which was established in 2004. Noticed that the school teachers, students and parents welcomed us.
Students line the road to welcome us at Mahabodhi branch school at Bodhkharbu.
Bro. Jerry Ong walking in as parents welcomed him at Mahabodhi branch school at Bodhkharbu.
School teachers, students and parents welcomed us at Mahabodhi branch school at Bodhkharbu.
School teachers, students and parents welcomed us at Mahabodhi branch school at Bodhkharbu.
School teachers, students and parents welcomed us at Mahabodhi branch school at Bodhkharbu.
School teachers, students and parents welcomed us at Mahabodhi branch school at Bodhkharbu.
Poh Wee Fah and Datuk Seri Victor Wee at Mahabodhi branch school at Bodhkharbu.
Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF) group at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF) group at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF) group at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF) group at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Parents waited to entertain us with dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Parents waited to entertain us with dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Parents waited to entertain us with dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Parents waited to entertain us with dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Ven.Bhikkhu Sanghasena and students at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF) members and students at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Ven.Bhikkhu Sanghasena and students at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Ven.Bhikkhu Sanghasena and students at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
A teacher at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Ching Neng Bin joined in for the Ladakhe dance at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Datuk Seri Victor Wee joined in for the Ladakhe dance at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Ching Neng Bin joined in for the Ladakhe dance at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Tai Yoke Lin joined in for the Ladakhe dance at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Datuk Seri Victor Wee and Ching Neng Bin joined in for the Ladakhe dance at Mahabodhi branch school.
Ching Neng Bin joined in for the Ladakhe dance at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Student at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Student at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Student at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Student at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Ven.Bhikkhu Sanghasena and students at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students entertained us with songs and dances at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
We had our lunch at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
We had our lunch at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Ching Neng Bin had his lunch at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena gave a speech at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Presentation of certificates to students of Mahabodhi branch school by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
Presentation of certificates to students of Mahabodhi branch school by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
Presentation of certificates to students of Mahabodhi branch school by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
Presentation of certificates to students of Mahabodhi branch school by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
Presentation of certificates to students of Mahabodhi branch school by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
Presentation of certificates to students of Mahabodhi branch school by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
Presentation of certificates to students of Mahabodhi branch school by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
Presentation of certificates to students of Mahabodhi branch school by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
Presentation of certificates to students of Mahabodhi branch school by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
Presentation of certificates to students of Mahabodhi branch school by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
Presentation of certificates to students of Mahabodhi branch school by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
Presentation of certificates to students of Mahabodhi branch school by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
Presentation of certificates to students of Mahabodhi branch school by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
Allan Chee Siong Kin, Angie Ho Siew Eng, Lye Yu Choong at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Trett Sara Alina and a student at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Parent at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Parents at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Parents at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Khow Kooi Heok at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Ching Neng Bin testing the drums at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Students at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Sis.Tai Yoke Lin with a student, a teacher and parents at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Datuk Seri Victor Wee with the students at Mahabodhi branch school, Bodhkharbu.
Lamayuru is home to one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, dating back to the 10th century. Local legend has it that the place was once a lake that dried up. The village has around 100 houses scattered around the Lamayuru Monastery.
The beautiful Lamayuru village just below the Lamayuru monastery in Ladakh.
About 150 monks reside in Lamayuru village in Ladakh.
At the entrance of the Lamayuru monastery in Ladakh.
Lamayuru monastery in Ladakh.
The Lamayuru monastery is famous for its rich wall paintings, collection of thangkas, murals, scriptures and statues of different forms of Buddha and other deities.
Lamayuru monastery was founded in the 11th century by Mahasiddacarya Naropa.
Lamayuru has the appearance of a cave monastery with moonlike landscape.
Lamayuru has the appearance of a cave monastery with moonlike landscape.
View of Lamayuru Gompa (monastery). Fringed in by a moonscape mountains, the whitewashed medieval monastery towers above a cluster of tumbledown mud-brick houses from the top of a near-vertical, weirdly eroded cliff.
Wall painting of Chanme Zang, one of the four Cardinal Kings, at Lamayuru Monastery.
Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF) members at Lamayuru Monastery.
Ven.Bhikkhu Sanghasena at Lamayuru Monastery.
Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF) members at Lamayuru Monastery.
Lamayuru Monastery situated at an altitude of 3,500 metres, between Kargil and Leh, the terrain of Lamayuru is strange yet stunning. The soil is claimed to be similar to that on the moon, hence the name—Moonland.
We were all invited by the chief monk to have tea at the Lamayuru Monastery.
Ching Neng Bin and Poh Wee Fah at the Lamayuru Monastery.
Workers carrying stones for reconstruction at Lamayuru Monastery.
No matter how hard the work, you can always see them smiling at Lamayuru Monastery.
A worker carrying stones for reconstruction at Lamayuru Monastery.
A worker at Lamayuru Monastery.
A lady worker at Lamayuru Monastery.
A car loaded with plants at Lamayuru Monastery.
Click below to view:
Introduction to Ladakh India Adventure
Day 01 (21.08.2015) – Kuala Lumpur flight to Delhi, India
Day 02 (22.08.2015) – Delhi domestic flight to Leh, Ladakh (3,524m / 11,562ft)
Day 03 (23.08.2015) – Thicksay and Shey Monastery, Leh, Ladakh
Day 04 (24.08.2015) – Leh to Hemis Monastery (41.2km) Ladakh
Day 05 (25.08.2015) – Leh to Nubra Valley (136km) via KhardungLa Pass
Day 06 (26.08.2015) – Nubra Valley to visit Disket Monastery (14.5km)
Day 07 (27.08.2015) – Nubra Valley returned to Leh, Ladakh (136km)
Day 08 (28.08.2015) – Visit Devachan Campus, Leh, Ladakh
Day 09 (29.08.2015) – Leh to Tingmosgang (90km) Ladakh
Day 10 (30.08.2015) – Bodhkharbu on the way to Lamayuru Monastery
Day 11 (31.08.2015) – Basgo Monastery, Tekchen Chosling and Alchi Temple
Day 12 (01.09.2015) - Leh fly to Delhi to catch the night flight back to KL
Day 13 (02.09.2015) - Arrived KLIA at 6.55am
Day 01 (21.08.2015) – Kuala Lumpur flight to Delhi, India
Day 02 (22.08.2015) – Delhi domestic flight to Leh, Ladakh (3,524m / 11,562ft)
Day 03 (23.08.2015) – Thicksay and Shey Monastery, Leh, Ladakh
Day 04 (24.08.2015) – Leh to Hemis Monastery (41.2km) Ladakh
Day 05 (25.08.2015) – Leh to Nubra Valley (136km) via KhardungLa Pass
Day 06 (26.08.2015) – Nubra Valley to visit Disket Monastery (14.5km)
Day 07 (27.08.2015) – Nubra Valley returned to Leh, Ladakh (136km)
Day 08 (28.08.2015) – Visit Devachan Campus, Leh, Ladakh
Day 09 (29.08.2015) – Leh to Tingmosgang (90km) Ladakh
Day 10 (30.08.2015) – Bodhkharbu on the way to Lamayuru Monastery
Day 11 (31.08.2015) – Basgo Monastery, Tekchen Chosling and Alchi Temple
Day 12 (01.09.2015) - Leh fly to Delhi to catch the night flight back to KL
Day 13 (02.09.2015) - Arrived KLIA at 6.55am
Videos:
4th International festival of buddhist Heritage of Ladakh | 24 Aug 2015 (Part 1) 4th International festival of buddhist Heritage of Ladakh | 24 Aug 2015 (Part 2)
For further reading:
- Touching lives by Lee Keat Hin
- Angel of mercy by the late Tan Guat Gnoh
- Prayers for four Malaysians who died in Ladakh
- Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, Ladakh
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Dear All,
ReplyDeleteActually, I'm inspired by the wonderful account and pictures that Bro. Ching placed on his Blogsite. Please give him some feedback when you read his detailed daily account.
Dear Datuk Victor Wee,
ReplyDeleteIt was my sincere pleasure to tell the whole world what a wonderful place like Ladakh can be in my blog. With its beautiful landscape and monasteries it will attract more tourist to visit Ladakh and would be good for their economy in particular and Buddhism in general.
And just today, a lady from Penang saw her photo in my blog, (remember on day 9 when we visited the school in Tingmosgang, the two ladies who went up to receive a token of appreciation from Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena for their kind services to the farmers in Ladakh). Her name is Oon Lay Kim and her sister Oon Kim Suan. (photo attached) The sisters is in the process of setting up a skin care product called "Idemo" using natural resources from Ladakh. The brand name "Idemo" is a Ladakhi word meaning “Beauty of nature". It is made from 100% organic apricot and walnut from Ladakh and then cold press in Penang so that the oil is fresh when blend into skin care. The profit made will be used to help the children education in Ladakh. What a small world after all! We should help the sisters in their undertakings to help the farmers and the school children in Ladakh.
I would like to thank you for taking us to Ladakh and be looking forward to your next trip to the China Silk Route.
Dear Bro. Ching
ReplyDeleteWe are all deeply appreciative with all the scenic pictures of Ladakh taken by Bro Ching. Without all those awesome pictures we will not be able to refresh the beautiful memory that we have travelled. On behalf of Singapore Buddhist Fellowship, Thank you and with much gratitude.
With metta
Jerry