The Thiksay Monastery also known as the Thiksay Gompa is a monastery located in the Thiksey Village. The monastery is located on top of a hill and is around 19 kilometers away from the city of Ladakh. The monastery was built with architectural influences from the Potala Palace in Lhasa and thus has a very close resemblance to it. It is one of the largest monasteries in all of Ladakh and houses a separate set of buildings for female monks.
The monastery is located at an altitude of 11,800 feet above the sea level. The monastery is 12 stories tall and is home to a lot of Buddhist artifacts. Some of the artifacts present in the structure include stupas, scrolls, statues, paintings, etc. The main attraction of the monastery is the glorious Maitreya temple. This temple was built in the year 1970 to commemorate the visit of the 14th Dalai Lama to the monastery. The temple houses a 49 feet tall statue of Maitreya, the largest statue in all of Ladakh. It takes up almost two stories of the building; it is that large.
Tourist activity peaks during the time of the Gustor Ritual. It is a festival that is held every year during the 9th month of the Tibetan Calendar. Traditional Tibetan dances are performed and are a treat to the eyes. The monastery also organizes an annual trade fair where merchants from all over Ladakh come to trade items and involve in a lot of different social activities.
