Maitreya Buddha

Views:

Sight Address : Maitreya Buddha,Thikse Gompa, Ladakh Edit

Detail InformationEdit

Maitreya Buddha statue is a 12m / 40ft high statue and was built in 1979; it is in a sitting position. One of the major attraction of Thikse Gompa is the Maitreya Buddha statue in the red Chamba Lukhang or red chapel on the east end. The statue is of copper sheets gilded with gold. Castings of the statue were made in Leh; the copper was collected in Zanskar and hammered into plates on big rocks. More than 5 kgs / 11.02 lbs. of gold were then used to plate the copper. Parts were built in Leh and then transported to Shey where it was assembled and installed. Sacrificial offerings such as grain or jewels, holy signs and mantras are contained inside the figure. In front of the Buddha is a large bowl of wax with a central flame that burns for a year before being replaced. This flame represents divinity and purity. The Maitreya Temple was inaugurated by the H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama in 1980. Maitreya or Metteyya Buddha (also known as Chamba or Jampa or Ajita Bodhisattva) is the Future Buddha, the successor of Sakyamani Buddha (founder of Buddhism). His color is yellow or golden; prophecy of the arrival of Maitreya is accepted by all sects of Buddhism.

Maitreya Buddha, statue.

HistoryEdit

Maitreya Buddha statue was built in 1979; it is in a sitting position.The statue is of copper sheets gilded with gold. Castings of the statue were made in Leh; the copper was collected in Zanskar and hammered into plates on big rocks. More than 5 kgs / 11.02 lbs. of gold were then used to plate the copper. Parts were built in Leh and then transported to Shey where it was assembled and installed. The Maitreya Temple was inaugurated by the H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama in 1980.

Must SeeEdit

Popular

Visiting TimeEdit

N.A.

Closed OnEdit

N.A.

Best Season to VisitEdit

June to October.

Best Time To VisitEdit

Morning , Afternoon, Evening.

Time Required for SightseeingEdit

3-4 hours.

Ticket Required : No Edit

Individual National Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Still Photo Camera Rs. : N.A.

Video Camera Rs. : N.A.

Guide Required : No Edit

Approximate cost: N.A.

Dress Code (If Any) : N.A. Edit

Dress Require: No

Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit

How to ReachEdit

Taxi : Taxis, cars and jeeps are also available at Srinagar for the journey to cover Leh to Ladakh by road . Groups can charter deluxe and A-class buses for Leh, Kargil or Padum (Zanskar) from the J and K SRTC at Srinagar. This place is well connected by road. Jeep hire to Kargil from Padum costs Rs.8000 (while Kargil to Padum is Rs.10,000 – taxiunion rules don’t allow return trips) per vehicle, whether done in one gruelling 14-hour drive or with an overnight stop en route. Other one-way/return rates from Padum: Karsha Rs.600/750; Zangla Rs.2000/3000, Rangdum Rs.4000/6000

BUS : There is a regular bus service run by J&K SRTC from Leh and Kargil for Padum with stops at various point in Suru and Zanskar Valley.Leh-Kargil-Padum buses run approximately thrice weekly, supposedly departing Kargil bus station around 1am but timetables are infamously idiosyncratic. Consider gathering a group and hiring a jeep to
Padum (Rs10,000, 14 hours): start before dawn or consider overnighting at Rangdum. Doublecheck that your driver has Zanskar-endorsed permits from the drivers’ cooperative.

Train : The closest railway station is Jammu, there are regular train services from Delhi and many other cities to Jammu railway station, from Jammu you can take buses or taxi ride to Srinagar and then to Leh. From Leh you can take bus or taxi to to Nubra valley which is about 125 km from Leh. If you are for more adventures you can also rent bikes, available on rent in Leh and will cost you anywhere between rupees 600 a day for an Enfield to rupees 300 for others. The road to Nubra valley takes you over the Khardong La which is the world highest motorable road, Khardong La Pass which is at a height of 18380 ft above sea level and is about 50 kms from Leh.

Air : Nearest Airport is Leh Airport .The following airlines (Kingfisher, Jet Airways, and Air India) operate regular flights to Leh from Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar. The duration of Delhi-Leh flight is just an hour long. Better booked the air-tickets before 2 or 3 months in advance because during May to October tickets prices are very high due to heavy tourist influx. From Leh you can take bus or taxi to Nubra valley which is about 125 km from Leh. If you are for more adventures you can also rent bikes, available on rent in Leh and will cost you anywhere between rupees 600 a day for an Enfield to rupees 300 for others. The road to Nubra valley takes you over the Khardong La which is the world highest motorable road, Khardong La Pass which is at a height of 18380 ft above sea level and is about 50 kms from Leh.

Others : Truck : Trucks often stop for hitchhikers, who are usually expected to pay half the bus fare, bargaining may be necessary. They are slower than the buses and sometimes stop for long periods to unload cargo.

Things to CarryEdit

Carry your own food & plenty of drinking water.
Carry woolan cloths, camera etc.

Safety / WarningEdit

Ladakh is one of the safest parts of India, and the most basic precautions are enough to keep you and your possessions safe. Most of the region is dotted with military cantonments every 50-80 kms, but mainly because of its strategic position on international border between India and China. The army plays major part in rescue and aid efforts and that is why you will require to produce identification documents or written permission from local authorities before entering some remote places.