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The place is well lit, so an evening visit is worthwhile. Climbing the
steps one reaches the double doors leading into the dukang ('du khang)
or assembly hall. Three green drums are on the right of the door under
which is the place of the Gyeskos. The wall and entry door are richly
painted. Upstairs is the Dukar Lhakang ("residence of the deity") or
inner sanctuary.
There is an impressive figure here of Avalokiteśvara (Tibetan: Chenrezig)
with 1,000 arms (all holding weapons) and 1,000 heads. The walls are
painted with a Tibetan calendar, mandalas and rules for the monks. Above
the wooden stairs can be seen the rooms of the Abbot, guest rooms and
the library.
A lama from Sankar Monastery visits the mid-sixteenth century fort built
by Tashi Namgyal at Namgyal Tsemo, the peak above Leh every morning and
evening to maintain the temples associated with the fort and light the
butter-lamps.
How to
reach
Nearest airport is Kushok Bakula Rimpochhe
Airport (Leh Airport) in Leh, which is connected to Delhi,
Chandigarh and Srinagar. The nearest railway station to Ladakh is Jammu.
From Jammu you can head to Srinagar by road and then to Ladakh, which is
some 434 kilometers away. It is about a two-day journey from Srinagar
with a night halt at Kargil.
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