Ladakh, isolated for centuries, therefore, preserved unique historical monuments and cultural heritage. Recent post fast development activities and tourism in Ladakh have created alarming situation. Hence, we need to imply sustainable development policy, so that besides others we can be able to preserve our rich heritage. This book is an attempt to tell the monastic history of the Buddhist monasteries and the alarming situation of migratory birds. I hope this work will be useful for teacher and students who are interested ladakh studies.

Ladakh is a wonderland of mesmerising, sweeping vistas. With its barren, rugged mountains, crystal clear skies and inspiring visions of a lost Shangri-La, Ladakh is a very special place. Beyond the Himalaya, on the edge of Tibet, it is a hidden paradise for trekkers, tourists and travellers. Above all, Ladakh is a unique land in which to visit and explore what remains of the Tibetan Buddhist culture. Soaring to the sky and clustered around jagged crags are intriguing, fairytale monasteries. Such places still reverberate with the sound of chanting monks, eerie chambers of silent devotions and the haunting tones of long horns, often heard at the many festivals. This book aims to fill the void between casual observation and further knowledge. The fascinating world of Himalayan Buddhist culture can be observed right here, among the magical monasteries of Ladakh. * geography and history of the region * cultural and religious background * monastery plans and maps * details of the Buddhist deities * illustrated with black and white photographs

Ladakh is a wonderland of mesmerising, sweeping vistas. With its barren, rugged mountains, crystal clear skies and inspiring visions of a lost Shangri-La, Ladakh is a very special place. Beyond the Himalaya, on the edge of Tibet, it is a hidden paradise for trekkers, tourists and travellers. Above all, Ladakh is a unique land in which to visit and explore what remains of the Tibetan Buddhist culture. Soaring to the sky and clustered around jagged crags are intriguing, fairytale monasteries. Such places still reverberate with the sound of chanting monks, eerie chambers of silent devotions and the haunting tones of long horns, often heard at the many festivals. Now in its third edition, this book aims to fill the void between casual observation and further knowledge. The fascinating world of Himalayan Buddhist culture can be observed right here, among the magical monasteries of Ladakh. * third edition including the Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake * geography and history of the region * cultural and religious background * monastery plans and maps * details of the Buddhist deities * illustrated with black and white photographs

PART-I 1. Village Dictionary of Ladakh 2. Dards: An Indo Aryan Race in Ladakh 3. Khalatse: A Village of Dards 4. Stag Rimo Gonpa (Tib. stag rima dgon-pa) 5. Buddhist Engraved Images in Ladakh 6. Spituk Monastery 7. Dorje Chenmo Lhakhang in Shey Village 8. Rangdum Gonpa (Tib. rang-ldurn-bshad grub zamling gyan) of Zanskar 9. Yarma - Gonpo Monastery 10. Likir A Geluk - pa Monastery in Ladakh 11. Royal Palaces in Ladakh 12. Sengge N amgyal: A Great Protector of Ladakhi Buddlist Culture 13. Pt. Rahul Sanskrit yayan's is views about Ladakhi Culture 14. Tibetan Inscriptions near Dorje Chenmo Chokhang Shey PART-II 15. Ruthok Lhuvduh Chasling Gonpa 16. Karma Dupgyud Choeling Gonpa 17. H.E. Chosje Togdan Rinpoche: A Head Lama of Ladakh and his Photang 18. Theghchen Chosling (Tib. ltheg Che Chos gling) Monastery 19. Thuptan Donag Shedup Choskhorling 20. Some Buddhist Monuments in Chushod Village, Leh-Ladakh 21. History of Lamayuru Monastery during 1834-40 22. Tibetan Inscriptions on the Walls Inside the Temples of Alchi Choskhor during 11th and 16th Century AD. Bibliography Index

If Himalayas are the landscape of the mind, Ladakh defines it as a landscape. Ladakh -- the region with world's highest mountains was opened to the outside world in 1970s. Before that the entire region lived in oblivion inside their own world; ice cold winters and warm summers with green apricot trees blossoming in its barren landscape. The short summers are celebration for the people, dancing and drinking only to pave way for the apricot leaves to turn yellow and red; paving the way for arrival of long cold winters. Closing down of Tibet by China and similarity of the region to Tibet, encouraged people to travel and explore Ladakh. The unique landscape of white chortens, terraced Gompas, wooden mosques scattered in the barrenness of the land made it stand out and encouraged more and more travellers to explore and search for the lost "Sangri-la". Of course no one found Shangri-La; but in the process discovered something even more profound and rich. The place which is still older than time, which had long trade relations with Central Asia, where the Himalayas and the Karakoram ranges rest. Its art and architecture inspired from India, Tibet, central Asia and made richer by amalgamation of Muslim cultures from Persia. The architecture is perplexing at times, not only because of the terrain it is built on, low rooms, or small openings; but it is different also in the way we perceive it from our sense. The texture of earth on walls, the stone-clad pathways, timber roofs and mud floors transports us to hundreds of years. The old houses built close to each other forms a labyrinth which is difficult to decipher; thus making us even more confused.

Ladakh is one of the remote region of Jammu & Kashmir State in India. Its people were neglected in the past due to the inaccessible terrain and inhospitable climatic conditions. However, Buddhist Yogis (Tib. Rnal-byor-pas-rGod-tsang-pa, stag-tsang-ras-pa etc. Indian Acharyas- Padmasambhava and Naropa and Rinpoches of Geluk, Saskya, Nyingma and Ka'gyud tradition have made their valuable contribution for the preservation of Buddhist culture and tradition. The Naropa came in Zanskar, Phokar dzong near Shargol and rgod-tsang above Hemis monastery in the high mountain ranges are such hermits where these great siddhas meditated years together. Author who came in Ladakh 1981, visited many such places. The present document is based upon the work, and a study over a long period of stay in Ladakh. This book thus, a multidisciplinary approach to study Ladakhi culture and tradition, and would be useful for tourists, research scholars and those who are interested in Ladakhi Buddhist Culture.

Ladakh is a wonderland of mesmerizing, sweeping vistas. With its barren rugged mountains, crystal clear skies and intriguing visions of a lost Shangri-La, Ladakh is a very special place. Beyond the Himalayas, on the edge of Tibet, it is a hidden paradise for trekkers, tourists and travelers. This book describes the history and background to this Buddhist land, and is complete with monastery plans as well as details of the deities in the chapels.

Preface, PART One: Introduction to the Philosophy of Navya-Nyaya, PART Two: Summaries of Works, Notes, Index.