STONGDEY MONASTERY

Founded in the ^11th century, Stongde monastery is the second largest in Zanskar after Karsha. Some sixty Gelukpa monks live here, at an altitude of 3,500 metres. Beautiful murals adorn the interior walls of the gompa, which hosts the Gustor festival at the end of the ^11th month of the Tibetan calendar. On this occasion, monks dance and celebrate the reincarnation of Nari Tulku, a local deity. From Padum, it's a 4-hour walk to the village. The most strenuous part is the final climb to the monastery.