Ladakh – the moonland of Monasteries (Visiting Diskit Monastery)

The Diskit monastery is situated on the hill, just above the flood plains of the Shyok River, a tributary of the Sindhu River, on its right bank in the Diskit village (3,144 metres (10,315 ft)) in Nubra Valley. Diskit is the headquarters of the Nubra Valley and thus has lot of government offices with basic facilities. Leh to Diskit is 150 kilometres by road. The approach road to the monastery is from the Diskit village through a rugged and dusty road that crosses a stream in the middle of the village. Diskit Monastery has been built at the edge of the approach road. This main road links with Paramanik and Thoise. Approach to the monastery is through a flight of steps made of stones, which lead to the prayer hall of the monastery.

Diskit Monastery also known as Deskit Gompa or Diskit Gompa is the oldest and the biggest Buddhist monastery in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh. It belongs to the ‘Yellow hats’ or the Gelupa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded by Changzem Tserab Zangpo, a disciple of the great monk Tsong Khapa, founder of Gelugpa, in the 14th century. It is a subsidiary of the Thiksey monastery/gompa. Diskit monastery was given to Rimpoche of Thiksey monastery during 18th century. It is still under the management of Thiksey monastery and hence, considered a sub-gompa of Thiksey. The monastery constructed in Tibetan style and boasts of murals and frescos. The history of the Nubra Valley and the monastery can be traced from 14th century onwards. Ladakh was then ruled by King Grags-pa-‘bum-lde (1400–1440) and his brother, who unsuccessfully attempted to usurp Nubra Valley, which was under a local ruler named Nyig-ma-grags-pa. The local ruler assisted a Gelugpa order advocate to build the monastery at Diskit and deify the idol of Tsong Khapa (whose story is narrated in my blog about Thiksey Monastery). During the rule of King Blogros-chog-idan (1440–1470) who had even controlled western Tibet, Panchen Lha-btsun - a resident of Nubra Valley by birth - studied in Tibet and later became a regent to the founder of the famed Tashi Lhunpo Monastery of Tibet and returned to Nubra during the last stages of his life. His remains have been preserved in a place known as Charas. During 1500 A.D, Ladakh was ruled by Bkra-shis-r- namgyal, who fought the invader Mirza Haider from Central Asia, in Nubra and close to Leh, finally defeated the latter and thus, bringing Nubra under Ladakh King’s rule. Even then, the local chieftains still yielded power in Diskit and Hundar. There is a sizeable number of Shia Muslims Muslims in Nubra, who had started settling in Nubra after this war. Tshedbang-r- namgyal ruled Ladakh from 1530 and expanded his kingdom. At that time, Nubra people prevailed on him and preventing him from invading, what is known as Ughyur or Xinjiang region of now China, as trade with the Yarkand of Central Asia was considered crucial to Nubra. During the reign of Jams-dbang-rnam-rgyal, historical records indicate that a regular tribute payment was made by the Nubra people to the king. The King Bde-‘Idanrnam-rgyal (1620–45) successfully defeated and defended their territory from the Baltistan and the Mughals. Rgyal kings were very religious and built Mani walls throughout their kingdom. Monks were specially engaged to recite hymns of Mani-tung chur in Nubra Valley and in other surrounding areas. In mid eighteenth century, Tshe-dbang-rnam-rgyal gave away the control of Diskit monastery to the Rimpoche of Thiksey Monastery and this arrangement has been perpetuated to this day. Since then, Diskit is considered a sub-gompa of Thikse.

The monastery has statue of the Maitreya Buddha in the prayer hall, where a huge drum and several images of fierce guardian deities are housed. An elevated cupola of the monastery depicts a fresco of the famed Tashi Lhunpo monastery of

Tibet

. Diskit Monastery is connected to Mongol mythology, the monastery is believed to be the place where an evil anti-Buddhist Mongol demon once lived and was killed near the monastery grounds but is said to have been resurrected several times. Today, the wrinkled head and hand of the demon are believed to lie inside a temple in the monastery. The gompa roof offers "glorious" views of the NubraValley. Recent extensions to the monastery building are in good shape but the Dukhang ("main prayer hall") and Zimcchungh are not in good condition. Paintings have been covered with soot and images are kept in total disorder. The older part of the monastery is said to be in certain degree of decay, as cracks have been observed, and they remain untended.

106 feet statue of Jampa (Maitreya) Buddha is located on top of a hill below the monastery and faces the Shyok river towards Pakistan. It was built with three main intentions - protection of Diskit village, prevention of further war with Pakistan and to promote world peace.

According to the chairman of the committee, most of the money for the statue was collected by local donations. The head of Gelugpa, Ganden Thipa and Abbott of Rizu monastery, gave 8Kgs of Gold for its decoration