In the era (1580), when Ladakh was ruled by king Jamyang Namgyal, a small monastery consisiting of few Du-khangs was constructed on the top of a 60 meter high rock in the middle of the Indus Valley. The monastery, 25 km from Leh, was built by a renowned saint Chosje Jamyang Palkhar. The rock on which it stood was shaped like a tiger's nose, hence the name of the monastery became Stakna, meaning tiger's nose.

Though the monastery is small and houses only around 35 lamas of the red hat sect, there are many other lamas residing in its branch monastery like the one in Sani, Bardan and Stakrimo in Zanskar. Moreover, having been painted quiet recently (1982), it is also the most colourful gompa in the Ladakh region.


Inside
What immediately attracts visitors attention in the central courtyard is the small stuffed Lhasa Apso. This was the favourite pet of the one of the earlier lama of the monastery.

The Du-khang, right above the courtyard has a seven feet tall silver gilded chorten which was erected by the current head lama in the 1950s. The chorten consists of a statue of the Buddha along with various Buddhist texts. Among the paintings that adorn the walls inside are three new paintings of the Tsephakmad (a Buddhist deity), Shakyamuni (the Historical Buddha) and Amchi (the Medical Buddha). Apart from it, the wall facing the entrance of the Du-khang too has three more new paintings - a Bodhisattva, Padma Sambhava and Tshong-san-gompo, an early king of Tibet. Three statues of the Past, Present and Future Buddhas with Buddhist canonical volumes on both side are also seen.

The room behind the Dukhang on the left exhibits a large standing figure of Dorje Phakma, a Bodhisattva in a wooden cupboard. Also to be seen here are eight Sashan Gyat (the 8 positions of Buddha) and a small central statue of Avalokitesvara.

The room of the head lama lies above the Du-khang and has been recently embellished in Tibetan style. The library closeby is yet another striking room in the monastery with colurful paintings and gilded statue of the previous Rimpoche of Stakna.

Leh
Leh is the centre of activity in Ladakh. A trip to Ladakh invariably implies a trip to its capital city, Leh. This erstwhile capital of the Namgyal Empire, Leh is dominated by mountains and fortress like monasteries. Roaming around its colourful bazaar and observing Tibetan refugee, monks and Ladakhi traders, tourists feel transported to the Katmandu of seventies.


Other Attractions

• Matho Monastery: Located on the other bank of Indus river across Thiksey monastery, Matho was founded in early 16th century. In possesion of the monastery is an amazing collection of very old and beautiful thangkas, some in the form of Mandalas. The annual festival of Matho celebrated in the month of March is extremely significant and attracts a whole lot of visitors from both within and outside the country. The festival has two monks chosen as oracles who not only predict key future events on the festival day but also perform awesome acrobatics blindfolded.
  
  
• Takthok Monastery : At a distance of 50 km from Leh, Takthok monastery houses a cave where Guru Padmashambhava meditated in the earlier era. The significane of the monastery lies in it being the only one that belongs to the "Old Order" or the Nying-ma-pa sect of Buddhism. The annual festival of the monastery is celebrated during the month of August.
  
  
• Chemrey Monastery : A beautiful valley that leads to Changla is home to the Chemery monastery. Amonst the valuable belongings of the monastery is a large collection of scriptures which has title pages in shinning silver and the text in gold letters. In close vicinity is a cave monastery, considered a place where Guru Padmasambhava stayed during his meditation period.
  
  
• Hemis Monastery : 40 km from the town of Leh stand the most well known monastery of Ladakh, the Hemis Monastery. The monastery, constructed during the reigns of Sengye Namgyal in the 17th century, is segregated into two parts - the assembly hall on the right and the main temple on the left. The annual festival of the moanstery celebrated during summers marks the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava.