Bardan Monastery

Bardan Gompa or the Bardan Monastery is an important monastery of Ladakh. It has a large Dukhang Assembly Hall, which has some exquisitely crafted statues of Buddhist deities along with some Stupas, made of clay, bronze, wood and copper. Built in the 17th century, Bardan Monastery belongs to the Dugpa-Kargyud monastic order which was also its first centre.

The Bardan Monastery monks participate in the unveiling of the idol in Sani Monastery. In this festival the monks perform masked dances as a part of the ritual.

Some precautions to be observed while visiting a monastery:

Visitors are required to take off their shoes before entering a prayer area
Do not disturb Monks at prayer, and always ask permission before taking photographs
Do not touch religious artifacts
Do not drink, smoke, take drugs or spit in the monastery premises
Avoid talking loudly or disturbing the peaceful atmosphere
In many Gompa’s, you are expected to walk around the premises only in a clockwise direction
Women may not be allowed to enter the inner prayer rooms of some monasteries