Phuktal Monastery Trek, 5 Day trek

Phuktal Monastery Trek

Phuktal Monastery is built into the cliffside like a honeycomb. It located at the mouth of a cave on the cliff face of a lateral gorge of a major tributary of the Lungnak River.

Route : Raru → Chatang → Purne → Phuktal → Purne → Anmu → Raru

Day 1 : Raru to Chatang
We took a cab from Padum to Raru (where the road ends) and started trekking from there.

Lungnak River

Lungnak River

The entire stretch from Raru to Chatang is completely deserted except for one tea stall on the way.

Kid at a tea stall we stopped at

Near Chatang

Chatang is a tiny village with just 2 houses. Our guide managed to get a room for us, while he stayed across the river at his neice’s place.

The house we stayed at

The only water source @ Chatang – Gulp!

Our room – check out the pillows

Savi trying hard to smile after checking ‘our room’ out

Strange looking goat – must be the water

Day 2 : Chatang to Purne

Purne is one of the larger villages in the area with a guest house and 2 tea shops. It is quite popular since couple of treks criss cross through Purne.

On the way to Purne

Tea shop at Purne

Guesthouse, Purne

The supplies come in all the way from Raru on horseback.

Unloading the pack horses

Horses taking a break after the long ride from Raru

Chortens

In Ladakh, the kitchen doubles up as a living/dining room. The stove is usually in the center with mattresses along the walls to sit and enjoy the warmth from the stove.

Inside the kitchen of our hosts

Enjoying Chaang with the hosts

The host’s grandson

Day 3 : Purne to Phuktal
Phugtal Monastery, situated on the north bank of the Tsarap river, is about 7 Kms from Purne.

Tsarap river

Long and winding path

At the very last turn, the magnificent Monastery suddenly appears in front of you.

Chorten with the Phuktal Monastery in the background

This cave monastery clings to the near vertical cliffs along the Shadi Gorge.

Phuktal Monastery

It was established by Phagspa Sherab, one of the 6 disciples of Tsongkhapa, who brought Gelugpa teachings to Ladakh in the fifteenth century.

Phuktal Monastery

This unique monastic establishment is inhabited by a resident community of about 70 monks.

A young lama

Lunch break

Day 4 : Purne to Anmu

Tea break @ at a tea shop

Rickety bridge to Anmu

Anmu village

We stayed at a ‘Home Stay’ run by Stanzin Samphel’s family.

The house we stayed in

Chortens

Mani stones are flat stones inscribed with the six syllabled mantra of Avalokiteshvara “Om mani padme hum”, which loosely translates to “Hail to the jewel in the lotus”.

Mani stones

Piggybacking on grandma

With the host family (L-R Stanzin’s nephew, son, and mom)

Stanzin’s nephew

Kitchen

Just another chaang session with Stanzin’s dad and our porter/guide.

Day 5 : Anmu to Raru

Taking a break

Geckos – 5 of ’em

Horses near the icy bridge

The Bardam Monastery, located between Raru and Padum, sits on top of a rocky spur overlooking the Tsarap river.

Bardan Monastery