Likir Monastery

Likir Monastery gets its name from the word Lukhgil which means ‘coiled snake’. Buddhists believe that the Snake King Jokpo slept at Likir Monastery once and that the monastery is encircled and guarded by the spirits of two great snakes—Nanda and Taksako. The monastery, affiliated to the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, was founded in the early 11th century by Lama Duwang Chosje. However, what we see today at Likir is not the original structure of the monastery. It was rebuilt in the 18th century after the gompa got destroyed by fire. Presently, it is headed by Ngari Rinpoche, the youngest brother of the 14th Dalai Lama.

The main attraction of Likir Monastery is the 75 ft high gold gilded statue of Maitreya Buddha. Besides, Dosmoche, the annual festival of Likir Monastery attracts a lot of visitors, both locals and travellers. The festival is held in the month of February on dates that correspond with 27th to 29th days of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar. Like all fort monasteries, Likir’s structure has a hierarchy wherein the top of the hill has the main temple and the head lama’s residence, followed by other monk’s residence a little downhill and finally the village quarters at the foothill.