Tak Thog Gonpa
50 km. East of Leh, this is the only monastery belonging to the Nying-ma-pa order. Guru Rinpoche (Padma Sambhava) is said to have founded this monastery. The temple where he meditated is still to be seen at Tak Thog (rock-roofed) monastery. The monastery is tucked in the lap of a rock and owes its name to its roof which is a natural rock. Tu-Phuk houses the images of Guru-Tsan-gyet (eight forms of Padma Sambhava), Guru Takpo Tsahl and the 11-headed Avalokitesvara. The new monastery is built on ground level and contains the image of Guru Nang Srith Zilon in a central position. To its right is an image of Guru Dorje Dolo and on the left is an image of Guru Padma Gyalpo. There are seats for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Taklung Rinpoche; the latter is the incarnate Lama of the monastery. The monastery stages two festivals every year. Tak Thog Tse Chu is held from the ninth to the eleventh day of the sixth Tibetan month. Tak Thog Wangchogis held from the 26th to the 29th day of the ninth Tibetan lunar month.
