The Ultimate Travel Guide to Ladakh: PART 5 – Understanding Ladakh & Its Buddhist Heritage
Things to Know While Travelling to Ladakh
Greetings
In Ladakh, the word “Juley” (pronounced Joo-lay) is the most common greeting. Interestingly, it is a multi-purpose word in the Ladakhi language that can mean:
Hello (as a greeting)
Goodbye (when parting)
Thank you (to express gratitude)
Using “Juley” with a smile is a wonderful way to connect with the locals and instantly break the ice.
The Ultimate Travel Guide to Ladakh
PART – 1: Complete Planning Guide
PART – 2: A Breathtaking Journey Via Srinagar to Leh Highway
PART – 3: Exploring Leh, Nubra and Pangong
PART – 4: Comprehensive Guide on AMS
PART – 5: Understanding Ladakh & Its Buddhist Heritage
Conversations in Ladakhi
Here are some useful phrases that travelers can practice:
Please – O-ley (Oh-lay)
Thank you – Thuk-je-che (Thook-jay-chay)
Sorry – Tukje nang (Took-jay nang)
Excuse me – Mi-shi-khan (Mee-shi-khan)
Yes – Re (Reh)
No – Man-du (Man-doo)
Thank you very much – Nga ngarmo mangpo thuk-je-che (Nga ngar-mo mang-po thuk-jay-chay)
Gratitude (formal) – Kadrinchey (Ka-drin-chay)
How are you? – Hamzang in-a ley? (Kham-zang een-a lay?)
I am fine – Nga khamzang in (Nga kham-zang een)
Where is it? – Ying-la? (Ying-la?)
Where is the monastery? – Gompa-ka la yod-a? (Gompa-ka la yod-a?)
How much? – Chu-ley? (Choo-lay?)
Where is the washroom? – Doo-kha? (Doo-kha?)
Where is the hotel? – Dokpo la yod-a? (Dok-po la yod-a?)
I don’t understand – Man-da (Man-da)
Do you have tea? – Chai la yod-a? (Chai la yod-a?)
It’s very expensive! – Metho mangpo ray! (Meh-to mang-po ray!)
Do you have food? – Sham-ma la yod-a? (Sham-ma la yod-a?)
I like this place very much! – Ngachey garna mangpo ray! (Nga-chay gar-na mang-po ray!)
Important Cultural Gestures
Understanding cultural etiquette helps travelers respect local traditions:
Saying “Juley!” with a smile is always polite.
Joining hands in a “Namaste” gesture while saying “Juley” shows respect.
Walk clockwise around stupas (chortens) and prayer wheels.
Remove shoes before entering a home or monastery.
Never touch someone’s head, as it is considered disrespectful.
When giving or receiving something, use both hands or the right hand.
Stupa, Prayer Flags, Mani Stones, and Prayer Wheels
Travel is more than sightseeing or social media posts. It is about learning history, experiencing culture, and gaining perspectives. In Ladakh, spiritual symbols such as stupas, gompas, prayer flags, mani stones, and prayer wheels are not just beautiful structures. They embody philosophy, faith, and centuries of tradition.
Every color, design, and ritual carries deep meaning. Understanding these elements enriches travel, helping visitors leave Ladakh with insights and memories rather than just photographs.
This guide explores stupas, gompas, mani stones, prayer flags, and prayer wheels. Each reflects the Buddhist heritage in Ladakh, offering cultural and spiritual depth to the journey.
Stupa (Chorten in Ladakhi)
A stupa is a dome-shaped Buddhist monument built to house sacred relics, mark significant events, or provide a place of meditation. In Ladakh, stupas are often whitewashed and adorned with prayer flags. A well-known example is the Shanti Stupa in Leh.
Monastery (Gompa in Ladakhi)
A gompa is a Buddhist monastery, usually located on a hilltop or mountainside. It includes prayer halls, stupas, monk residences, and often schools for Buddhist teachings. In Ladakh, the terms “monastery” and “gompa” are often used interchangeably.
Famous gompas include Hemis, Thiksey, Diskit, and Alchi. These monasteries are centers of meditation, rituals, and festivals, preserving Ladakh’s Buddhist heritage.
Prayer Stones (Mani or Mani Tsok)
Mani stones are flat stones engraved with prayers and mantras, particularly “Om Mani Padme Hum.” The word “Mani” refers to the sacred mantra, while “Tsok” means heap or pile. These sacred stones, stacked near stupas, monasteries, and mountain passes, should never be moved or disturbed.
Prayer Flags (Lungta in Ladakhi)
Colorful prayer flags are strung across mountain passes, homes, stupas, and monasteries. Each flag carries mantras and prayers, believed to spread blessings as the wind blows through them.
Flags come in sets of five colors, representing the balance of elements:
White – Air/Space, purity, peace, wisdom
Yellow – Earth, stability, nourishment
Blue – Sky, healing, protection
Red – Fire, energy, transformation
Green – Water, balance, harmony
Prayer flags must not touch the ground. They are replaced when faded, symbolizing renewal and the cycle of life.
Prayer Wheels (Mani Chokhor)
Prayer wheels are cylindrical wheels inscribed with sacred mantras, often “Om Mani Padme Hum.” Found in monasteries and along pilgrimage routes, they are spun clockwise to invoke blessings and spread positive energy.
Spinning the wheel is considered equivalent to reciting prayers aloud, symbolizing the continuous cycle of life. Monks, devotees, and travelers alike turn these wheels seeking peace, karma, and spiritual merit.
Types of Stupas in Buddhism
Stupas may look similar, but each type symbolizes a different stage in Buddha’s life. The eight primary types are:
Stupa of Heaped Lotuses (Birth Stupa): Symbolizes Buddha’s birth in Lumbini. Its circular base resembles lotus petals, a sign of purity.
Stupa of Enlightenment (Bodh Gaya Stupa): Represents Buddha’s enlightenment. Features a square base and dome.
Stupa of Turning the Wheel (Dharmachakra Stupa): Marks Buddha’s first sermon at Sarnath. Often includes steps symbolizing the path to enlightenment.
Stupa of Miracles: Represents Buddha’s miraculous powers at Shravasti. Cylindrical, sometimes multi-tiered.
Stupa of Descent from Tushita Heaven: Symbolizes Buddha’s descent after teaching his mother. Stair-like features show his return.
Stupa of Reconciliation: Marks Buddha’s settlement of disputes among monks in Rajgir. Features an octagonal base.
Stupa of Complete Victory: Represents Buddha extending his life in Vaishali. Tall spire symbolizes triumph over death.
Stupa of Parinirvana (Final Nirvana): Symbolizes Buddha’s passing in Kushinagar. Large and rounded, it represents liberation from rebirth.
Regional Variations of Stupas
In Ladakh, two-eyed stupas are common at monastery entrances. In Nepal, stupas like Swayambhunath and Boudhanath feature painted eyes, symbolising wisdom and awareness.
Meanings of Colours in Stupas and Prayer Flags
Colors in Buddhist symbols reflect deep spiritual meanings:
White: Air/space, peace, and wisdom.
Yellow: Earth, stability, and prosperity.
Blue: Sky, healing, and protection.
Red: Fire, energy, and transformation.
Green: Water, nature, and harmony.
These colours unite to represent balance in the five elements of life.
Conclusion: Embracing Buddhist Heritage in Ladakh
Ladakh’s gompas, stupas, mani stones, prayer wheels, and prayer flags are not only visual delights but also powerful symbols of faith and culture. Understanding these traditions transforms travel into a deeper experience, where every ritual, structure, and color carries meaning.
Respecting these practices allows traveler to truly connect with Ladakh’s heritage and return with wisdom that goes beyond photographs.
For safe travel planning, read our guide on Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), for a detailed also read our Complete Planning Guide on Ladakh, and to learn more about world Buddhist traditions, visit UNESCO on Buddhist Heritage.
