Matho Monastery
Known for its annual Oracle Matho Nagrang Festival, Matho Monastery is one of the places to see near Leh. One of the two monasteries of the Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Matho Monastery or Mangtro Gompa is a little offbeat but is home to a large collection of Buddhist Thangkas (paintings) that date back to the 14th century.
This attraction near Leh sits opposite the famous Thiksey Monastery, near the bank of the Indus River. Several structures in this old monastery were in poor condition, and thus in 1970, a new assembly hall was built.
History
The history of Matho Monastery states that it was founded in the year 1410 century by Lama Dugpa Dorje. The gompa belongs to the Sakya Order and houses 400-600 years old thangkas.
Architecture
The architecture of Matho Monastery is of Tibetan style. Like every Tibetan-style monastery, Matho Gompa also has a Dukhang or the assembly hall, a small chapel on the top storey that houses the images of Sakya Pandita and other Sakya lamas, and a museum adjoining it.
