Ladakh Religion
It
was Ladakh through which Buddhism reached Tibet from India and in the process
it got deeply imbibed in the people of this the region.
There are a lot of ancient Buddhist rock engravings even in the areas like Dras
and the lower Suru Valley which today are inhabited by Muslims exclusively.
The divide between Muslim and Buddhist Ladakh passes through Mulbekh (on the
Kargil-Leh road) and between the villages of Parkachik and Rangdum in the Suru
Valley.
There are Muslims further east in Padum (zanskar) in the Nubra valley that is
in and around Leh. It is said that when one approaches a Buddhist village,one
can easily recognize this village by the Mani walls which are long, chest high
structures with stone engravings bearing Buddhist mantras.
Most of the villages are crowned with a Monastry, which may be anything from
an imposing complex of temples to prayer halls and monk dwellings.
Islam too came from the west as a peaceful penetration of mainly the Shia sect
spearheaded by Islamic missionaries.
The success of this religion can be assessed from the early conversion of the
chieftains of Dras, Kargil and the Suru Valley.
In these areas, the mani walls and chorten are replaced by mosques and small
buildings, or Imambras, which are imposing structures with a blend of Islamic
and Tibetan styles. The Drass and the Arghons of Leh are two of the largest
groups.
Ladakh Religion, Ladakh Tourism
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