Spectacular both from a distance and at close quarters, the 15th-century Thikse Monastery perches on top of a hillock high in the Himalayas. This is a gompa, a fortified monastery and education center for followers of the Dalai Lama’s Yellow Hat Sect (Gelugpa). The complex is a dozen stories high, comprises many temples, and is considered an architectural highlight of Ladakh – this region of India, which is sometimes called “little Tibet” after its neighbor. Inside the monastery is a fine collection of paintings and a huge golden Buddha. Monks and nuns still live here.
Thikse Gompa or Thikse Monastery is a gompa affiliated with the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It is located on top of a hill in Thiksey approximately 19 kilometres east of Leh in Ladakh, India. Wikipedia