Schedule of festivals in Ladakh for 2016

Ladakh hosts the most mesmerizing landscapes, and the local people in the whole Ladakh region are so cheerful that you will remember them for your whole life. Many tourists visiting Ladakh region return back with memories of the majestic scenery spread around the region, the peace of Monastaries, along with the memories of cheerful Ladakhi people who always welcome you with a smile. While having such harsh conditions for living where the temperatures are almost -20 degrees for almost 6 months in an year, the culture of Ladakh is an attraction for the tourists. You can see the lamas performing with big masks and colorful dresses in the Monasteries during the time of festival as a part of their religious rituals.

Hemis festival

Ladakh festival calender for 2016

Name of festival	Venue	Time
Spituk Gustor	Spituk	January  07 - 08
Dosmochey	Leh & Likir Monastery	February 06 - 07
Yargon Tungshak	Nubra (Yarma)	February 12-13
Stok Guru Tsechu	Stok Monastery	February 16-17
Saka Dawa	All over Ladakh	May 20
Yuru Kabgyat	Lamayuru Monastery	July 01 - 02
His holiness Dalai Lama Birthday	Jewaitsal, Shey	July 06
Hemis Tsechu (Hemis Festival)	Hemis Monastery	July 14-15
Stongday Gustor	Zanskar	July 22-23
Ladakh Polo Festival	Chushot	July 11-17
Sachukul Gustor	Sachukul Monastery	July 21 -22
Phyang Tsedup	Phyang Monastery	July 31 – Aug 01
Karsha Gustor	Zanskar	July 31 – Aug 01
Korzok Gustor	Tsomoriri	August 05 - 06
Dakthok Tsechu	Dha thok Monastery	August 13 - 14
Sani Nasjal	Zanskar	August 17 - 18
Deskit Gustor	Nubra	October 28 - 29
Thiksay Gustor	Thiksay	November 17 – 18
Chemday Wangchok / Padum	Chemday Monastery	November 27 - 28
Gladen Namchot	All over Ladakh	December 23
Ladakhi Losar	All Over Ladakh	December 30

Hemis is the richest monastery in Ladakh region and the Hemis festival is one of the most important  & polular festival celebrated in Ladakh. This festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Guru Padmasambhava who is known as the founder of Tantrik Buddhism in Tibet.

Lamas Performing with masks during the Hemis festival

Tradational dances during the Hemis festival

Another Important festival Gustor takes place in various places in Ladakh in different months, the most famous of them are the Gustor taking place at Spituk, Thiksay & Karsha. Gustors are celebrated to mark the victory over the eveil.

Lamas ready with religious masks for performing in the festival

Ladakh polo festival is taking place for the first time in year 2016 at chushot, to create interest among the youth, it will also help in bringing chushot village in tourist map of Ladakh. Dates- July 11 - 17.

Polo at Ladakh

Make sure to make a visit to the festivals, if you are visiting Ladakh in 2016 during any of these festival dates mentioned above, to experience the culture & rituals of Ladakh region closely. 

If you are having planning a visitto ladakh region and you are having any queries, you may get in touch with us by leaving a comment below or by dropping an email at k.optimumtours@gmail.com or visiting our Face book page @ optimum tours.