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Annapurna Photo Gallery - Marpha

Marpha, Tashi Lhakhang Gompa with Buddhist Paintings

100 On The Trail Just Before Entering Marpha

100 On The Trail Just Before Entering Marpha

101 Marpha View Towards North After lunch in Jomsom, it took us only an hour to trek along the river bank much of the way to Marpha. Marpha (2680m) is situated in a little in a side valley and is protected from the strong winds, which blow in the middle of the river valley. The rooftops are bordered by neat stacks of firewood and provide a place where the women can work in the sun, drying and processing their produce. Everything in Marpha is clean and neat.

101 Marpha View Towards North

102 Marpha Neeru Guest House In 2002 In 2002 I checked in to the Neeru Guest House with my room overlooking a tiny, sunny courtyard full of marigolds and a couple of fruit trees. I had my meals in their restaurant/sunroom that was always warm and cozy.

102 Marpha Neeru Guest House In 2002

103 Marpha Hotel 2008 View Of Toilet And Shower Near Cow Pen In 2008 I stayed in a different hotel. The toilet and shower in our lodge in Marpha was next to the cow pen. Cozy.

103 Marpha Hotel 2008 View Of Toilet And Shower Near Cow Pen

104 Marpha Busy Main Street Marpha’s main street is paved with slabs of stone covering an extensive drainage system. The flat-roofed houses are all neatly whitewashed along the busy narrow street, hectic with people, horses, and donkey trains.

104 Marpha Busy Main Street

104-1 Marpha Main Street

104-1 Marpha Main Street

105 Marpha Tashi Lhakhang Gompa I visited Marpha's large impressive gompa, Tashi Lhakhang, which was renovated and enlarged in 1996. The gompa, as are all the buildings in Marpha, is painted with a whitewash that is produced from a special local stone

105 Marpha Tashi Lhakhang Gompa

106 Marpha Gompa - Jerome Ryan Spins Prayer Wheel, Prayer Wheels, Main Temple, Young Monk Inside Gompa UL: At the entrance to the Marpha Gompa, Jerome Ryan spun a big prayer wheel, which was a present from the Dalai Lama over 100 years ago. UR: Prayer wheels outside the gompa. LL: Outside the main temple. LR: A young monk let me in the Marpha Gompa, and told me the gompa was about 400 years old. He said there are 225 books of the Tenjur (the canonical commentary), which were hand-written in Tibet.

106 Marpha Gompa - Jerome Ryan Spins Prayer Wheel, Prayer Wheels, Main Temple, Young Monk Inside Gompa

107 Marpha Gompa - Amitabha And Padmasambhava Statues, Guitar Playing Buddha Painting There were three statues behind the glass at the Marpha Gompa: on the left Avalokiteshvara (not shown), in the centre red Amitabha, on the right Padmasambhava. There are many paintings on the wall, including a guitar playing Buddha.

107 Marpha Gompa - Amitabha And Padmasambhava Statues, Guitar Playing Buddha Painting

108 Marpha Gompa Padmasambhava Painting The young monk told me the paintings on the walls of the Marpha Gompa were over 300 years old, including one of Padmasambhava (Tib. Guru Rinpoche).

108 Marpha Gompa Padmasambhava Painting

109 Marpha Gompa Paintings - 6-Armed Mahakala With Consort, 1000-armed 11-headed Avalokiteshvara The Marpha Gompa has a paintings of the fierce 6-armed Mahakala, embracing his consort. The monk pointed out his wings, his tiger skin, and his necklace of skulls. Fierce indeed! On the other wall of the Marpha Gompa, I spotted a 1000-armed 11-headed Avalokiteshvara.

109 Marpha Gompa Paintings - 6-Armed Mahakala With Consort, 1000-armed 11-headed Avalokiteshvara

110 Marpha Gompa - Young Monks Play Soccer, Young Monks On Gompa Roof I went up to the roof of the Marpha Gompa courtyard and watched saw some young monks. I went down to the courtyard again and sat down for a few minutes. The young monks came down with a small ball and started a game of soccer. They kicked the ball with all their might and laughed heartily when it went to the upper floor of the courtyard. Soon, a proper soccer ball was produced and they played with both balls at once, doubling their pleasure, and tripling my chances of being hit.

110 Marpha Gompa - Young Monks Play Soccer, Young Monks On Gompa Roof