Hanle Gompa monastery in Ladakh: aerial view of old Buddhist stronghold

From the archive record

Among the Hanle plains and marshes which are the breeding grounds of the Black-necked Crane, and overlooking the Hanle Observatory stands the Hanle Gompa which is more a fort than a monastery. Note Hanle is fortified. It was used to repel attacks from Tibet (Rudok and Guge). A Gompa is a place where Buddhist monks meditate and preach their knowledge. Also, it is seen as a fortification, a 'vihara' or a university for Tibetan Buddhist culture. Hanle Gompa can be seen from miles away in the valley. Housed by around a dozen monks that look after this Gompa, it is visited by over 30 monks who come for learning and meditation. This footage is part of the broadcast stock footage archive of Wilderness Films India Ltd., the largest collection of HD imagery from South Asia. The collection comprises