monastery monastery buddhist monastery known monastic complex temples indian state complex comprises separate settlements village lower region monuments dated different periods monastery said oldest famous administered villages lower region constitute group monuments villages adjoining monuments villages stated unique style monastic complex best known monastery complex built according local tradition great translator guru inscriptions preserved monuments noble called later 11th century temple called built style seen monasteries temple called temple jam important complex artistic spiritual details buddhism hindu kings time reflected wall paintings monastery oldest surviving paintings complex huge statues elaborate wood carvings art work comparable baroque style explained beauty small monastery history history monuments complex villages group precise spite inscriptions texts displayed walls traditionally creation complex attributed famous scholar translator 10th century tenth century order spread buddhism trans region took initiative scholars region harsh climatic conditions survived scholar translator established buddhist activity region areas india including went neighbouring countries known epithet great translator credited building monasteries trans region quest buddhism buddhism region monasteries considered buddhism known engaged artists create wall paintings sculptures legendary monasteries survived monastery complex having pride place monasteries built monasteries period belong established schools initially brought control order condition monasteries deteriorated taken order exception placed sect worship monastery ceased reason fifteenth century sect controlled geography visitor information located south bank altitude metres kilometres outside west connected air delhi road approach starts route accessible june october depending snow fall conditions valley village high altitude rain shadow area laid settlements banks tributary monastic complex separate village settlements structures monastery complex major assembly hall dating early 12th early 13th centuries important complex addition complex important temples translator temple called new temple called collection small village described hindu jewel colours forms utterly beautiful normal state high altitude deep artistic spiritual details buddhism hindu kings time reflected wall paintings monastery complex oldest surviving paintings complex huge statues lavish wood carvings art work baroque style explains beauty small monastery rendered eclectic mix faces clothes heart monastery complex monks perform worship ceremonies large ancient original wooden door frame retained additions ancient structure 12th 13th centuries leads hall courtyard thousand depicted seen outer gate walls dedicated painted different surround main deity hall set paintings fierce guardians lesser complex outstanding purpose clearly established means building small built natural stone reflected bland exterior building tradition columns walls clay images paintings interior monastery artists ground floor floor measures metres metres metres width metres height main wall larger size walls depict main images standing posture metres height associate secondary deities niche flying niche main wooden door floor dilapidated rest preserved original form built early 13th century second floor building form balcony mounting image largest size metres wall flanked images right left interesting aspect elegant worn deities display different themes printed different textile patterns depicts life shows holy places royal palaces printed deities single head arms differently portrayed deity identified different crown representing crown represents crown represents inscription main niche states images representing body speech mind compared bodies denoting body reality representing pure representing body simple terms represent buddhist concepts compassion hope wisdom depiction life textile prints unique representation cycle life arranged reverse sequence form painted red measuring centimetres blue background scenes representing episodes preaching scenes scenes arranged pre determined sequence representing events life journey heaven sermon dating basis names priests inscribed floor structure inscribed school established early 13th century temple analysis temple compared hall temple dates called built central images seated seen common platform metres square pillars form enclosure images pillars supported cross connected painted wood ceiling paintings wooden ceiling similar located close river temple preserved wood carvings doors pillars temple left later addition images common pedestal centimetres high painted recently overall picture decorative derived tails surrounded images animals gods symbols normal colour attributed images orange temple depicted different colours images single headed arms adorned sword book lotus bow arrow wall shrine dedicated image depicted main wall seated lion throne walls images right left images set central image niche wall adorned jewellery forms crown flower band base throne image depiction seven suspicious symbols flanked lions enclosed square frame distinctive throne frame earliest recorded early 13th century following building decorated known locally considered unique historical link monuments added 13th 14th centuries complex ancient paintings
Alchi Monastery