 One legend tells us that Lozawa Rinchen-Zangpo was travelling across the length and breadth of Ladakh on a tough mission. Having come all the way from Spiti, he was in search for an ideal spot where temples and praise of the Enlightened One could be built. Temples, which would be unique, but all he saw was wilderness. Stark barren hills, valleys and dunes. Many a sunset did he see, as also he saw the moon rise, but still the perfect spot eluded him. A little perturbed, he sat deep in meditation. Inspired, he selected a spot and planted his wooden staff there, and took a vow that upon returning, if the staff would have taken root, burst into leaves, the temples would be built right there at Alchi. The staff did take root to become a lush tree sacred till date, and true to his word, Rinchen-Zangpo began work on the temple. Master craftsmen, artists and artisans were invited from other parts of India. They came, especially from central India, to this wilderness to create magic. In fact, the Choskore, or religious enclave at Alchi, is unique. The paintings and mural adorning its walls, however, are almost identical in style and spirit to those found in the Ajanta Caves. The temples at Alchi are very nearly the sole survivors of pre-Tibetan style of Buddhist painting and art, current in India at that time. Abandoned centuries ago as a place of regular worship, Alchi is still a sacred site, maintained by the monks of Likir, a nearby monastery. There is a beautiful folk song also, which describes how Alchi got its name. One legend tells us. Because there was no bridge above the river, so Alchi was the first village. So from here, our king, the king, who brought people for such work, they didn't listen. That's why we say, don't listen. But that perhaps was true when able hands were required to build the temples a millennium ago. Today, the presence of the temples ensure that people from far and near come on their own to soak in the beauty of the temples and also that of Alchi. Perhaps divine and human creativity at its best.