Prayer flags fly in the wind outside a Buddhist monastery August 5, 2005 in Shey, Ladakh. Shey, 8 miles from Leh, Ladakh's capital, was the summer palace of the kings of Ladakh who last ruled in the mid-1800's. Opened up to tourism in 1974, Ladakh is often called 'Little Tibet' through similarities in topography and culture with nearby Tibet.

A Ladakhi Buddhist monk blows a conch shell horn during the morning prayer ritual at the Thiksey Monastery August 6, 2005 in Thiksey, Ladakh. Thiksey is part of the Gelukpa or Yellow Hat sect of Buddhism.

A Thai Buddhist walks along the Mahabodhi Temple near the Bodhi Tree July 25, 2005 in Bodhgaya, India, where Buddha attained enlightenment in 528 B.C. It was from here that Buddha set out on his life of preaching. Bodhgaya is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage destination and one of the most engaging of holy sites associated with Buddha's life.

A Hindu pilgrim prays at dawn against the gold flaked gate beneath the Bodhi Tree July 25, 2005 in Bodhgaya, India, where underneath Buddha attained enlightenment in 528 B.C. It was from here Buddha set out on his life of preaching. Bodhgaya is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage destinatio and one of the most engaging of holy sites associated with Buddha's life.

A young Ladakhi Buddhist monk sits in the main prayer hall of the Thiksey Monastery for the daily prayer and chanting August 6, 2005 in Thiksey, Ladakh. Thiksey Monastery is part of the Gelukpa or Yellow Hat sect of Buddhism.

A Buddhist monk walks through a crowd of Hindu pilgrims and worshippers in the Mahabodhi Temple July 24, 2005 in Bodhgaya, India. The temple is adjacent to where Buddha attained enlightenment in 528 B.C.

A Buddhist monk walks beneath the Bodhi Tree July 24, 2005 in Bodhgaya, India, where Buddha attained enlightenment in 528 B.C and from where he set out on his life of preaching.

A Ladakhi Buddhist monk guides a group of Spanish tourists inside a Buddhist monastery August 5, 2005 at Shey, Ladak. The 40 foot high statue of a seated Sakyamuni Buddha is made of gold-plated copper.

Prayer scarves hang on an old doorway at the Hemis Monastery August 5, 2005 in Hemis, Ladakh. Founded in the 17th century, Hemis has a 3-story statue of Padmasambhava, an 8th century venerated Buddhist saint from India.

Ladakhi Buddhist monks remove their shoes before entering the main prayer hall during the morning prayer and chanting session at the Thiksey Monastery August 6, 2005 in Thiksey, Ladakh.

A Thai Buddhist monk walks out of the entrance of the Mahabodhi Temple where the Bodhi Tree lies July 25, 2005 in Bodhgaya, India.

A Buddhist pilgrim walks through ancient stupas at the Mahabodhi Temple near the Bodhi Tree July 25, 2005 in Bodhgaya, India.

A Thai Buddhist monk teaches local Hindu children lessons in ancient Pali, the language Buddha spoke, near the Bodhi Tree July 25, 2005 in Bodhgaya, India. A sapling of the Bodhi Tree was taken to Sri Lanka from which a cutting came back to Bodhgaya which stands now next to a Buddhist temple built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C.

A Ladakhi Buddhist monk waits for western tourists to enter the main prayer hall at the 16th century Matho Monastery August 6, 2005 in Matho, Ladakh.

A Tibetan nun prepares butter candles near the Bodhi Tree July 25, 2005 in Bodhgaya, India, where underneath Buddha attained enlightenment in 528 B.C.

A statue of Buddha in the Dungeshwari caves 8 miles from Bodhgaya, India, July 25, 2005, shows Buddha during a period of fasting and meditation in the Gandhara style of an ascetic. Buddha stayed in this cave for 6 years before moving to Bodhgaya at the present day site of the Mahabodhi Temple.

Beside a banyan tree, a small altar with Hindu deities stands near the Bodhi Tree July 25, 2005 in Bodhgaya, India.

An Indian pilgrim prays near the Bodhi Tree July 25, 2005 in Bodhgaya, India, where underneath Buddha attained enlightenment in 528 B.C. following 6 years of meditation.