Lamayuru Monastery – Facts & Travel Guide

The Lamayuru Monastery, also known as the Yuru Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery in Lamayuru, Leh. It is one of the largest and most significant monasteries in Ladakh. The monastery is situated on the Srinagar – Leh highway 15 kilometers east of the Fotu La Pass at an altitude of 3,510 m. The Lamayuru Monastery is a serene place with a plethora of antique designs, enchanting sights, and devoted monks. The gompa is famous for its exciting history and the festival of Yuru Kabgyat. The location of the Lamayuru Monastery also serves as a platform to witness the spectacular sceneries of the mountains and hills nearby. Lamayuru is also known as the Moonland of Ladakh because of the geographical formation of moon-like terrains sculpted into the Himalayas.

Highlights of Lamayuru Monastery

• Dukhang or Prayer Hall

• Sengge Lhakhang Temple

• Gonkhang Temple

• Naropa’s Cave

• Breathtaking views of the villages and mountains nearby

• Yuru Kabgyat Festival

Things to do and places to visit

Trek around Lamayuru

If you are interested in outdoor activities, you can trek around Lamayuru. The trek from Lamayuru to Darcha takes about 18-20 days. You can also go trekking from Lamayuru to Wanla, which can be completed within five days.

Camp in Lamayuru Village

Lamayuru has several places where you can pitch your tent and camp overnight, such as Wanla, Hinju, and Lamayuru village itself. It will be a fantastic experience to camp in the mountains after an arduous trekking expedition in the moon landscape.

Explore the Moon Landscape

During your stay at Lamayuru, you cannot miss exploring the unique landscape. The vast stretch of rocky terrain resembles the surface of the moon. The best location to get the fantastic views of the terrain is from Meditation Hill.

Meditate in the Peaceful Atmosphere of Lamayuru

If you are looking for a peaceful atmosphere, the Lamayuru monastery is a perfect place for meditation. The beauty and tranquility of this place will calm your mind, body, and soul.

Attend the Yuru Kabgyat Festival

If you are interested in the Buddhist culture, you can visit the gompa around June and attend the Yuru Kabgyat Festival. During the festival, you can witness the cultural dance performances, dramas, and sacred ceremonies performed by the monks of the Lamayuru monastery.

Visit the Wanla Monastery

You can also visit the Wanla monastery, located close to Lamayuru monastery. During your visit to the monastery, you can learn about the Buddhist culture and spirituality. The gompa also offers stunning views of the surrounding areas, a must-see if you visit the Lamayuru monastery.

Explore Uleytokpo town

Uleytokpo is a small town located in proximity to the Lamayuru monastery. Situated at an altitude of 3040 meters, it serves as a perfect basecamp for trekkers and campers. There are also a few accommodation options in the town where you can opt to rest and let your body acclimatize to the climate of Ladakh.

Preparing for Lamayuru Monastery Trip

We started driving from Kargil along the Leh – Srinagar highway with a brief stop at a few places on the way to Lamayuru monastery. On reaching the Fotula Pass, we clicked some pictures and set off quickly towards the Lamayuru town. The drive on the winding roads along the Indus river was absolutely scenic. After a while, we caught the first sight of the monastery, which was really fascinating. The monastery was nestled high up on the hill amidst the barren rocky landscape.

Reaching the Lamayuru Monastery

Finally, we reached the monastery and got out of our car to pay the entry fee at the ticket counter. We could see several prayer wheels at the monastery’s entrance that led us to the stacks of the multicolored Mani stones (prayer stones). These prayer stones are believed to bring peace and tranquility to the village. While we admired these beautiful prayer stones, we caught sight of the intricate paintings on the mud walls that seemed to fade with time. At this point, we discovered the old building of the Lamayuru monastery.

Old Lamayuru Monastery

Although the gompa was in a state of ruins, something was mesmerizing about it. The walls were all broken, and the prayer wheels were no longer used. It felt like the place was raided sometime in the past, yet there seemed to be some mystical beauty that forced us to explore the monastery. As we moved further, we came across some white capsules kept along the walls in between the prayer wheels. The remains of the dead were preserved in these white cases, and it was here we uncovered the ceremonial part of Buddhism. We wondered how the gompa must have been with vibrant red paintings, golden stupa, and whitewashed walls in its glory days.

Mandala Ceremony in Lamayuru Monastery

One of the monks made us understand that the Mandala Ceremony was a ritual in which a Mandala was created by the lamas of the monastery. The ceremony was celebrated annually, and at the end of the year, the monks dismantled it to make it all over again.

The Mandala was a sand painting that represented life. At the end of the year, this sand painting is immersed in the river, and a new one is prepared in its place. The mandala was surrounded by colorful flags called Datter flags.

Assembly Hall of the Monastery

As we entered the Assembly Hall of the monastery, we witnessed the Thanka paintings on the walls. The colorful interiors of the hall made a stark contrast to the simple exteriors that we had experienced so far. There was an aura of calmness and serenity, and one could experience the soothing vibes within the hall.

Prayer Hall of the Monastery

Walking inside the monastery, we met a monk who was quite surprised to see us. We had a brief conversation with him, and at the end, we asked his permission to click a picture with us, and he humbly allowed it. We took a small tour of the new Assembly Hall from outside as it was shut when we found it. We noticed that the visitors were busy watching the monks preparing for some ceremony. We asked one of them and learned about the Mandala Ceremony going on in the monastery. We walked out of the prayer hall and sat on the edge to look at the dry mountains and the life of the people in the village below.

Moonscapes of Lamayuru

We climbed up the Meditation Hill, where we saw some decorated stupas and prayer rocks. The stones were carved with Tibetan script, few of them being centuries old. As we climbed up the hill, we could witness the surreal landscape and entire village of Lamayuru. The strange rock formations and the uneven surface offered us an out-of-the-world experience.

Conclusion

Although Ladakh famous for its ancient monasteries, rocky landscape, and splendid lakes, a trip to Ladakh is incomplete until you have visited some of the well-known monasteries. Lamayuru monastery offers a serene atmosphere with a rich Ladakhi culture and a unique moon landscape. It is situated only 2 hours away from Leh in the middle of Leh and Kargil. The village is perhaps one of the most interesting places that you can see in Ladakh. It is a significant tourist attraction in Ladakh because of its historical significance and incredible scenic beauty. You can enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and lakes from the monastery.

Accommodation at Lamayuru

Since Lamayuru is located at a distance of 114 kilometers from Leh, it is advisable to stay overnight and enjoy the serene and peaceful ambiance of the village. There are many accommodation options in Lamayuru, including guesthouses and homestays. You can also choose to stay in the monastery as it offers accommodation for visitors.

Food options at Lamayuru

There are many food joints on the way from Leh to Lamayuru or Kargil to Lamayuru. These restaurants offer local food and do not have a lot of variety. You can also have meals in the Dhabas, which offer excellent and delicious authentic Tibetan food, including momos and Thukpa. The Lamayuru monastery has a famous restaurant that offers fantastic food. If you reach the monastery in the afternoon, you should definitely have your lunch in this restaurant.

Lamayuru Monastery Travel Tips

• Rest as much as possible on the first day of your arrival to acclimatize to the climate.

• Apply good sunscreen to protect your skin from high-intensity UV rays.

• You should be cautious of the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness as it may influence even the most skilled travelers. Extreme climatic conditions in Lamayuru can be challenging for you, so be prepared before beginning your journey.

• Wear your sunglasses on sunny days.

• No Inner Line Permits are needed to visit the monastery as it is located on the Srinagar-Leh Highway.

• You should wear conservative clothes and respect the rules of the monastery.

• You can take pictures of the picturesque views from the gompa. However, you should follow monastery rules and ask before clicking a photograph of any monk.

• You can find petrol pumps in Leh, Kargil, and Khaltsi. These petrol pumps remain fully functional during winters as well.

• Subscribe for a BSNL, Jio, or Airtel postpaid number because other networks do not receive signals in Ladakh.

• Book your flight tickets in advance, as the prices would hike during the peak season in Leh, Ladakh.

Festivals in Lamayuru Monastery

Yuru Kabgyat: The most popular festival celebrated in Lamayuru is Yuru Kabgyat. Also known as the Lamayuru Festival, it is a two-day festival and takes place in the 2nd month of the Tibetan calendar. During the festival, lamas from all over the world, including Tibet, Bhutan, China, Japan, and Korea, visit the monastery to attend the festival. The Yuru Kabgyat is also a major attraction for locals and tourists because of the cultural performances, traditional costumes, and local food that is offered during the ceremony. The monks display local instruments such as pipes, horns, and drums, which are played by experienced artists. The locals put on colorful dresses and perform sacred ceremonies, dramas, and masked dances depicting the life of Buddha.