Nestled in the western region of Ladakh in the midst of the barren mountains, Lamayuru is a culturally rich and enchanting village and an ideal pit stop on the Kargil-Leh route. It is on the Leh – Srinagar highway and can be visited from Leh. Located at a longitude of 76.77 and latitude of 34.28, it is slow paced and is one of the most beautiful village and an ideal place to break the journey from Kargil to Leh.
Set among the mountain backed badlands, scenic and pictorial homes huddle around a disintegrated hilltop that is a Swiss cheese of caves and erosion pillars topped by a photogenic Gompa. Location:- Lamayuru village is located in remote areas of Ladakh region, and it is 114 km from Leh. One can either take a short bypass from the Srinagar – Leh road or set off on a trail to Pensi-la pass – the gateway to Zanskar. The best time to visit Lamayuru is during June to September as the roads are clear of snow.
Tourist Attractions of Lamayuru
The Lamayuru monastery was built in the 11th century and is now owned by the red hat sect of Buddhism. Also referred to as the Drang-Drung, this monastery is home to over 150 monks and also a storehouse of all artefacts, wall paintings, thangas, figurines, rugs and notable 11 Head, 1000 eyed image of Chenzing. This monastery is also known as a Moonland for its unique structure resembling the craters of the moon. Lamayuru is a must visit for its beauty. It is hemmed in by a moonscape of screen covered mountains, the whitewashed medieval monastery towers above a scruffy cluster of tumbledown mud brick houses from the top of a near vertical, strangely eroded cliff.
A major landmark on the old silk route, this Gompa numbers among the 108 founded by the Rinchen Zangpo in the tenth and eleventh centuries. It is among the earliest monasteries of Ladakh, it’s also an area that has numerous legends and stories related to that. About a million years after, now, Lamayuru monastery is well understood considerably past the Buddhist world although only a few travelers visit this location. It was initially among five big buildings of Lamayuru, from which only one survives today. Even after losing its might, it is still one of the grandest monasteries and a house to more than 150 monks.
Situated at a height of 3510 meters, the monastery is extremely scenic. The easiest way to visit this place is by availing a cab from Leh. In summers, one can take the local bus as the journey would be longer which in turn is an added advantage to the voyager due to the landscapes that fall in the way. Apart from these, one can also drive all the way to Lamayuru.
The beautiful landscape keeps changing itself as the time you leave for Lamayuru from Leh. If you are lucky enough, you might get a chance to see some wildlife. However, you should leave early in the morning from Leh, so that you can be back in same day due to security causes. Getting stranded on the highway during winters is definitely not a pleasant experience.
How to Reach Lamayuru
Lamayuru is located nearly west side to Ladakh. The total distance between Lamayuru and Leh is 75 km and 203.13 meters. If you travel at a speed of 50 km per hour, it takes about 1.5 hours to reach. Bus timings from Leh to Lamayuru is around 1.25 hours if the bus maintains an average speed of 60 km per hour over the course of the journey. The bus fare may be around sixty rupees.
Where to Stay
You can find numerous staying options like homestays and hotels, near to the monastery. Some of them are Hotel Moonland, Home Stay/ Guest Houses, Niranjan Hotel.
Fairs and Festivals
Yuru Kabgyat is a two day festival and is one of the biggest festivals of Ladakh’s cultural calendar. In the festival, masked dancers perform the vital teachings of Tibetan Buddhism through conventional dance performances. Another ritual followed during this festival is the burning of effigies. It stands for the destruction of ego in every individual.
Lamayuru also plays host to another annual festival called Hemis Tse Chu which takes place in the fifth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. It’s a two day festival and also the largest famous festival in Ladakh. Committed to Guru Padmasambhava, the creator of tantric Buddhism that this festival plans in taming, conversion, and integration of both BON-PO demons and gods.
Tips for Lamayuru
It’s a readily reachable village of Ladakh where you can see the true life of Ladakhis. It’s a sufficiently offbeat location in Ladakh without needing to get too daring and perfect for a family vacation. In Lamayuru, it’s easy to find homestays on a very reasonable cost. Moreover, adequate amount buses run daily on Lamayuru-Leh route. Lamayuru is a must visit for its stunning beauty. There are popular treks leading to Lamayuru though they are slightly difficult for beginners, yet one can plan an exciting, adventurous holiday here in April, May, and June.
