monasteries in Ladakh- Ladakh is a Buddhist-majority region and it depicts the Buddhist culture and its rich traditions. One of the best things to explore is the monasteries of Ladakh. Tibetan rulers once ruled Ladakh and it lies close to Tibet retaining Tibetan culture, including Tibetan architecture, Tibetan Food, and Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. These monasteries feature whitewashed stupas, bright red flags, monks adorned in red robes, and elderly people circumambulating these monasteries.
By visiting these monasteries in Ladakh, tourists get an opportunity to explore the stunning and intricately designed monuments. Apart from religious importance and spiritual experience, the monasteries of Ladakh offer visitors a chance to interact with the old world through statues, manuscripts, artifacts, and thangkas.
You will also witness what monks do in a Buddhist monastery like their religious study, sacred chanting in Sanskrit and Tibetan in assembly halls, and the local festivals popular for their masked dances. There are a large number of monasteries in Ladakh which are designed in traditional Tibetan architectural styles and comprise temples, courtyards, assembly halls, libraries, and living spaces for monks.
The most famous Buddhist monasteries In Ladakh are Lamayuru Monastery, Alchi Monastery, Diskit Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Likir Monastery, Shey Monastery, Spituk Monastery, Thiksey Monastery, Mulbekh Monastery, and Phugtal Monastery. Most of these monasteries of Ladakh are situated on the hilltop.
To explore the monasteries of Ladakh, you should book your Ladakh tour package with us. We will discuss the top-visited monasteries of Ladakh here.
10 Famous Buddhist Monasteries In Ladakh
Below are the top 10 monasteries In Ladakh that are worth visiting during your Ladakh tour.
1- Lamayuru Monastery
One of the oldest monasteries In Ladakh, Lamayuru monastery is the most beautiful monastery of Ladakh which is about 125 kilometers west of Leh on the Leh-Srinagar highway. Popularly known as the “Moonland of Ladakh”, Lamayuru belongs to the Drikungpa order of Tibetan Buddhism. As per legends, a scholar Naropa used to meditate here in a cave called ‘Naropa’s cave’. This monastery hosts a special festival “Yuru Kabgyat” which takes place on the 17th and 18th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan calendar. The library of the monastery contains Kandshur, which are collected teachings of Buddha.
2- Alchi Monastery
Alchi Monastery is situated in Alchi Ladakh which is around 65 km from Leh. This Monastery is 1000 years old and was founded in the 11th century by Rinchen Zangpo, a famous Tibetan translator. The walls of Alchi monastery comprise images of Buddha, Bodhisattva, tantric gods, goddesses, flying apsara, and royal scenes. The wall paintings of Alchi monastery were designed by Kashmiri artists. These paintings are among the world’s masterpieces of art and religion. Unlike other monasteries which are situated on the hilltop, the Alchi Gompa is constructed on flat ground.
3- Diskit Monastery
Diskit Monastery is a 14th-century monastery In Ladakh and is one of the finest monasteries to visit on your Ladakh trip. It is located in Nubra Valley and belongs to the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Diskit Monastery was founded by Changzen Tserab Zangpo in the 14th century and is popular for its 32-meter-high statue of Maitreya Buddha and the Dosmoche festival. Tibetan and Mongolian manuscripts are kept here and tourists can enjoy stunning views of Nubra Valley. The monastery is built on a hilltop and visitors can explore the Dosmoche festival where people from different villages in Nubra Valley assemble and witness masked dances performed by monks.
4- Hemis Monastery
Hemis Monastery is one of the most famous and largest monasteries in Ladakh and is famed for its Hemis festival featuring Cham dance. It is about 45 km south of Leh and belongs to the Drukpa order. It was built in 1630 by StagTsang Raspa under the leadership of King Sengge Namgyal. Hemis monastery also has a museum that contains thangkas of Buddhist gods and goddesses, with age-old statues. Hemis festival celebrated here is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche and his thangka is unfurled on this day.
5- Likir Monastery
Likir Monastery is situated in Likir village and is about 53 km to the west of Leh. The Likir Monastery was founded in 1065 AD by Lama Duwang Chosjey under the rule of King Lhachen Gyalpo. One of the unique features of this monastery is the 75-foot Maitreya Buddha statue which sits next to Gompa’s main building. Likir Monastery has two assembly halls known as Dukhangs, and the older one is on the right side of the central courtyard with six rows of seats for the lamas and a throne for the Head Lama of Likir village. The Dukhangs comprise statues of Amitabha, Bodhisattva, and three big statues of Maitreya, Sakyamuni, and Tsong Khapa, founder of the yellow hat sect.
6- Shey Monastery
Shey Monastery is located about 16 km away from Leh town between Hemis and Thiksey Monastery. The monastery was built at the beginning of the 17th century under the rule of King Deldan Namgyal. One of the main features of this monastery is a story statue of Buddha Shakyamuni which is made up of copper guilt. The Shey monastery is surrounded by hundreds of stupas and Dresthang Gompa. You can witness here the ‘Shey Srubla’ festival in which there is a display of traditional Ladaki customs and culture.
7- Spituk Monastery
Spituk Monastery is one of the best and most beautiful monasteries in Ladakh. It is situated 7 km to the southwest of Leh and was founded in the 11th century AD by Od-de, brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od. The monastery houses 100 monks and the main attraction here is a giant Kali statue. Kali statue is made public during the Gustor festival which takes place on the 18th and 19th of the 11th months of the Tibetan calendar. The museum of the Spituk monastery contains Thangkas which originally belonged to Potala Palace of Lhasa.
8- Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Monastery is the largest monastery in Ladakh and is situated 20 km to the south of Leh. The monastery resembles the Potala Palace of Lhasa and was established during the time of Gelugpa expansion in the 15th century. This monastery features a three-story high Maitreya Buddha Statue or Future Buddha which will teach enlightenment. Visitors can explore here stunning views of Indus Valley, Stok Kangri Peak, Stakna, and Matho Gompa. Thiksey festival is held every year in the monastery during October and November.
9 – Mulbekh Monastery
MuLbekh Monastery is located in Kargil at a distance of 45 km from it and 260 km from Leh. Known for its 30-foot-tall statue of Maitreya Buddha, Mulbekh monastery consists of two gompas- Serdung Gompa of the Drukpa sect and the Rgaldan-se-Gompa of the Gelugpa sect of Buddhism. Also known as Mulbekh Chamba, the monastery is situated on a crag located almost 656 feet above the road. The altitude of the Mulbekh monastery is about 11, 495 feet. It is an 800-year-old monastery featuring a 30-foot statue of Maitreya Buddha carved on a stone slab that is overlooked by the Leh-Kargil highway. The monastery is decorated with wall paintings and is home to several precious relics.
9- Phugtal Monastery
It is also known as Phugtal Gompa or Phuktal Monastery, Phugtal Monastery is located in the remote corner of the Lungnak Valley which is a part of the southeastern region of Zanskar Valley, Ladakh. Gangsem Sherap Sampo founded the monastery in the early 12th century. Phugtal Monastery is a site of meditation, unmatched peace, retreat, teaching, and spiritual significance. This monastery has been built onto a cliffside in the form of a honeycomb.
Phuk means ‘cave’ tal means’ at leisure’ and its other name is Phukthar where Thar means ‘liberation’. Hence, the cave is also called as ’Cave of Leisure’ or ‘Cave of Liberation’.Around 70 monks dwell at this monastery which has a library as well as prayer rooms. There are various festivals celebrated in Phuktal Monastery which include Smonlam Chenmo, Gyalwe Jabstan, Syungnas, Yarnas, and Phukta Gutor.
How to visit these monasteries in Ladakh
Most of the monasteries In Ladakh are located in remote areas, so it is better to visit them on a taxi or a guided tour. Some of the monasteries are accessible by road and some need a short trek to reach.
- Since many monasteries are located in Leh, you can reach Leh either by flight from Delhi, Jammu, and Srinagar or by road via Manali or Srinagar highway.
- Upon reaching Leh, tourists can book a taxi or bike for day trips to various monasteries.
- Hemis and Thiksey Monastery are located very close to Leh so they can be visited in a day and explore the cultural richness and traditions of locals.
- Diskit monastery is situated 120 km away from Leh and it takes about one day to visit this monastery from Leh.
- Likir and Alchi monasteries are situated about 70 km from Leh which also takes one or two days to visit.
- Overall, for visiting all the beautiful monasteries of Ladakh, a 6-7 day Ladakh trip is suitable for experiencing the beauty of these Buddhist monasteries.
- It is also important to visit the monasteries during the best time which is from May to September when the weather is pleasant and favorable for trips.
Best time to explore monasteries in Ladakh
Ladakh is open for tourists throughout the year but due to heavy snowfall, it becomes difficult to reach Ladakh.
You can visit Ladakh in the winter months but the best time to visit here is during the summer season.
Summer: From May to September, the weather remains pleasant and warm, favorable for traveling. During the summer season, days are warm and tourists can explore the beautiful monasteries In Ladakh. Summer allows visitors to enjoy the scenic beauty and architectural designs of monasteries. Moreover, all the monasteries hold special festivals in the summer season, so it is recommended to visit the monasteries in summer.
Winter: from October to March, Ladakh gets closed due to a heavy blanket of snow. It is unsafe to travel via road in winter due to slippery roads and landslides. So majority of the tourists avoid visiting Ladakh in the winter season.
How to reach Ladakh
The most convenient way to reach Ladakh is by flight which is quite fast and hassle-free. However, you can also reach Ladakh via road or by train.
By flight: Kushok Bakula Rimpochee airport is the primary airport of Ladakh and you can reach here via any flight from Air India and Go Air to and from New Delhi. If you want a hassle-free trip, you can visit Ladakh via a flight and then after reaching Leh airport, you can book a cab or taxi to reach different places and the main town of Leh.
By road: you can reach Ladakh by road via two routes which are the Leh-Manali highway and Srinagar-Leh highway. The Leh Manali highway covers a distance of 473 km and is commonly opted by tourists for traveling. It takes two days from this route to reach Leh. The road from Srinagar to Leh has a distance of 434 km and runs on a lower height than Leh Manali highway. This route also takes two days to reach Ladakh with an overnight stop in Kargil.
By train: Jammu Tawi is the only railway station to reach Ladakh via Srinagar. It operates regular trains from Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Mumbai, etc. After reaching Jammu Tawi station, you can board a JKSRTC (Jammu Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation) bus to Leh.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there any entry fees for visiting monasteries in Ladakh?
Yes, there is a small entrance fee for visiting the monasteries In Ladakh. This fee is used for the maintenance of the monasteries.
2. Is photography allowed inside monasteries?
Photography rules vary for different monasteries in Ladakh. Some allow photography while others don’t grant permission. It is advisable to get photography permission before entering the monasteries.
3. How many monasteries are there in Ladakh?
Ladakh is home to roughly 200-250 monasteries among which a few are popular and some are in ruins due to ancient wars.
4. Which is the largest monastery In Ladakh?
Hemis Monastery is the richest, famous, and largest of Ladakh. It was built in 1630 and is one of the top attractions of Leh Ladakh.
5. Is there any dress code for visiting monasteries in Ladakh?
While visiting the monasteries In Ladakh, it is advised to dress modestly and respectfully. Both men and women should cover their shoulders, arms, and legs and also cover the head with a shawl or scarf in the prayer room.