Lamayuru Monastery

Perched high on the hills overlooking the serpentine Srinagar-Leh highway, Lamayuru Monastery emanates a sense of calm and tranquility. Lamayuru means ‘Eternal’ in the local dialect and is the name of the village where the monastery is located. One of the oldest & largest Gompas (monastery) in the region, Lamayuru Monastery, also called Yuru Gompa, was established in the 11th century and is the main seat of Drikung Kagyu (Red-Hat) school of Buddhism.

Legend of Lamayuru Monastery
The legend goes that the entire valley was actually a big lake full of Nagas (sacred serpents). Arahat Madhyantika, an enlightened monk, visited here and made offerings to the Nagas. With a crack of his walking stick, he made a hole in the ground and the lake water drained out. Sometime in the 11th century, Naropa, a Buddhist scholar visited Ladakh and meditated in a small cave in Lamayuru. That was the beginning of Lamayuru Monastery. It is also called “Tharpa Ling” meaning “a place of freedom” as no one could be arrested here & no taxes were levied as per a royal decree.

The Monastery
Commissioned by the King of Ladakh and constructed under the supervision of Rinchin Zango in the 11th century, Lamayuru originally consisted of a group of five buildings housing over 400 monks. Now the main structure, standing amidst the ruins of the four buildings, is home to over 100 monks. The path to the monastery is lined with prayer wheels & stacks of colorful prayer stones. A tall prayer flag pole instantly grabs your attention. As you walk into the main assembly hall, the colorful Thangakas (Buddhist paintings) and frescos are simply mesmerizing. The cave where Naropa meditated has been converted into a small shrine. A sense of peace and spirituality envelopes you and you feel one with the tranquil surroundings.

Festival at Lamayuru Monastery
Yundrung Kabgyat, the monastic festival, is celebrated mostly in June or July, as per the Tibetan Lunar calendar. The monks from far and near, wear colorful masks and dance to please the deities to keep the evil spirits and disasters at bay.

Other Attractions
While in Lamayuru, do check out the Moon land of Ladakh in the village of Lamayuru. The valley is called so due to its moonlike landscape carved into the rugged Himalayas. The moonscapes of Lamayuru are a perfect ending to this spiritual monastery visit.

How to Reach
By Air- Leh Airport, around 114kms from Lamayuru, is connected to major cities in the country.
By Rail- The closest railhead, Jammu Tawi, is over 800kms from Lamayuru.
By Road- Lamayuru Monastery lies on the Srinagar-Leh highway and is easily accessible by road.

Check out our Leh-Ladakh Tour Packages for a visit to this gorgeous moon land on earth. Do get in touch for our Personalized Tour Packages with customized itineraries just for you!