Lamayuru - Ladakh
Discover Lamayuru
Often known as the ‘moonland’ of Ladakh, the quaint village of Lamayuru is famous for its ‘lunar’ landscape, due to its unusual geographical formations. Perched amidst its mountainous landscape are the red and white buildings of the monastery village, consisting of monks cells. This tiny picture book village is believed to have once been a lake that dried up. It is home to one of Ladakh’s oldest monasteries, nestled amongst the hills.
Things to do in Lamayuru
- Visit Lamayuru monastery – Lamayuru’s main tourist draw is the monastery village, a series of red and white buildings high in the hills overlooking verdant farming terraces, and the home of around 150 Buddhist monks. It is one of the oldest and largest monasteries in Ladakh and dates back to the 11th century. It is believed to have been a sacred site for the pre-Buddhist religion called Bon. The monastery is home to fine frescos, carpets and Thangkhas (Tibetan Buddhist paintings on cotton or silk appliqué, usually depicting a deity, scene, or mandala), and the complex includes one of the oldest libraries in the region, containing extensive reading on the Tibetan Kagyupa Sect
- Explore the Geographical formations- Lamayuru has a fascinating ‘lunar’ landscape, created from unusual geographical formations. You can even spot moon-like craters dotted about! Legend has it that when a scholar laid the foundation stone for the monastery, his prayers caused the lake to dry up, leaving the surrounding moonlike craters
- See if you can plan your visit to co-incide with one of the fairs and festivals in Lamayuru. The two-day long Hemis Tse Chu is the largest monastic festival in Ladakh, and the Yuru Kab festival Gyat involves dances and sacred rituals performed by the monks
The best way to see Lamayuru
If you would like to visit Lamayuru, why not take a look at one of our wonderful ATOL and ABTA protected holidays? Please remember all our private tours are designed to meet your exact requirements, and the tours mentioned are just examples to help inspire you. Contact our travel experts on 01792 315499 or email info@aitholidays.com for more information.
