Lamayuru Travel Essentials
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Ideal duration: 1 day
Best Time: April to June Read More
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"Moonland of Ladakh"
Lamayuru Tourism
With a peculiar landscape on Leh-Kargil road, Lamayuru is a tiny village that's popularly known as the Moonland of Ladakh. Lamayuru is immensely popular for housing one of the oldest and largest monasteries in Ladakh. However, its claim to fame is accredited to the surreal breathtaking view of moonlike landscapes carved into the mountains. A large lake long ago dried up, and the protrusions looked like the surface of the moon. Tourists from various places visit this relatively serene destination to immerse in this scenic beauty. It has also been said often, that on a full moon night, the area is an extraordinary sight to behold, something one doesn't get to see every day. It is an ideal stopover between the Kargil-Leh route.
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Things to do in Lamayuru
1. MoonLand
A peculiar landscape near Lamayuru on Leh-Kargil Road is the MoonLand. It is called so fondly, because the landscapes here are said to be like that of the moon.
2. Lamayuru Monastery
The main attraction of the Lamayuru region, the sprawling Lamayuru Monastery, lies at a distance of about 127 km from Leh. Murals, frescoes and column paintings exemplifying the Kashmiri style of Budd (Read More)hist iconography are what stand out in this monastery.
3. Uleytokpo
Most well known as the western base camp for travellers who are enroute to Ladakh, Ulleytokpo is the paradise you are looking for before you enter Ladakh. It is an idyllic place for spending vacations (Read More) in a peace-loving and serene area.
4. Wanla Gompa
Wanla is a sub-monastery of Lamayuru which provides a caretaker monk, responsible for daily rituals and for granting access to the temple. The main image features Avalokitesvara in 11-headed ("Chuchig (Read More)zhel") form.
5. Alchi Monastery
Located in the Alchi Village of Ladakh, Alchi Monastery is a complex of Buddist temples of which Alchi Monastery is the oldest and most famous. Cemented on a flat ground unlike other monasteries in La (Read More)dakh, the traditional architecture of the monastery is a monastic complex which has 3 separate temples, known as Dukhang, Sumstek and the Temple of Manjushri.
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The Moonland
Lamayuru is famous for it moonlike landscapes carved into the greater Himalayas. The best way to view them is by climbing what is called the meditation hill. The monks meditate on the rocks and make medicines out of the herbs found there. As you climb the meditation hill, you will notice rocks with prayers written on them. It is also home to the most beautiful monastery and some of the most decorated stupas.
Festivals in Lamayuru
Lamayuru hosts two annual festivals- Yuru Kabgyat and Hemis Tse Chu, in the 2nd and 5th month of the Tibetan Lunar calendar, respectively. Yuru Kabgyat usually takes place during July or August. It is a two-day extravaganza, celebrated with great enthusiasm and energy. Masked dancers perform the essentials of Tibetan Buddhist teaching through traditional dance. This festival also aims at protecting the world from natural calamities and disasters and establish peace. A prime attraction of this festival is the demolition of a statue, depicting the enemy inside us. Colorfully dressed Buddhist Monks are found in every nook and corner of the district during the festival, and they also participate in dance dramas.
Hemis Tse Chu is also a two-day festival held in June. A 200-year-old tradition, it is one of the biggest and most famous monastic festivals in Ladakh. Hemis Tse Chu is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava- the founder of Tantric Buddhism. The festival involves resident monks/lamas of the Hemis Monastery perform sacred mask dance- Cham dance, leading to the destruction of sacrificial offerings and portrayal of good over evil.
Buddhists from Tibet, China, Japan etc. and other tourists from all around the world visit Lamayuru exclusively to witness these grand festivals.
Suggested Itinerary for Lamayuru
Day 1: Arrive at Leh.
Day 2: Drive from Leh to Lamayuru(3-4 hours). A 1-hour trek will lead to the famous Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. After the visit, another hour-long trek to Wanla, hiking through the 3,750 Mt Prinkti La Pass. Overnight camping at Wanla.
Day 3: Wanla to Hinju is a 5-hour long trek through the more quaint Ladakhi villages. Stay at meadow camp outside Hinju.
Day 4: A 6-hour long trek to from Hinju to Sumdo Doksa via Kongskil La ridge. A gradual ascent will bring you to the Kongskil La ridge for scenic views of Stok and Karakoram ranges. The other half of that trek is, however, a little difficult to attain.
Day 5: 5-hour trek from Sumo Doksa to Base of Dung Dung Chan la. After a few river crossings, the trail gradually ascends to the base of Dung Dung Chan la.
Day 6: 5-hour long trek from the base to Chiling. It is a straight climb. A vehicle from Chilling village will drop you off at Leh.
Day 2: Drive from Leh to Lamayuru(3-4 hours). A 1-hour trek will lead to the famous Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. After the visit, another hour-long trek to Wanla, hiking through the 3,750 Mt Prinkti La Pass. Overnight camping at Wanla.
Day 3: Wanla to Hinju is a 5-hour long trek through the more quaint Ladakhi villages. Stay at meadow camp outside Hinju.
Day 4: A 6-hour long trek to from Hinju to Sumdo Doksa via Kongskil La ridge. A gradual ascent will bring you to the Kongskil La ridge for scenic views of Stok and Karakoram ranges. The other half of that trek is, however, a little difficult to attain.
Day 5: 5-hour trek from Sumo Doksa to Base of Dung Dung Chan la. After a few river crossings, the trail gradually ascends to the base of Dung Dung Chan la.
Day 6: 5-hour long trek from the base to Chiling. It is a straight climb. A vehicle from Chilling village will drop you off at Leh.
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How to Reach Lamayuru
How to Reach Overview
The nearest airport is the Leh airport. It is only 125 km from Lamayuru and is only a 4-hour drive away. Lamayuru doesn't have a train station of its own, and the nearest railway station is at Jammu. Lamayuru is connected to the rest of India via a decent road network, and you can easily hire a taxi or take a bus till Lamayuru.
How to reach Lamayuru by flight
Lamayuru doesn't have an airport of its own. The nearest airport is at Leh, which is only 125 km away and receive frequent flights from the rest of the country. Another nearby airport is the Srinagar airport which is 300 km away from Lamayuru. From both these destinations, you can either hire a taxi or a cab or if you are looking for a cheaper option you can also take a bus.
How to reach Lamayuru by road
Lamayuru is connected to the rest of the country via a decent road network. There are frequent buses plying on this route. There are regular buses from cities like Udhampur, Jammu, Srinagar and Leh. You can also hire a taxi from these destinations.
How to reach Lamayuru by train
Lamayuru doesn't have a railway station of its own. The nearest railway station is at Jammu, and from here you will have to take either take a bus or a hire a taxi till Lamayuru. On the bright side, the road is beautiful and picturesque and an absolute delight.
Local transport in Lamayuru
Home to only 150 monks, Lamayuru can be travelled on foot easily.
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FAQs on Lamayuru
What is famous about Lamayuru?
Picturesque. Serene. A unique destination hence not very crowded.
What is not so good about Lamayuru?
Hilly region can be a problem for some. Difficult to reach. Food and water can be an issue.
Who should visit Lamayuru?
It is an ideal place for anyone looking to escape the dull corporate life. It is peaceful and beautiful. It is also an exciting place for adventure lovers, and also for people with keen interest in geology. It is also an ideal location for families to spend some time together.
What is the best time to visit Lamayuru?
Summers in Lamayuru are quite warm and offer the best time to visit. Slight showers during the monsoons also make the season an almost ideal time. However, there are chances of landslides and cloudbursts during the monsoons. Winters tend to be quite cold with the minimum temperature touching 5 degrees Celsius.
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What is the local food in Lamayuru?
The cuisine of Lamayuru falls in the same domain as Leh with similar elements, influences and preparations. Hence, Tibetan cuisine can be found in this area. The most primary of the dishes available here are Sku and Thukpa (thick soup with vegetables and noodles), Pava (a dish made of sattu), Khambir (a type of local bread).
one might also want to indulge in steamed dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables with chili sauce and Skieu (a dish made with vegetables, mutton and flour). Other than this one can find plenty of restaurants and eateries providing typical Indian cuisine.
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one might also want to indulge in steamed dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables with chili sauce and Skieu (a dish made with vegetables, mutton and flour). Other than this one can find plenty of restaurants and eateries providing typical Indian cuisine.
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What is the best way to reach Lamayuru?
The nearest airport is the Leh airport. It is only 125 km from Lamayuru and is only a 4-hour drive away. Lamayuru doesn't have a train station of its own, and the nearest railway station is at Jammu. Lamayuru is connected to the rest of India via a decent road network, and you can easily hire a taxi or take a bus till Lamayuru.
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What are the places near Lamayuru?
The top places near to Lamayuru are Ladakh which is 117 km from Lamayuru, Manali which is located 230 km from Lamayuru, Kargil which is located 65 km from Lamayuru, Mcleodganj which is located 229 km from Lamayuru, Dalhousie which is located 208 km from Lamayuru
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Popular Questions And Answers on Lamayuru
Q. How much time does it take to reach Lamayuru from Leh?
Pallavi Siddhanta
7 years ago
You can cover Lamayuru and Alchi driving from Leh in one day. Its a better idea to stay back at Lamayuru than drive back to Leh on the same day. The driving distance should be around 4 hours.
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Lamayuru Reviews
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Rohit Shroff
7 years ago
- When in lamayuru, make sure you visit Moonland. Also, stash yourself with money as withdrawing money here can be problematic. ATMs are not that easily available.