Lamayuru Monastery in Ladakh

Travel to India > Ladakh > Lamayuru Monastery in Ladakh

Lamayuru monastery in Ladakh is also known by the names of Swastika monastery and Yung Drung monastery. This monastery has a rich collection of wall paintings and thangkas. It has several shrines as well. The monastery had five buildings, originally but now there is only the central building that has existed the course of time. Lamayuru Monastery shows you how important is Buddhism in Ladakh.

Location of Lamayuru Monastery

It is situated 127 kms from Leh between Bodhkharbu and Kha-la-che on a steep hill which overlooks a valley and the village of Lamayuru.

Legends Associated to Lamayuru Monastery

There are many legends associated to the Lamayuru Monastery.

The first one says that at the time of Shakyamuni, there were holy serpents that lived in a lake where today's Lamayuru valley is located. The Bodhisattva Madhyantaka predicted that this lake would be drained out in order to set place for the building of a monastery. In the 11th century, an Indian Buddhist scholar- Mahasiddhacharya Naropa meditated for several years in a cave in Dukhang which is still seen today. This great Buddhist scholar caused a split in the hillside that surrounded it that resulted in the drainage of the lake. When the lake was emptied, Naropa found a corpse of a lion and at the same place he constructed the first temple which became famous as the Singhe Ghang (also known as Lion Mound).

Other legends go in other direction. They say that the King of Ladakh, in the 10th century instructed that the structure of Lamayuru be constructed under the care of Rinchen Zangbo. Initially, the Lamayuru monastery comprised of five buildings out of which only the central one exists today.

Attractions At Lamayuru Monastery

Lamayuru Monastery serves a number of attractions that draw you to visit the holy and interesting place. Every summer on the 28th and 29th days, of the 2nd month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar, annual festival of Lamayuru Monastery is held. Every year two masked dances take place. The monks from the adjoining areas get together at Lamayuru monastery for these dances in the 2nd and 5th month of Tibetan lunar calendar, to pray as well as participate in it.

Lamayuru monastery is a hot spot for tourists. Dazzling scene of Lamayuru monastery makes this monastery a must visit on a tour to Ladakh. The monastery houses about 150 monks and follows the Red Hat sect of Buddhism. The sacred and vital Lamayuru monastery is the oldest and the largest monastery in Ladakh. Lamayuru monastery in Ladakh is a must visit at least once in a lifetime.