Lamayuru Monastery

INDIA, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh

Also known as Yuru Monastery or Yungdrung Monastery, it is located 127 km from Leh and stands on a mountain over 3,500 m above sea level. It was first built between the late 10th and early 11th centuries, and is one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh. Its founder is disputed: some say it was founded by the Indian Buddhist scholar Naropa, while others say it was constructed by the famous translator Rinchen Zangpo. The monastery was renovated in 1970.
The monastery is constructed on steep precipices. Its halls, stupas and living quarters are all intermixed. The roofs of the buildings are mostly flat, and a red ocher band surrounds the top of the walls. The white walls and the blue window frames create a distinctive contrast.
The original monastery consisted of five major buildings, however, only the central hall still stands today. At present, the monastery includes the central hall, Protector Shrine, Tibetan-style stupas, and living quarters. The central hall is filled with Tibetan Buddhist sculpture and a large number of magnificent murals. The monastery also contains a rich collection of thangkas.