Lamayuru is located about 125 kms from Leh and the main attraction here is the Lamayuru Gompa. Believed to have been built in the 10th century, this is the oldest monastery in Ladakh. According to a legend the monastery was founded by Indian scholar Mahasiddhacarya Naropa who is said to have meditated here. The monastery belongs to the Red Hat sect of Buddhism and is home to about 150 monks.
Lamayuru is also host to two annual masked dance festivals, in the second and fifth months of the Tibetan lunar calendar, when all the monks from surrounding gompas gather together to pray.Visitors can see a rich collection of magnificent thangkas, statues of Buddhist saints and jeweled chortens at the monastery.
