Lamayuru

Lamayuru, also spelt Lamayouro, is a small village between Kargil and Leh in Ladakh, India.

Lamayuru is home to one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, dating back to the 10th century. Local legend has it that the place was once a lake that dried up. The village has around 100 houses scattered around the Lamayuru Monastery.

It is in the Wanla tehsil on the NH1 Srinagar-Leh Highway 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) east of the Fotu La at a height of 3,510 metres (11,520 ft) and 19 km southwest of Khalsi. The region is also referred to as ‘Moon Land’, as it looks like the surface of the Moon.

Lamayuru village is 125 km from Leh on the Leh–Srinagar Highway. Any vehicle going from Leh to Kargil, or on to Srinagar, will invariably pass through Lamayuru. State transport buses ply from Leh bus stand to Lamayuru at 08:00 and 14:00; however, it's wiser to visit the bus stand a day before to confirm the timings.

On foot. It's a small village.

• 34.28277876.7744441 Lamayuru Monastery (Yuru Monastery), B.P.O Khaltse, ☏ +91 94697 32677. One of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh.  There are a collection of Buddhist murals, texts and figures on display. 50 rupees.

• MoonLand. Strange but beautiful landscape next to monastery. Some say the soil here is very similar to that on the moon. 

This vibrant 2-day annual festival, usually during June-July, features sacred masked Cham dance performed by monks of Drikung Kagyu school to commemorate Padmasambhava.

There are a number of restaurants in the village.

• 34.1639477.582591 Lamayuru Restaurant, Fort Road Opp Hotel Yak Tail, ☏ +91 1982 256 069. Thukpa and biryanis.  (updated Jul 2018)

There are a number of homestays that can be arranged for around 500 rupees (2018).

• Tharpaling Guest House, Leh-Srinagar Highway (on the right side of the road 50 m after the bus stop when coming from Leh), ☏ +91 1982-224516. A family-run guest house. ₹250 for a room (double beds) as of July 2012; food costs extra. 
• Singay guest house. Clean, has wifi, secure bike parking, friendly family. Double room around 500 for one person.

• Alchi – small village with a gompa, or Buddhist monastic complex, 4 km off the road to Leh
• Kargil – second-largest town of Ladakh after Leh
• Leh – capital of Ladakh