Diskit Monastery
Overview
Diskit Monastery
A short hike up a hill will bring you to a milky white monastery standing proudly against the sky up the Shyok River. The monastery is decorated by the 106 ft tall golden and red statue of Maitreya Buddha. Diskit monastery is the oldest monastery in the Ladakhi desert landscape of Nubra Valley.
Located at an altitude of over 10,000 ft, this monastery gives a picturesque view of the surrounding landscape including Shyok Valley. If you are planning to visit Nubra Valley, the monastery should be a must-visit place on your itinerary. Explore this monastery here at Cliffhangers India and make the best out of your trip.
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About Diskit Monastery
Some stone steps built on a hill take you to Diskit monastery at an altitude of 10,315 ft. The monastery begins with a prayer hall at the entrance and a statue of Maitreya Buddha. The second floor features statues of guardian deities.
The monastery houses many manuscripts and Buddhist texts. The monastery is said to house the hand and head of an anti-Buddhist Mongol demon who was killed near the monastery. The 14th-century monastery is decorated with frescoes and mural paintings and big drums.
The Monastery also runs a school for scientific and English education for the Tibetan children of the area. Home to 100 monks, it is one of the three monasteries in which the Dosmochey festival is celebrated. The mask festival is a colourful festival of dancing and games visited by people all over the world.
Lachung Temple
The temple is located right above the monastery with the deity worshipped as Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelugpa sect of Buddhism. The Diskit monastery is a monastery of the Gelugpa sect. The Lachung Temple is the oldest temple of Nubra Valley.
How to Reach
Diskit is at a distance of around 112 km from Leh. In summer, the roads are completely open and accessible. However, you might face some difficulty and might have to change roads often if you are travelling in winter. Here is how to reach Diskit Monastery –
- By air
The nearest airport to Diskit is the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee airport or the Leh airport which is at a distance of over 115 km from Diskit. From here, you would have to travel by road. You can either take a bus or a taxi to take you to your destination.
- By bus
Public buses travel to the area every Saturday. Bus fare would be 200 Rs. per person for Diskit. It is a preferred mode of travel for locals however if you can not wait until Saturday, travelling by bus might not be a good idea for you.
- By road
Travelling by taxi or by your own vehicle would be a better way to travel to Diskit. From Leh, take the Manali-Leh or the Srinagar-Leh highway. You would pass the Khardung La pass. From there, descend to the Khardung village and further to Khalsar village. Take the left road to Nubra and Diskit. It will be a 5-6 hour ride to Diskit from Leh.
Timing
The monastery remains open on all days of the week. It opens for tourists at around 7 AM and closes off at 1 PM for a one-hour break. It opens again at 2 PM and finally closes off at 7 PM.
Best Time to Visit
The roads from Leh to Nubra Valley remain open throughout the year. However, in the winter months of November to April, roads to Leh-Ladakh are closed off due to heavy snowfall. If you choose one of these months for your travel, travelling by air to Leh would be the only option you would have. From Leh, you can easily travel by road to Diskit.
If clear predictable weather and a road trip are what you are looking for, travelling in the summer months of May to September would be the best time to visit. However, the Dosmoche Festival is celebrated in the month of February and is a very popular festival celebrated in only three monasteries of Leh, Diskit Monastery being one of them. So, February would be the best time to visit .
Entry Fee
The entrance fee to Diskit Monastery is Rs. 30 per person. There are no additional charges for carrying cameras or mobile phones with you.
Places to visit
The following places are a short drive away from the Monastery.
- Hunder sand dunes and Bactrian camel ride
- Turtuk village
- Panamik Village
- Zamskhang Palace
Distance from leh
The Monastery is located at a distance of over 115 km from Leh. It is a 5-6 hour drive from Leh to Diskit passing through the Khardung La pass.
Distance from Nubra
If you travel by Charsa Road, passing from the Panamik village, Nubra to Diskit monastery distance is around 76 km which is around a 3-hour ride from Nubra.
Distance from Pangong
Travelling by the Pangong Lake road, Pangong to Diskit monastery distance is around 232 km. It is an over 7-hour drive taking you through picturesque sceneries and natural landscapes.
If you are planning a trip to Leh Ladakh and have heard about the Ladakhi landscape and lakes, Ladakhi Monasteries are wonders in themselves. Each monastery will bring you closer to life beyond little things and the architecture and view from them will automatically instil a sense of peace inside you. The monastery is a natural and architectural marvel and should be a definite part of your itinerary.
- Read the complete blog on Places to visit in Leh Ladakh.
