Guru Lhakhang

Ladakh


Restored by the army in the late 1990s, this tiny white cube of a temple is said to date back to the time of the 'Great Translator' Ringchen Zangpo (10th to 11th century). It sits on a steep, rocky crag whose higher slopes are dotted with the crumbling ruins of an ancient fortress. Inside, you'll need a torch to pick out the dark, intricate Alchi-era murals.

The site is around 1.8km up the eastern side of the vallley road from Phyang Gompa. Call the key-holder, carpenter Tsering Norboo, beforehand or it will be locked (his house is almost directly below the temple).

To reach the fortress (40 minutes) and its fine views follow the red Xs up a shoulder of ridge. Eventually you loop around the base of the upper castle clockwise to find a way up that's a bit of a scramble but doesn't require any real climbing.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ladakh attractions

1. Phyang Gompa

1.16 MILES

Sitting on a knoll in the heart of Phyang, this large Drigung Kagyud school monastery complex has been heavily rebuilt in the last decade but its core…

2. Shanti Stupa

4.03 MILES

Dominating Leh from a high, rocky ridge, this gigantic white spired pudding of a stupa was built between 1983 and 1991 by Japanese monks to promote world…

3. Hall of Fame

4.16 MILES

Two rooms of this extensive, well-presented museum look at Ladakhi history and culture. But mostly it commemorates the Indian Army's role in Ladakh, from…

4. Gomang Stupa

4.35 MILES

This large 9th-century whitewashed stupa rises in concentric serrated layers flanked by numerous chortens. The charming, shady setting retains a…

5. Tisseru Stupa

4.41 MILES

Ladakh's largest stupa is unlike anything else in the region – a giant, bulky mud-brick structure that looks like a half-built ziggurat (stepped pyramid).

6. Sankar Gompa

4.57 MILES

The timeless two-storey Sankar Gompa is Upper Leh's modest main monastery. It's a calming, meditative place, and the walk to reach it from Sankar Lane…

7. Ladakh Rocks & Minerals Museum

4.58 MILES

This sweet one-room museum outside Sankar Gompa presents labelled examples of Ladakh's geological curiosities, including a natural lingam (phallic image…

8. Sankar

4.6 MILES

For a charming wander, follow canal streams in the captivating yet relatively accessible area around little Sankar Gompa and the one-room geological…