Culture · Kargil, Ladakh
Mulbekh's Maitreya and the Shergol cliff gompa
Drive east from Kargil into Buddhist Purig to see the 9 m rock-cut Maitreya at Mulbekh, the cliff-top Mulbekh gompa and the small cave gompa at Shergol, three stops within 10 km of each other.
Photo: Jparande · CC BY-SA 3.0 · CommonsForty kilometres east of Kargil, the highway leaves Muslim villages behind and enters Buddhist country. At Mulbekh a tall rock stands beside the road, and carved into its face is a standing Maitreya about 9 m tall, the future Buddha, with a small shrine built in front. Prayer flags run from the rock to the poplars.
Above the village, the Mulbekh gompa sits on a sheer cliff. A narrow road and a steep walk lead up; ask in the village if a monk can open the shrines. A few kilometres further east, Shergol's small white gompa is set into a cliff face above the Wakha river, a stiff 20-minute climb from the road.
Combine all three as a morning trip from Kargil, or as stops on the drive to Lamayuru and Leh. Walk around shrines clockwise, remove shoes inside, and leave a small donation.
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Trips through Kargil
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Each of these trips stops in Kargil. Tell us and we keep a slot for this day.
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Comfort
Leh to Zanskar and out to Srinagar by car
Private SUV with driver; local car in Padum where required
Photo: Saurabh Lall · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Saver
Srinagar road to Leh and Turtuk on a budget
Shared Sumo taxis, state buses and local shared cars
Questions
Before you book
How old is the Mulbekh Maitreya?
The carving is generally dated to well over a thousand years ago, from the period before Tibetan Buddhism spread widely in Ladakh, though scholars give different dates. It is one of the oldest Buddhist images on the Srinagar–Leh road. A small temple has been built against its base.
How far is Mulbekh from Kargil?
Mulbekh is about 40 km east of Kargil on the Srinagar–Leh highway, roughly an hour's drive. Shergol is a few kilometres further. Both are directly on the route to Lamayuru and Leh, so most travellers stop on the way rather than making a separate trip.
Can seniors visit Mulbekh?
Yes. The rock-cut Maitreya is right beside the road with no climb. The gompas at Mulbekh and Shergol involve steep paths, so seniors may prefer to view them from below. The altitude here, around 3,300 m, is moderate.