Lamayuru Monastery

Oh, Lamayuru ... Lamayuru is the oldest gompa of all Ladakh, and for me, the most impressive and evocative. Like other Buddhist monasteries it's on a rock with a village around. I arrived there from Dha on a dirt and stone road which for 2-3 hours skirted a creek shaded by golden aspens, then it connected to the main road. Lamayuru seems lost in solitude and when the tourist season is over its few hotels close - the village is then empty. Heaven helped me as I found a place to stay. I left my things and walked out into another dimension. The town is very poor, there are only very worn old ladies dressed Ladakhi style, praying or dozing under a shady tree, they look like centenarians, even if they are only 70 or 75 years old.