Diskit Monastery, the oldest and largest in Nubra Valley, is marked from a considerable distance by a towering 32-metre statue of Maitreya Buddha positioned to face down the valley toward Pakistan, said to bless the region and ward off potential conflict. The monastery's prayer halls contain centuries-old murals and statues, and its hilltop position offers commanding views across the wide, sandy expanse of the Nubra valley below.
As the natural anchor point for exploring Nubra Valley's monastery circuit, Diskit is typically combined with visits to the valley's sand dunes and double-humped Bactrian camel rides, giving visitors a single base from which to experience both the region's Buddhist heritage and its distinctive high-desert landscape.
Founded in the 14th century by Changzem Tserab Zangpo, a disciple of the Gelug school's founder Je Tsongkhapa, Diskit has remained the most significant monastic institution in Nubra Valley for over six centuries.
May to September.
About 118km from Leh via Khardung La, roughly 4-5 hours by road.
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