Diskit Monastery, Nubra Valley: A Complete Guide

Diskit Monastery, perched on a hillside above Nubra Valley, is the oldest and largest monastery in the region — and the striking 32-metre Maitreya Buddha statue below it has become one of Nubra's most recognisable landmarks.

About the monastery Founded in the 14th century, Diskit Gompa belongs to the Gelugpa order and houses a collection of murals, thangkas and weapons said to belong to Mongol invaders, alongside the usual prayer halls and monk quarters found across Ladakh's older monasteries. The giant Maitreya Buddha statue, completed in 2010, faces down the valley towards Pakistan as a symbol of peace.

Getting to Nubra Valley from Leh Nubra Valley is reached from Leh via Khardung La, one of the world's highest motorable passes at over 5,300 metres — a dramatic but genuinely high-altitude drive, so proper acclimatization in Leh beforehand matters here more than almost anywhere else in Ladakh.

What else to see in Nubra Beyond Diskit, Nubra Valley is known for its cold desert landscape and double-humped Bactrian camels at the Hunder sand dunes, plus Turtuk village — a former part of Pakistan-administered territory, opened to tourists only in 2010, known for its Balti culture and apricot orchards.

Best time to visit Nubra Valley is accessible roughly from May through September, when Khardung La is reliably open; winter closures are common given the pass's altitude and snowfall.

How this fits our Ladakh itinerary Our Ladakh — Cuisine and Culture package includes Nubra Valley's sand dunes and monasteries alongside Turtuk village, Khardung La, Pangong Lake and Tso Moriri as part of an 11-day circuit — see the package page for the full day-by-day plan and current inclusions.