Mulbekh is small quiet village along the Srinagar-Leh Highway and home to a couple of monasteries and a large ancient statue of Maitreya Buddha carved on the face of a rock.
A large prayer wheel by the road side
Serdung Gompa and Rgaldan-Se Gompa, belonging to the Drukpa and Gelugpa sect, respectively.
Mani stones, inscribed with Tibetan Buddhist prayers, placed on a long wall along the roadside as offerings to the spirit of the place.
Row of colourful stupas line the hillslopes
Mulbekh Chamba with a small temple at the bottom
The statue of the future buddha was carved around the first century BC, during the Kushan period. It is believed that the fifth Buddha will be Maitreya (ie. Future Buddha) in a series of one thousand Buddhas that will visit this world.
Prayer flags on a tree in front of the Maitreya Buddha statue
The 9m tall statue of Maitreya Buddha carved out of the rock face
Our Sorento at Mulbekh Chamba
View of the surrounding Zanskar mountain range at Mulbekh village
View of the surrounding Zanskar mountain range at Mulbekh village
Villagers at Mulbekh
Old stupas on the road side as we make our way east to Namika La Pass
13km to Namika La
Police Check and Registration at Wakha near Namika La. We are now at an elevation of 3,370m and would be climbingto 3,800m to reach the highest point at Namika La
Wakha Village
Wakha Village
Driving up Namika La
9km to the highest point at Namika La
"Drive with care. Life has no spare"
Zanskar Mountain range
About 3,730m now
3,843m here... the highest point is not too far now..
At the highest point of Namika La Pass
Namika La Pass is the second highest pass on the Srinagar-Leh Highway at 12,198ft / 3,720m above sea level.
Prayer flags at Namika La Pass
Descending Namika La Pass... 173km to Leh
View of the Valley as we zig zag down the mountain pass
Approaching Khangral Village
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Khangral Village
Khangral Village
Khangral Village
Khangral Village
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Budkharbu
About 2,700m above sea level
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Budkharbu Gompa
Budkharbu Gompa
Upon leaving Budkharbu, we begin our ascend to Fotu La
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