Festival · LADAKH
June (Tibetan 17th-18th day, 5th month) · Lamayuru
Sacred Cham dance festival at the moonland monastery of Lamayuru, one of Ladakh's oldest monasteries (11th century), with mask dances depicting the victory of good over evil.
Why it mattersLamayuru's Yuru Kabgyat is among Ladakh's most ancient monastic festivals, performed at a monastery perched on a lunar landscape.
June is peak season's opening act. Tour groups start appearing on the Leh-Srinagar highway, but Lamayuru still gets a fraction of Leh's crowds. Days are warm (15-25°C), nights cool (5-8°C). The monastery's annual masked dance festival—Yuru Kabgyat—typically falls in June or July. This two-day spectacle is the highlight of Lamayuru's calendar.
Live in Lamayuru
Family homestay with moon-landscape views and authentic Ladakhi thukpa and butter tea
Perched above the moonland landscape with monastery views. Clean rooms, hot water, and a terrace restaurant. The owner arranges guided monastery tours. Best base for exploring all three monasteries.
Well-known guesthouse near the picturesque 11th century Lamayuru Monastery with lunar landscape views
Signaturehomemade ladakhi thali
Skyu — the local pasta-and-vegetable stew — is on the menu only by request; ask the day before. The rooftop suite gets the Moonland view at sunset.
Signatureladakhi thukpa with garden vegetables
Eat in the open-air garden if the weather holds — the dining room is fine but the garden is the reason to come. Order the apple juice over the soft drinks; it's pressed locally.
Signaturegarlic soup with parathas
Stay over to catch the 6am monastery chants — the kitchen serves an early breakfast for guests heading to prayers. Cash only; no ATMs in the village.
Signaturemomos with monastery view
Reviewers single out the momos — order them and skip the continental pretensions. Lunch service is faster than dinner because tour buses fill the dining room from 7pm.
Surreal lunar landscape of eroded clay formations. Once an ancient lakebed, now resembling the moon surface.
Oldest monastery in Ladakh dating to the 10th century. Famous for annual mask dance festival. Lunar landscape.
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