Alchi in June

The June story

June in Alchi is warm, dry, and increasingly populated — but "increasingly populated" at Alchi means maybe 30 visitors a day instead of 5. The monastery complex includes five temples spanning the 11th to 13th centuries, and June's long daylight hours let you explore all of them thoroughly. The Sumtsek murals, the Dukhang mandalas, the Lotsawa temple's painted ceilings — each deserves 30-60 minutes of slow looking. The village feels alive: children play in irrigation channels, barley grows green in terraced fields, and apricot trees are heavy with developing fruit. June is also when Hemis Festival draws crowds to Leh — making Alchi an even better escape. Stay overnight if you can; sunset on the monastery walls is worth the simple accommodation.