About Kartse Khar Maitreya Rock Sculpture
The Kartse Khar Maitreya Rock Sculpture is a 7-metre tall rock-cut statue of Maitreya Buddha carved into a cliff near Kartse Khar village in Suru Valley, Kargil district, Ladakh. Dating to the 7th-8th century, it is one of the tallest Maitreya figures in Ladakh. Located about 38 km from Kargil on the Kargil-Sankoo road, the sculpture faces east and is an important Buddhist heritage site in the region.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a large 7-metre tall Maitreya Buddha figure carved in relief on a rock cliff face beside the road near Kartse Khar village. The sculpture is outdoors in the open Suru Valley landscape with mountain views and the Suru River nearby. Visitors can view the carving from the roadside, take photographs, and observe details of the draped robe and facial features. The site is unmanned and visited as a short roadside stop.
Key highlights
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7-metre tall rock-cut Maitreya Buddha carved on a cliff face
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Dates to 7th-8th century CE, among the largest early Maitreya carvings in Ladakh
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Located in scenic Suru Valley near Kartse Khar village
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Important Buddhist heritage and pilgrimage landmark in Kargil district
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Easily visible from the Kargil-Sankoo road
History of Kartse Khar Maitreya Rock Sculpture
Carved in the 7th-8th century CE during the early Buddhist period in western Ladakh, the sculpture depicts Maitreya, the future Buddha. It represents the early spread of Buddhism in the Suru Valley and is one of the tallest surviving Maitreya rock carvings from that era in Ladakh, predating the later cultural changes in the valley.
Culture & Context
Revered by Buddhists as Chamba (Maitreya), the future Buddha embodying loving-kindness. The sculpture remains a significant religious and cultural landmark for Buddhists of Ladakh and Zanskar and is an important example of the region's ancient Buddhist artistic heritage.
Route
| By air |
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