Likir Maitreya Buddha Statue

The 23-metre (75 ft) gilded Maitreya Buddha statue at Likir Monastery is located in Likir village, about 52 km west of Leh in Ladakh, India. Completed in 1999 and facing the monastery courtyard, it depicts Maitreya, the future Buddha. Situated at around 3,500 metres elevation, the statue is a prominent landmark of the Gelugpa monastery founded in the 11th century and offers panoramic views of the surrounding valley and Himalayan landscape.

Visitors can expect a large, gold-gilded outdoor Maitreya Buddha seated on a rooftop platform within the Likir Monastery (Likir Gompa) complex. The statue overlooks the monastery courtyard, Likir village and the Indus Valley with mountain views. Visitors explore the monastery courtyard, prayer halls, and the small monastery museum nearby, with opportunities for sightseeing and photography of the statue and landscape from the elevated platform reached by steps.

Likir Monastery (Likir Gompa) was founded in 1065 by Lama Duwang Chosje during the reign of King Lhachen Gyalpo. The 23-metre Maitreya Buddha statue was constructed and completed in 1999, gilded and consecrated in association with blessings from the 14th Dalai Lama, marking a modern addition to the 11th-century Gelugpa monastery.

The statue depicts Maitreya, the future Buddha revered in Tibetan Buddhism as the embodiment of loving-kindness and hope. As part of Likir Gompa belonging to the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) school, it serves as an important pilgrimage, prayer and teaching site and exemplifies Ladakhi Buddhist art, architecture and monastic tradition.