Mulbekh Monastery

Mulbekh Monastery is a Buddhist monastery perched on a craggy hilltop in Mulbekh village, Kargil district, Ladakh, along the Srinagar-Leh Highway (NH1). It comprises two gompas belonging to the Drukpa and Gelugpa sects and is renowned for the 9-metre-high rock-cut Maitreya Buddha (Chamba) statue carved into the cliff below. Notable for its ancient murals, scriptures and panoramic valley views, it marks a cultural transition point between Buddhist Ladakh and the Kargil region.

Visitors can expect a steep climb via steps and rocky path to two small hilltop gompas with prayer halls, ancient frescoes, statues and Buddhist scriptures. Below the monastery, on the roadside cliff, is the famous 9-metre Maitreya Buddha rock carving. The site offers panoramic views of the Mulbekh valley, Suru River and surrounding Himalayan ranges. The setting is quiet and remote, with minimal commercial development, suitable for sightseeing, photography and cultural observation.

Mulbekh Monastery is believed to have origins dating to around the 12th century, with its two gompas affiliated to the Drukpa and Gelugpa orders. The associated 9-metre Maitreya Buddha rock carving (Chamba) is dated by scholars to the 8th century Kushan period and is considered an early example of Buddhist rock art in Ladakh, reflecting the region's long Buddhist heritage.

The monastery is an important Buddhist religious site for the local community and pilgrims, housing sacred images, thangkas and scriptures of Tibetan Buddhism. The Maitreya Buddha statue represents the future Buddha and is revered by Buddhists. The site lies at a cultural transition zone between predominantly Buddhist eastern Ladakh and predominantly Muslim western Kargil, symbolizing Ladakh's diverse heritage.