Chemrey Monastery, Buddhist monastery in Leh, India

Chemrey Gompa stands in the Indus River valley, 46 km southeast of Leh and 6 km north of Hemis Monastery. The complex comprises several shrines, two assembly halls (Du-Khang) and a Lama temple (Lha-Khang). Its main attraction is a one-storey-high statue of Padmasambhava, and it also keeps a 29-volume scripture written in silver and golden letters.

Chemrey Gompa was founded in 1664 by the lama Tagsang Raschen and dedicated to King Sengge Namgyal of Ladakh. It belongs to the Drugpa Kagyü order of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery stands in the Indus River valley, 6 km north of Hemis Monastery, 46 km southeast of Leh and 24 km northwest of Upshi.

The monastery belongs to the Drugpa Kagyü order, and its annual Chemrey Angchok festival of sacred dances falls on the 28th and 29th days of the ninth month of the Tibetan calendar. The main hall walls carry frescoes of Shakyamuni, the founder Lama Tagsang Raschen, Akshobhya, Mahakala, Amitabha, Tara, Kubera and Yamantaka Kalachakra.

The site can be reached by road in roughly an hour from Leh, with the most favorable visiting season spanning from June through October when weather conditions are stable. The approach on foot involves steep sections, so comfortable footwear and extra time are recommended.

The monastery houses a collection of ancient religious manuscripts, some featuring silver title pages with text inscribed in gold. These treasured documents demonstrate the extraordinary craftsmanship and reverence for sacred texts that have been maintained within these walls for centuries.