Likir Monastery, Buddhist monastery in Leh district, India

Likir Monastery is a Gelugpa Buddhist monastery built as a stepped complex of white-plastered, flat-roofed buildings rising up a hillside about 52 km west of Leh. Reddish-brown trim runs along the rooflines above rows of dark rectangular windows, and small white stupas sit at the base of the walls. A 23-metre gilded statue of Maitreya, completed in 1999, stands on the roof.

Likir was founded in 1065 by Lama Duwang Chosje at the command of Lhachen Gyalpo, fifth king of Ladakh, and first belonged to the Kadampa order. In the 15th century Lama Lha-dbang-chos-rje, a pupil of Tsongkhapa, converted it to the Gelugpa order. A wall inscription copied by August Hermann Francke in 1909 records that King Lha-chen-dngos-grub (c. 1290–1320) began sending all novices to Lhasa; King Tsewang Namgyal II (c. 1760–1780) repaired the monastery after a fire.

The monastery serves as a place where Buddhist monks gather daily for prayer and meditation as part of their spiritual life. The halls and rooms display colorful paintings and religious objects that reflect Tibetan Buddhist teachings and beliefs.

The monastery is accessible by road and visitors should allow time to walk around the buildings and view the interior spaces at their own pace. Early morning visits work best when monks are conducting prayers and the crowds are lighter.

On the roof sits a 23-metre gilded statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha, completed in 1999; its gold paint is what shows at the far left edge of the complex. The monastery also keeps old manuscripts, a thangka collection, and earthen pots.