Surveying a grand section of mountain ridge, Likir has two distinct sections. Likir Gompa very photogenically covers a hillside with archetypal Ladakhi buildings, around 5km off the Leh–Kargil road. The gompa is backed by a giant 20th-century Maitreya statue whose golden paint gleams dazzlingly in the sunshine. But the monastery is much older, founded in 1065 and rebuilt in its present form from the 15th century.
The first prayer hall to the right on entry has seats allocated for both the Dalai Lama and his brother, Likir’s honorary head lama. After two more colourful prayer halls you climb to the crammed, one-room museum.
For great photos of the gompa complex framed between barley fields and old chortens, descend for 10 minutes on the rocky footpath signed to the Old Likir Guesthouse.
