The white temples of Basgo Monastery on a ridge of eroded rock above a green valley under a blue sky with small clouds

temple49 min from Leh

Basgo Monastery, Ladakh — the Maitreya temples above the ruined royal town

Basgo Monastery (Bazgo Gompa) on the Indus west of Leh: temples built for the Namgyal kings in 1680 above the ruins of an old royal town, known for Maitreya.

What it is

Basgo Monastery, also written Bazgo Gompa, stands on a hill above the Indus about 49 minutes west of Leh on our routing. Wikipedia puts it about 40 km from Leh and about 5 km beyond Nimoo.

Photos: Runitshah (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

The old royal town

Basgo was a seat of power in early Ladakh, often named in the Ladakhi Chronicles, and a palace was built here in the fifteenth century. In 1680 the Namgyal kings had the monastery raised on the hilltop above that ruined town. Its three temples, Chamchung, Chamba Lakhang and Serzang, are given to the Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha to come, and are known for their great statue and their murals.

Visiting

The temples sit on a ridge of eroded rock; the climb is short but steep. We have no verified opening hours; ask in the village, dress modestly and ask before photographing inside.

Combine it with

The west of Leh day joins Basgo with Phyang and Likir, and Alchi is further along the same road. Read things to do in Leh.

Plans that include this

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West of Leh in a day — Phyang, Basgo and Likir along the Indus

Day plan · culture · Temples & heritage

A day trip west of Leh along the Indus: Phyang Monastery (1515), Basgo's Maitreya temples above the old royal town (1680), and Likir Monastery (1065). Copy it.

Best May–Sep

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Nearby places

All of Leh →

Zanskar–Indus confluence — where two rivers meet near Nimmu

viewpoint · 8.3 km away

Magnetic Hill — the roadside illusion on the Leh–Srinagar highway

viewpoint · 9.2 km away

Alchi Monastery — the old temple complex of wall paintings

temple · 9.3 km away

Likir Monastery, Ladakh — the eleventh-century gompa on its hill above the poplars

temple · 9.5 km away

Phyang Monastery, Ladakh — the Drikung gompa on the blue hill west of Leh

temple · 20 km away

Spituk Monastery — the hilltop gompa near Leh's airport

temple · 25 km away

Shanti Stupa — the white stupa on the ridge above Leh

temple · 28 km away

Leh Palace — the nine-storey royal palace above the old town

fort · 29 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →

Pahalgam

181 km away · 3 itineraries · 4 places

Sonamarg

183 km away · 2 itineraries · 2 places

Keylong

185 km away · 3 itineraries · 7 places

Bharmour

210 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places

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Questions people ask

How far is Basgo from Leh?

About 44.6 km and 49 minutes by road on our routing; Wikipedia gives about 40 km, and about 5 km beyond Nimoo. Basgo is on the bank of the Indus off the Leh–Kargil road, between Phyang and Likir, so the three make a natural day west of Leh.

What is special about Basgo Monastery?

Wikipedia dates the temples to 1680, raised for the Namgyal kings on the hilltop over the ruins of old Basgo, a political and cultural centre of early Ladakh with a palace from the fifteenth century. Its temples, Chamchung, Chamba Lakhang and Serzang, are given to the Maitreya Buddha and known for their statue and murals.

Is Basgo worth visiting?

Yes, for the setting as much as the temples: white shrines on a ridge of eroded rock above the ruined town and the green valley. It is a short stop on the road to Likir and Alchi. We have no verified opening hours; ask in the village, and dress modestly in the temples.