Maitreya Buddha at Dawn in Mulbek

September 22, 2013

This was a quick side trip to see the gigantic rock cut Maitreya Buddha in Mulbek, Ladakh. Some believe it was carved as early as 1st century C.E. Other scholars believe it was created as late as 8th century.

The mountainsides at Mulbek Monastery, which surrounds the base of the Buddha, were still in shadow when we first got there. My friend K and I planned travel so that we would arrive just before the sun rose.

Sure enough, before long, the rays of the sun peaked out over the mountains, and suddenly bathed the carved rock with raking, glowing light. The Buddha popped out in relief!

Originally the carved Buddha did not have a monastery at its base. This was built in the 1970s. While it is a lovely little building, it’s a shame that it obscures the full view of this beautiful rock cut sculpture.

But once inside the monastery, one can look up to behold this majestic sight.

Back outside, I found that the fullest view you could get was from across the highway, up on the terrace of a dhaba or eatery.

Or from down the road a distance away on its other side.

En route back towards Alchi Monastery where we were headed for the day, we passed by this high point of over 12,000 feet altitude on the Leh-Srinagar highway in Ladakh.

The semi-arid incredible landscape of Ladakh never ceased to surprise and exhilarate me. As far as your eye can see, the horizon just produces one mountain after another. It inspires respect for nature, and for the people who have lived here in this challenging land for millenia.

A common sight on the roads in late September are Gaddis, members of a tribe living mainly in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu/Kashmir, herding their goats and sheep back down to the lower altitudes. I learned that at the beginning of the summer season in roughly around June, herders bring their flock up to graze. They remain in the high mountains for the summer season and return to lower altitudes before the snow arrives. Snow comes typically around early October.

All photos © 2013, Eva Lee.