India has its own moon-like landscape hidden in Ladakh. What makes this Himalayan place so unusual?

Imagine visiting a place that gives you an out-of-the-earth feeling? If you live in India, you won't need any passport or visa to visit this surreal Himalayan destination that looks like the surface of the moon. Ladakh, a dream destination for adventure travelers, bikers, and many others, attracts tourists with its stunning visuals of the mountains. However, in Ladakh, a village called Lamayuru is famed for unusual yellow formations, the clay-like textures. This has earned it the nickname "Moonscape."

As outlandish as it looks, this place is accessible by road from Leh and is located along the Leh-Srinagar Highway. Apart from the moon-like scenery, Lamayuru also has an ancient monastery and geological history that make a visit to the place memorable and fascinating for travelers.

Why does Lamayuru in Ladakh look like the Moon?

Lamayuru’s unusual appearance comes from its bright yellow, clay-like formations and layers of folded rock and sediment. These features create a landscape that looks almost lunar, especially when viewed across the barren Himalayan terrain.


As per GeoLog, the European Geosciences Union's publication, a few studies have suggested that a lake may have existed about 40,000 years ago which may have preserved a roughly 100-metre-thick sequence of deposists from rivers and the lake, contributing to the surreal and striking landscape witnessed today.

Social media saw Filmmaker and traveler Kanishk Gupta featuring the destination and asking people to imagine standing there on a full moon nite. “It is a landscape still unknown to many Indians, even as scientists from all over the world study its formations,” he observed. Similar moon-like landscapes can be seen in Spiti Valley too, Gupta added.

Lamayuru Monastery: An ancient landmark in the Moonscape

The village is not just known for its geology. Lamayuru Monastery, founded in the 11th century by Mahasiddacarya Naropa, is built into the unusual terrain.

As per information available on Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Lamayuru monastery has a cave complex appearance. If you are a traveller, seeking adventure or mesmerising views you can explore the frescoes, glass enclosed meditation cave associated with Lama Naropa.

Lamayuru sits at the height of 3,510 metres and is roughly 127 km from Leh.

How to reach Lamayuru in Ladakh

By air: If you are travelling by air, the nearest airport is in Leh's Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport.

By train: Jammu Tawi is the nearest railway station listed for the journey.

By road: Lamayuru can be reached via the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh route or the Manali-Leh road. Travellers staying in Leh can also plan a day trip to the village.