Ladakh

Nyarma

General view from the eastern hill range. Neuwirth 2003

North-eastern view of the complex. Neuwirth 2003

Eastern view of the ruins. Neuwirth 2003

Southern view of the main temple and the ruin next to it. Ley 2009

South-western view of the main temple ruin with the small temple on top of the ruin structure. Auer 2003

South-western view of the main temple. Auer 2003

Southern view of the main temple. Auer 2003

Eastern view of the main temple. Neuwirth 2003

Former hall of the main temple. Wrumnig 2012

North-eastern view of temple no. 2. Neuwirth 2003

South-eastern view of temple no. 2. Auer 2003

Former hall of temple no. 2. Auer 2003

South-western view of temple no. 3 and 4. Auer 2003

Former hall of temple no. 4, looking into temple no. 3. Auer 2003

North-eastern view of temple no. 5. Auer 2003

Former hall of temple no. 5. Auer 2003.

Northern view of the painted chörten. Luczanits 2009

North-eastern wall inside the painted chörten. Ley 2009

South-eastern wall inside the painted chörten. Ley 2009

Roof construction of the painted chörten. Ley 2009

The ruins of Nyarma

Coordinates of the site: 34° 2'21.15" northern latitude and 77°41'2.94" eastern longitude, at an altitude of 3263 meters.

The former monastic compound of Nyarma is located about 16 kilometres (airline) southeast of Leh. The nearest village Rambipor lies within the vegetation belt of the Indus River, not far away from Thikse, and consists of about 25 houses. The spacious ruin field of Nyarma lies at the north-eastern edge of the settlement. This imposing ruins remain of Ladakh’s only monastery, which is undoubtedly attributable to Rinchen-tsangpo. The monastery was founded as one of three main monasteries in the initial phase of the kingdom of Guge in the late 10th and early 11th century. According to a narrative, Nyarma was abandoned only a few centuries later as a result of robbery and flooding.
Today the complex consists of five ruinous temples and numerous chörten. Fragments of the external walls border the area at the southern and eastern side. On the north-western side of the area a small temple, dedicated to the protectress Dorje Chenmo is still in use. It was built on top of the cella of the largest temple ruin (no. 1). One of the remaining chörten (no. 6) in the western part of the area is decorated with painted layers and fragments of sculptures in the interior.