In the West of Lamayuru, the main road heads to the top of Fotu La (4091m), which is the highest pass between Leh and Srinagar, as we ascend forward we come across Namika La (3760m) also known as Sky-Pillar because of its lofty mountains that emerges out in the south direction. Across the deserted edge, it descends through splendid scenery of decayed desolate rock face and stony narrow valley to the village of Mulbekh. This is the last place where you will find Buddhist inhabitants; past this village you find Muslim Purki residents around the border of the Kargil. The village is scattered around the river banks of Warkha and is filled with poplars and orchards of walnut and apricot trees.
In the previous years, an settlement place of Zangla kingdom of western Ladakh saw the inhabitation of the oust monarchs, king Nyima Norbu Namgyal Dey and his Queen, Tashi Deskit Angmo, who resided over here in the decaying four storey mansion on the western outskirts of the village. Mulbekh is a dull and unexciting village and people catch up tea from the roadside dhabas just to have a glance over the seven-meter-high Maitreya`s colossal statue carved from a massive rock. The precise origin of the Buddha-to-be is not known but in the ancient inscriptions it is mentioned that it was built between the seventh and eighth century, fully before the origin of Buddhism in Tibet. The single-chambered gompa in front of the statue that is decorated with beautiful murals is dedicated to the thousand armed Chenrazig (Avalokiteshvara).
The other motivation that will tempt you to stay is the village`s gompa`s clinging over the top of the smooth 200-metre rock that is 1km to the west of the Chamba statue. A sheer flight of steps leads to the whitewashed temples of Kargyupa and Gelug-pa, each of temples is alone preserved by a caretaker monk. These temples do not shelter any great treasures but the views from their Wakha valley are simply amazing and your climb is made worthwhile. At a distance of 2.5km east of the Chamba statue, on the road to Leh lays the small Gelug-Pa nunnery of Jangchup Choeling that was founded in 1987, which has a school and pleasant garden courtyard.
