Most of the people visiting Ladakh do make a stop at Mulbekh to visit the 9mtr tall rock cut sculpture of Maitreya Buddha, but a very few venture out to visit another Rock cut Buddha sculpture in Sankoo region of Suru valley.
7 mtr tall rock cut Maitreya Buddha sculpture, around Sankoo town, a narrow dirt road with no signs until you reach the destination.
Ask the locals about the sculpture and obtain the direction. Kids of the village are always waiting for any car to stop at their village. From here kids will take you to the sculpture along a narrow trail accompanied by a small stream. Don't carry any loose bags as kids are very naughty and will peep into your belongings if you miss a sight. They will constantly ask for money/food/gifts. On the right side the huge chiseled sculpture of Buddha is standing since ages and against all odds.
Our guest house owner told a story about the sculpture - long back people of the village planned to destroy the sculpture and planted dynamites along the rock to destroy the same. Just a night before it was to be exploded the whole village was suffering from some epidemic leaving everyone involved sick. Since then the no one ever attempted to destroy the sculpture.
Some images of the village and around:
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