Ladakh Chushul, where access by road is permitted without permit, lies in the north area of central Ladakh. The Thikse Monastery is the largest monastery in central Ladakh and is primarily known for its statue of Maitreya in its Maitreya Temple. This statue is 15 m (49 ft) high and the largest such statue in Ladakh. The Buddha is unusually portrayed as seated in the lotus position rather than his usual representations as standing or in a sitting posture on a high throne. Eastern area of East Ladakh Main areas are Karzok and Hanle. Travel from Hanley to Demchok is not permitted for the civilians and tourists, only army contractors are allowed with permission from the Indian Army. Major routes Road routes In 2018, following 5 road routes were opened for the tourists by the Government of India (GoI), all of these are located above the altitude of 14,000 ft, and the maximum limit of travel permit was raised from 7 days to 15 days: Karzok-Nurbo-Sumdo-Parangla-Kaza road Merak, Ladakh-Loma Bend road Chushul-Kartsangla-Mahe, Ladakh road Durbuk-Shachu-Tharuk-Sato Kargyam-Parma-Erath, Ladakh-Chushul-Loma, Ladakh-Hanle road Agham, Ladakh-Shyok-Durbuk road Trekking routes Treks include Manali to Ladakh, the Nubra valley, Pangong tso, Tso moriri, the Indus Valley., Markha valley, Ladakh monastery trek, South Zangskar, Trans-Zangskar Expedition, Spiti to Ladakh, Spiti to Pitok to Hemis, Rupshu, the Great Salt lakes, Chadar Ice trek Other treks are Padum-Manali, Padum-Phuktal, Padam-Darcha, Panikhar-Heniskot, Lamayuru-Martselang, Lamayuru-Alchi, Kala Pattar trek, and Pahal, Ladakh. In 2018, following 4 trails with night stay in Ladakh were opened for the tourists by the Go: Phyang-Dokla-Hunderdok track Temisgam-Largyap-Panchathank-Skuru track Basgo-Ney-Hunderdok-Hunder track Saspol-Saspochy-Rakurala-Skuru track Theme tourism Buddhist tourism Buddhist Monasteries There are about 35 Buddhist monasteries along the banks of spread across the region which thrives on donations made by tourists and the local people of the region but now the government plans to develop these monasteries. The state government also plans to hire experts for landscaping of the barren regions and such a move was possible only after the Centre released funds. About 65 km west of Leh, towards Zanskar river, is the village of Sumda Chun at height of 3500 mtr. The monastery of Sumda-Chun is one of the most important surviving early Tibetan Buddhist temples of the Ladakh region. Bamiyan-like Maitreya Buddhas of Kargil district The 1,400-year-old eight-metre high rock-cut Maitreya Buddhas (the Buddha who will be incarnated in the future) of Bamiyan Buddha statues were