Top 10 Monasteries and Palaces in Ladakh and Why You Should Visit Them

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Know About Shanti Stupa, Lamayuru Monastery, City Palace Leh and more

Vishwa Shanti Stupa

One of the seven Buddhist Shanti Stupas across the world, the Shanti Stupa in Leh, is an abode of peace and serenity. The purely white, dome shaped structure towers two storeys high above the surrounding landscape. Set against the backdrop of the surrounding mountains of Leh, the Stupa commands excellent views of the scenic locale. Although the beautifully pristine architecture of the structure makes it a marvel during the daytime, the beauty of the Stupa is further compounded during the evening hours when it is lit up from the inside.

 

Shanti Stupa, Lamayuru Monastery, Thiksey Monastery: Visit the Best Stupa in Leh and City Palace Leh in your Ladakh Trip.

Hemis Monastery

Hemis monastery was established in 1672 AD by king Sengge Namgyal. It is the most popular and richest monastery in Ladakh. It lies on the banks of the Indus river. The monastery houses a copper-gilt statue of Lord Buddha, numerous stupas made of gold and silver, sacred thangka paintings, and other objects of religious importance.

 

Shey Monastery

It is housed in the same complex as the palace. It was built in the 15th century AD as the summer capital by the then ruler. The monastery is famous for its 39 ft tall Shakyamuni Buddha statue made of gold and copper and covering three storeys of the monastery. Due to the exclusivity of Shey Monastery, a special permission from the head lama is needed to enter the premises.

 

Shanti Stupa, Lamayuru Monastery, Thiksey Monastery: Visit the Best Stupa in Leh and City Palace Leh in your Ladakh Trip.

 

Thiksey Monastery

Thiksey Monastery is around 5 kms ahead of Shey complex. Thiksey Monastery is a 15th century monastery. It is famous for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Tibet. 

Alchi Monastery

Known as the oldest monastery in Ladakh, Alchi Monastery is basically a monastic complex situated in Alchi Village in Leh District. This is also perhaps one of the only places in the world where you can actually get a chance to look at the cells in which monks spend their lives. Due to its history and beauty tourists love coming here. 

 

Lamayuru Monastery

One of the oldest gompas in Ladakh, this monastery is perched atop a cliff. The height of the monastery allows visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains of Ladakh and you can also check out a bird’s eye view of the lakes that surround the area. 

 

Shanti Stupa, Lamayuru Monastery, Thiksey Monastery: Visit the Best Stupa in Leh and City Palace Leh in your Ladakh Trip.

 

Diksit Monastery

The oldest and largest Buddhist monastery in Nubra valley region of Ladakh.  Because of the river Shyok flowing at the foothills and rich green vegetation in the vicinity, Diksit has been named as “The orchard of Ladakh”. Since the monastery is at elevation it is a great spot to capture images of the Karakoram Range and the village below. 

 

Phuktal Monastery

Situated at the mouth of a natural cave on a cliff, it is one of the most isolated monasteries in the region, built around 2500 years ago. The Phugtal Monastery looks like a honeycomb from a distance. There is an intricate network of wooden ladders and platforms that the monks and visitors use to reach the gompa.

The Leh Palace

Also known as ‘Lhachen Palkhar,’ is a 17th-century former royal palace and one of the central attractions in Leh. The Leh Palace is modelled on the Potala Palace in Lhasa (Tibet). Despite a part of it in ruins, it continues to remain a stunning place to explore. The beauty of the Leh Palace still stands in pride with a lot of ancient Buddha relics, paintings, old utensils, cutlery used by the royal family and artefacts adorning the walls, most of which are almost 450 years old. 

Shanti Stupa, Lamayuru Monastery, Thiksey Monastery: Visit the Best Stupa in Leh and City Palace Leh in your Ladakh Trip.

Shey Palace

Situated at a distance of only 15 km, Stok or Shey Palace is found in the Stok Village. It is famously known as the summer home to the royal family of Leh. Established in the year 1820 by King Tsepal Namgyal. It is a glaring example of the rich history and lifestyle of the royal family. It is also home to Stok Monastery and is equipped with beautiful gardens and a huge library. Now it has been converted into a heritage hotel for visitors to come experience the royalty here.

Shanti Stupa, Lamayuru Monastery, Thiksey Monastery: Visit the Best Stupa in Leh and City Palace Leh in your Ladakh Trip.

Planning to Visit Shanti Stupa and other Stupa in Leh and City Palace Leh in your Ladakh Trip?

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Photos of Thiksey Monastery and Other Stupa in Leh

Shanti Stupa, Lamayuru Monastery, Thiksey Monastery: Visit the Best Stupa in Leh and City Palace Leh in your Ladakh Trip. There are many Monasteries and Palaces to visit in Ladakh, the land of rugged landscapes and natural scenic beauty . We have shortlisted the top 10 for you to visit.

Your Guide to Choosing the Perfect Himalayan Trip

When you are in India, you can hardly afford to miss the a Trip to the Himalayas. In fact, there are a wide varieties of tours to choose from – Shimla-Manali, Darjeeling-Gangtok, Mussoorie-Rishikesh, Dharamsala-Dalhousie. If you are looking for more elaborate tours, you can plan something in the Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Ladakh and Kashmir Tours are also great ways to explore the Himalayas. In Ladakh, apart from a night halt in Nubra Valley, you can either have another night halt in Pangong Lake or just a day trip to Pangong Lake. If you have a couple of more days, you can also visit the stunning Tso Moriri Lake. Kashmir can also take your breath away! You can visit Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonmarg in Kashmir for a Memorable Trip. 

You can get a lot of information on Kashmir and Ladakh.  For example, on the best Himalayan tours, best time, about MussoorieDalhousie, Mcleod Ganj, Khajjiar, Shimla, Dhanaulti, Rishikesh, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Gangtok, Darjeeling, Solang Valley.

Even on Ladakh, you will get information on Ladakh tips, Ladakh, Activities in Ladakh, how to reach Ladakh, Monasteries, Pangong Lake. If you want to visit Kashmir, find information on the best tourist places, activities, best time, Best valleys and on Srinagar

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