Places to visit in Leh
Leh is the largest town of the Ladakh region and also the capital city. The getaway to the very beautiful wonderland of Ladakh, this city is making its name among the top places for adventure in India. Titled as the 'rooftop of the world' and the 'land of high passes', it is a paradise of breath-taking beauty, matchless adventures and experiences of a lifetime. India's very own moon land, it is a unique topography. Located to the north of the Indus River, Leh lies at an elevation of 3600m above the sea level in the Karakorum Mountains.
Since the olden times, Leh has been an important junction on the famous Silk Route. It still date preserves the Tibetan culture and has a number of ancient monasteries that keep alive the traditions and culture. Now, the hidden paradise is a hub of adventure,discovery and what can be called as a life-changing journey.
The ruins of the Leh Palace is a major tourist attraction. The former residence of the royal family of Ladakh is built on the lines of the Potala Palace, Tibet. Thiksey Gompa is one of the largest and also architecturally the most impressive of Buddhist Monasteries in India and especially in Ladakh. There Gompas are treasures of images, stupas and wall paintings of Buddha, which are exquisite.
Shey Palace and Gompa, formerly the residence of the royal family is now among the most popular sites to visit.The seat of power of the pre-Tibetan kinds in the olden days, the monastery worships a 7.5 mts high copper statue of Buddha, plated with gold and the largest of its kind, is installed here.
Of special note is the Hemis Gompa, the wealthiest, best known and biggest Gompa of Ladakh. Built in 1630 during the reign of Singe Namgyal, Hemis is home to the largest Thanka in Ladakh which is unfurled once in 12 years. The favor for Namgyal Dynasty is the reason why the Drugpa sect manages the monastery. It is divided into two, the assembly hall on the right and the main temple on the left. The hall (Dukhang)is also used as “green room” by the dancers during the festival. The temple is known as Tshogkhang. The verandahs have a surfeit of frescoes, among them the Buddhist “Wheel Of Life” (Kalachakra) and the lords of the four quarters,besides the prayer wheel. The annual summer festival celebrating Guru Padmasambhava’s birth anniversary is a crowd-puller.
The excursions to the KhardungLa, one of the highest motorable mountain passes in the world, the beautiful Pangong Lake, Tso Moriri, Nubra Valley are absolute musts on a visit to Leh.
Thiksey Gompa
Thiksey Gompa: 19 Kms from Leh, spectacularly sited, Thiksey is one of the largest and architecturally most impressive Gompas. There are several temples in this Gompas, containing images, stupas and wall paintings of Buddha, which are exquisite.
Hemis Gompa
Hemis Gompa: 40 Kms from Leh, it is the wealthiest, best known and biggest Gompa of Ladakh. Its popularity stems from the major annual festival held here in summer. The festival is in honor of Guru Padma Sambhava’s birth anniversary. It also has the largest Thanka in Ladakh which is unfurled once in 12 years (nest in 2004) Hemis was built in 1630 during the reign of Singge Namgyal, an illustrious ruler of Ladakh. It flourished under the Namgyal Dynasty for the royalty favored the Drugpa sect, which is managed the monastery. It is divided into two, the assembly hall on the right and the main temple on the left. The hall (Dukhang) is also used as “green room” by the dancers during the festival. The temple is known as Tshogkhang. The verandahs have a surfeit of frescoes, among them the Buddhist “Wheel Of Life” (Kalachakra) and the lords of the four quarters, besides the prayer wheel.
Ladakhi House
Ladakhi House: A typical Ladakhi house is made of mud bricks. The center of the room is the kitchen cum guest room. Sittings are like that of Japanese thus by using low tables and Tibetan carpets where one sits in a meditation posture crossed leg. Ground floor is used during the winters called “Goontsa” and the top floors are used during summer. A visit to a Ladakhi house gives chance to directly interact with local and inside into custom. You can try “Chang” the local beer or salt tea. You may like to dress and photographed in traditional Ladakhi dress.
Samstanling Gompa
Samstanling Gompa: Samstanling Monastery was founded by Lama Tsultrim Nima and Monastic community was introduced as Rezong Gompa. About 50-60 monks are residing in this 132 years old monastery. The Gompa has some strict rules and regulations.
Stok Monastery
Stok Monastery or Stok Gompa is a Buddhist monastery in Stok, Leh district, Ladakh, northern India, 15 kilometres south of Leh. It was founded by Lama Lhawang Lotus in the 14th Century and has a notable library including all 108 volumes of the Kangyur. A ritual dance-mask festival is held annually. Next to the monastery is the 71 feet high seated Gautama Buddha statue and temple, constructed between 2012-2015 and consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama on 8 August 2016. Around 2 km from the monastery is Stok Palace, built in 1820 as the summer home of Ladakhi royalty from the Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh.
Magnetic Hill
Magnet Hill is a "Cyclops hill" located near Leh in Ladakh, India. The layout of the area and surrounding slopes create the optical illusion of a hill. The hill road is actually a downhill road. Objects and cars on the hill road may appear to roll uphill in defiance of gravity when they are, in fact, rolling downhill. It is 7.5 km southeast of Nimmoo and 26.5 km west of Leh on Srinagar-Ladakh road.
Khardungla Pass
Khardungla Pass : The road journey to Nubra valley leads through Khardung La pass (The highest Motorable road in the world) 18,390 ft. around 39 Kms. Away from Leh. There are two checkpoints on the both sides of the pass. Khardong is the first village of Nubra valley at higher altitude than Deskit and other villages.
Shanti Stupa
Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist white-domed stupa on a hilltop in Chanspa, Leh district, Ladakh, in the north India. It was built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu, Gyomyo Nakamura and part of the Peace Pagoda mission. The Shanti Stupa holds the relics of the Buddha at its base, enshrined by the 14th Dalai Lama. The stupa has become a tourist attraction not only due to its religious significance but also due to its location which provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
Leh Palace
Leh Palace is a former royal palace overlooking the town of Leh, Ladakh, in the Indian Himalayas. It was constructed circa 1600 by Sengge Namgyal. The palace was abandoned when Dogra forces took control of Ladakh in the mid-19th century and forced the royal family to move to Stok Palace. It is nine storeys high; the upper floors accommodated the royal family, while the lower floors held stables and store rooms. Much of the palace is in deteriorated condition, and little survives of its interior decorations. The Palace Museum holds a rich collection of jewellery, ornaments, ceremonial dresses and crowns. Tibetan thangka or paintings, which are more than 450 years old, with intricate designs still retain the bright colours derived from crushed and powdered gems and stones. Structures around the palace's base include the prominent Namgyal Stupa, the colourfully muralled Chandazik Gompa and the 1430 Chamba Lhakhang, with medieval mural fragments located between the inner and outer walls. The palace is being restored by the Archaeological Survey of India. The palace is open to the public and the roof provides panoramic views of Leh and the surrounding areas.
Spituk Gompa
Spituk Monastery, also known as Spituk Gompa or Pethup Gompa, is a Buddhist monastery in Spituk, Leh district, Ladakh, northern India. 8 kilometres from Leh. The site of Spituk was blessed by the Arhat Nyimagung. It was founded by Od-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od when he came to Maryul in the 11th Century. He introduced the monastic community. When Lotsewa Rinchen Zangpo came to that place he said that an exemplary religious community would arise there and so the monastery was called spituk. During the time of Dharma raja Gragspa Bum-Ide the monastery was restored by Lama Lhawang Lodos and the stainless order of Tsonkhapa was introduced and it has remained intact as such till present. Founded as a Red Hat institution, the monastery was taken over by the Yellow Hat sect in the 15th century. The monastery contains 100 monks and a giant statue of Kali. Every year the Gustor Festival is held at Spituk from the 27th to 29th day in the eleventh month of the Tibetan calendar.
Namgyal Tsemo
Namgyal Tsemo Monastery or Namgyal Tsemo Gompa is a Buddhist monastery in Leh district, Ladakh, northern India. Founded in 1430 by King Tashi Namgyal of Ladakh, it has a three-story high gold statue of Maitreya Buddha and ancient manuscripts and frescoes. It is situated near the Tsemo Castle.
Sankar Gompa
Sankar Monastery, or Sankar Gompa is a Buddhist monastery within an easy half-hour walk from Leh in Ladakh, northern India. It is a daughter-establishment of Spituk Monastery and the residence of the Abbot of Spituk, the Venerable Kushok Bakula, who is the senior incarnate lama of Ladakh due to his ancient lineage and personal authority.
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame is a museum constructed by the Indian Army in memory of the brave Indian soldiers who laid down their lives defending the motherland in the Indo-Pak wars. The Hall of Fame museum is located on the Leh-Kargil Road, about 4km from the city of Leh. It stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made by our soldiers t o ensure the safety and security of our country.
Nubra Valley
Nubra is a subdivision and a tehsil in the Indian union territory of Ladakh. Its inhabited areas form a tri-armed valley cut by the Nubra and Shyok rivers. Its Tibetan name Ldumra means "the valley of flowers". Demands have been raised and BJP has hinted at creation of Nubra as a new district. Diskit, the headquarters of Nubra, is about 150 km north from Leh, the capital of Ladakh. The Shyok River meets the Nubra or Siachan River to form a large valley that separates the Ladakh and Karakoram Ranges. The Shyok river is a tributary of the Indus river. The average altitude of the valley is about 10,000 ft. i.e. 3048 metres above the sea level. The common way to access this valley is to travel over the Khardung La pass from Leh town. Foreign nationals are required to get a Protected area permit to visit the Nubra Valley. Since 1 April 2017 Indian citizens are also required to get an Inner Line Permit to visit the valley.
