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PLACES OF INTEREST IN LEH : |
THE BAZAR
There is a main bazaar street in Leh comprising 2 old gates at its each end and is wide enough to accommodate caravans. Leh has now developed into a trading spot and a good market alluring the merchants and traders from Yarkhand, Kashgar, Kashmir, Tibet and North India. The market is famous for the transactions of tea, salt, household articles, wool, and semi-precious stones. You can easily penetrate to look into the life style and the cultural values of the Ladakhis life via the colorful bazaar or market. The old village is located on the hill side below the Palace along with its maze of narrow lane. |
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LEH PALACE
The Leh Palace is located majestically in such a manner that it overviews the whole town so that the king should be able to survey his subjects all times. It is clearly visible from every house of Leh and follow signs for the palace from next to the mosque. But at present, it is empty because in the mid-nineteenth century, the royal family shifted to Stok Palace after being assaulted by the Kashmiri forces. It was built by King Sengge Namgyal in the seventeenth century with the same pattern as that of the Potala Palace of Lhasa but was not constructed on the same scale. It comprises of nine high storeys in which the royals used to take the upper floors with the larger windows, where as the store rooms and stables took the lower floors. |
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| At present, there is nothing to see much in the Palace as it has got ruined and have developed big holes in its flooring. Its inner view resembles the Potala Palace with numerous rooms, steps, and narrow passages with a display of old thangkas, paintings, and arms. It also constitutes a museum inside it. |
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| The arresting and remarkable views across the Leh are well viewed from its top and to get there, you have to walk through the alleys of its old town which comprises of ample of traditional architecture, household goods which exhibit some glimpse of the rural values, keeping the live stock in the backyards, and drying the fodder on the roofs. There is another option to move to the palace and that is to take the gentle track that begins above the polo ground. |
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| The exalted and magnificent views of the Zanskar Range can be viewed from the roof of the Palace. The palace is more ruined and older at the top and comprises of the remnants of the Temple of the Guardian of the Deities along with a large golden idol of Buddha, painted scrolls, murals, and old manuscripts. The Soma Gompa, a new monastery, was brought up into existence to solemnize the 2500th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. |
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SHANTI STUPA
The Shanti Stupa was opened officially in 1985 and is visible from most of the town. The peace pagoda is a part of the legacy of the Japanese Fuji Guruji whose motive was to promote world peace via Buddhism, therefore, the pagodas and temples were built all across the world. It is situated above Chanspa overlooking Leh and the Indus Valley. There is a provision of hiring a taxi to reach to its top but in order to test your acclimatization; it is good to walk up the 542 steps and enjoy the spectacular and arresting views from its top. |
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CENTRE FOR ECOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT & WOMENS ALLIANCE
The higher altitudes often make you lethargic on arriving at Leh but you can enjoy the excellent one-hour video and historical ancient features at the Ecology Centre at 1630 hours every afternoon and the most fascinating thing about it is that its entry is free. The film will make you acquainted with the valuable and majestic culture of Ladakh and with the various problems faced by the region due to the recent changes. There is also a provision of excellent library inside the centre along with the shops selling handicrafts. Not only this, you can experience the live demonstrations of various technologies like solar ovens. |
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PLACES OF INTEREST AROUND LEH
You should always remember to carry a flashlight while visiting the monasteries. It is best to visit these monasteries in sandals or footwear as you need to take off your footwear frequently. |
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SHEY (25min; 15km)
Shey monastery is located at an edge of the Indus River on its east bank. It was the royal residence till 16th century where the kings of Leh were supposed to be born. Shey and Thikse is an auspicious place for cremation. The palace sits on a strategic position on a spur jutting out into the Indus Valley.
The palace gompa has a 12m-high blue haired Maitreya Buddha, which is
The palace gompa comprises of a 12 m high idol of blue haired Maitreya Buddha with a remarkable shimmering appearance of magnificently gilded and studded precious stones which is attended by Drukpa monks from Hemis. It is believed that this statue of Buddha was crafted by the Nepalese craftsmen by using copper and brass. It is also said that these craftsmen settled in the area around Chilling after completion and started their own metal industry there. There are extensive grounds towards its east comprising of large number of chortens to bury the ashes of the cremated devout. Another giant statue of Buddha is constructed in the new temple. Also, there is a magnificent view of rock carvings, especially of five dhyani Buddhas at the bottom of the hill.
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TIKSE/THIKSE (30min; 17km)
TIKSE is located at the south of Leh over a crag with an overview of the flood plain on the eastern bank of the Indus. It was once the part of the original Gelugpa order in the 15the century and is one of the most imposing monasteries in Ladakh. It is a 12-storey red-colored monastery with tapering walls comprising 10 temples, a nunnery, and 60 Lamas in residence whose houses cling to the hillside below. There are numerous stupas, statues, thangkas, wall paintings, swords, and a large pillar engraved with the Master’s teachings inside its complex. On the right hand side of the courtyard, there is temple housing a 15 m statue of the Maitreya or future Buddha which was completed in 1981. Also, you can enjoy the magnificent view of a Buddha statue at the back of the Dukhang which is more than 500 years old. |
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HEMIS (1hr 20min; 45km)
HEMIS is one of the monasteries located on the south of Leh over the green hillside on the west bank of Indus. It is surrounded with spectacular mountain scenery which is the most capturing sight of this monastery. You will come across two huge Mani walls on moving up towards it. It is the most attractive, biggest, and wealthiest monastery which is never missed by any of the visitors. But most of its gompas require amendment. The gompa is also known as Chang Chub Sang Ling which is a solitary place of the compassionate ones and it was founded in the 17th century. It belongs to the Kagyupa sect. Not only this, you can enjoy the view of the impressive and majestic image of Guru Padmasambhava which is present inside the temple located behing the Dukhang which is the temple on right hand side. This huge statue of 12 m in height was completed in 1984. There are 2 assembly halls approached by a flight of steep steps on the north side. The lakhang houses a Kashmiri bronze Buddha of 12th century and silver chortens which is an important library of Tibetan style books along with an impressive collection of thangkas. The largest thangkas are exhibited after every 12 years and the last, it was exhibited in 1992. |
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LAMAYURU (4hrs; 124km.)
One of the most striking sight in Ladakh is of the gompa at Lamayuru. It gives almost a fairy tale quality as it stands over the small village below on the top of a beautifully eroded crag along with the rock pinnacles and caves. There is a belief that the whole valley was under a deep lake till the holy man “Nimagou” prayed for a monastery to be founded here and after its foundation, the lake drained away. The site of monastery is the oldest site in Ladakh and its first temple was built at the time of Rinchen Zangpo. The official name of this monastery is Yung-dung Tharpa Ling which means the “place of freedom”. It was declared as one of the holy sites in 16th century and now it comes under the Kagyupa sect.
The gompa at Lamayuru is one of the most striking in Ladakh. Its position on top of a beautifully eroded crag, complete with rock pinnacles and caves, gives it an almost fairy tale quality as it stands over the small village below. There is a local legend that the whole valley was under a deep lake until the holy man, Nimagou prayed for a monastery to be founded here. With that, the lake drained away. The site of the monastery is probably the oldest in Ladakh with the first temple, like so many others, being built at the time of Rinchen Zangpo. The monastery is officially called Yung-dung Tharpa Ling, or 'place of freedom', after it was declared a holy site in the 16th century. It now belongs to the Kagyupa sect. |
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KARSHA (9 kms from Padum)
This monastery is situated on a steep mountain with an overview of the Padum valley. It was predicated by a translator from Zanskar, Fagspa Sherab, and later by Dorjay Sherab and Sherab Zangp of Stod. It resides around 90 monks and is the largest Gelugpa monastery in Zanskar. |
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ALCHI (3hr; 70km.)
One of the most significant Buddhist’s centres in Ladakh is the Choskar which is also known as a religious enclave. It was constructed in 11th century which exhibits a treasure trove art of early Buddhist but in a style of Kashmiri tradition which is really unique than the other Tibetan art found in Ladakh’s other monasteries. Kaldan Shesrab who was a follower of Rinchen Zangpo supervised its construction. He played a significant role in awakening and revitalizing the interest in the religion of Buddhism in that era. Alchi is also an example of that era. This monastery was looked after by the monks of the Likir monastery who were of Gelukpa order. It houses 5 shrines in the Choskor complex embellishing with laudable wall paintings and wooden figures. Its most remarkable feature is its painted wooden ceiling of the gate. The village and gompa can easily be reached by crossing the Indus river beyond Saspol. |
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