Leh Palace

Beautifully designed Leh Palace is an exceptionally impressive palace located in the Himalayan town of Leh on whose name the palace is denoted with. Observers often feel its closeness to nature. The area from the palace and backdrop locates the city of Ladakhi Himalayan urban establishment. This palace adds beauty to the region especially due to model replica like a Lhasa based Potala Palace in Tibet. All visitors make sure visiting this palace whose beauty captivates all and sundry.

Uniquely developed Palace Museum mesmerizes all visitors in Leh. Collections in the museum include crowns, ceremonial dresses and variety of jewelry pieces amongst others. Some of the notable collections in this museum are the famous Chinese Thangka paintings which literally keep any single visitor captivated. Such collections are from more than four centuries old but still fascinate everybody. Visitors feel scintillated upon seeing the brightness and unique color combination of these paintings. Interior portion of this palace still has ample jewelry collection especially those from the Thangka ornaments.

History

King Sengge Namgyal built the Leh Palace in Leh in the 17th century. It was under the control of his dynasty for almost two centuries until it was literally abandoned in the midst of 19th century while Ladakh came under the control of Dogra forces. Such developments brought ample change in the region especially when the royal family was forced to move to the Stok Palace to leave this one completely abandoned.

The palace in its current condition is an excellent tourist spot where visitors arrive to understand the past glory of this beautiful area. King Tsewang Namgyal had begun the construction of this palace on Tsemo Hill in 1553. He was the founder of Namgyal dynasty in Ladakh. Completion of this palace held by Sengge Namgyal, nephew of the King Tsewang Namgyal, was after several years. This palace also had the distinction of being the highest building in the world for once.

Architecture

Out of the many attractions of Leh Palace, the one which scintillate every single visitor is the architectural beauty and setup. The height of this palace with the nine storeys makes it unique. Such innovative architecture brought into use centuries ago appeal to visitors even today. Upper floor interiors and exteriors were decorated to make it pretty enough to accommodate the royal family. This palace had been built in such manner that royal stables and store rooms could be kept in the lower floors.

Unfortunately, Leh Palace is in its ruined condition now. The Archeological Survey of India has taken initiative to restore it but complete restoration wasn't possible. As this palace has been opened for the public they usually arrive on its roof as well to enjoy seeing the Leh city's panoramic view. It offers wonderful view of nearby Stok Kangri Mountain in the Zanskar mountain ranges.

Although in ruins, Leh Palace still showcases architectural richness of the past centuries. One can observe its beauty and designs symbolizing past era. All visitors can see Indus valley in southern side of this palace while its northern side always showcase green landscapes and Ladakh mountain ranges. View them from this palace to feel its royal austerity and architectural richness.

Best Time to Visit

As Ladakh is located on the Himalayan mountain ranges it is literally impossible to visit this place during wintertime. Plan for a visit in summers to enjoy a great stay and to make your journey truly rewarding. Even summers are comparatively colder, you enjoy best time during a visit.

Visitor Information

How to Reach

Air

Kushok Bakula Rimpochhe Airport is the nearest airport close to Leh city at the distance of six kilometers from Leh city. Many domestic flights operate for Leh from this airport.

Rail

Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway is the railway station at the high-elevation all-weather Indian broad-gauge. It is under construction with almost ready for operation.

Road

The roadways in Leh connect this city with rest parts of the state and nearby areas from adjoining states. Private vehicles are commonly seen on the roads. Tourist vehicles are also frequent.

Photo Gallery