Leh Palace
ལེ་ཆེན་པལ་མཁར
A nine-story royal palace of the 17th-century Kingdom of Ladakh, similar in form to the Potala Palace, overlooking all of Leh and the Indus Valley.
Leh Palace was built in the 17th century by King Sengge Namgyal of Ladakh. It has nine stories, and its tapering rammed-earth structure is in the same tradition as Lhasa's Potala Palace. After the Dogra army invaded in the 19th century, the royal family moved to Stok Palace, and the palace gradually fell into disuse. It is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Inside you'll find some murals, thangkas and small exhibits, but the highlight is the rooftop terrace. Below lie the old town's mud houses and mosques, and in the distance are the snowy peaks of Stok Kangri. Visiting tips: walk up the slope from behind the main market in the old town, about 15–20 minutes (go slowly at altitude). You can also continue to Namgyal Tsemo monastery above for sunset. Admission follows ASI standards, with foreign visitors paying several hundred rupees (subject to on-site prices). The interior stairs are steep and dark, so bring a headlamp. Don't attempt the climb on your first day in Leh.
Opening hours
About 7:00 am–4:00 pm (may extend in summer; check on site)
Nearby sights
- Central Asian Museum
- Leh Main Bazaar
- Namgyal Tsemo Gompa
- Sankar Monastery
- Shanti Stupa
- Hall of Fame, Leh
- Spituk Monastery
- Phyang Monastery