Sankar Gompa

Sankar Gompa is considered as one of the must-visit places in the Northern part of India. Sankar Gompa or Sankar Monastery is said to be a subsidiary of Spituk Monastery that has the same Lama. Sankar Monastery shares little distance (near about 2 km) from Leh that tourists can visit the Gompa easily on foot. Sankar Monastery has constructed 90 (approx.) years ago but is sharing the premises of a 500 years old temple.

The Sankar Gompa has stone boundary walls around the monastery. At the assembly hall of the Gompa, there is a portrait of the head lama Kushok Bakul Rinpoche (who is said to be the senior incarnate lama due to his personal authority and ancient lineage) who died in the year 2004. The entrance of the assembly hall is decorated on either side of the door with the paintings of the guardians of the Four Directions. On the left wall of the entrance Verandah, there is a ‘Wheel of Life’ held by a lama. The walls of the Gompa are splashed with wonderful paintings of different Buddhas. On the right side of the throne, there is a picture of Avalokitesvara with 11 heads and 1000 arms.

Hemis Gompa

Beautifully adorned, Hemis Monastery is a Tibetan monastery belonging to the Drukpa Lineage. Counted as one of the iconic monasteries in Ladakh, Hemis is perched on a mountain along the west bank of Indus River. People eagerly await to marvel at the numerous paintings or Thangkas that are carefully preserved here and are displayed on the famous Hemis Festival. A visit to the Hemis Monastery is one of the highlights of planning holidays in Ladakh.

The ancient Hemis monastery is said to be have existed before the 11th century. Naropa, the teacher of the translator Marpa and the pupil of the yogi Tilopa, are regarded as the founding fathers of the Kagyu-lineage of Buddhism, with, Hemis is its main seat. The first incarnation of Stagsang Raspa Nawang Gyatso founded the monastery in 1630 when he was invited to Ladakh by the King Singay Namgyal.

Lamayuru Monastery

Lamayuru is the oldest and one of the largest monasteries in Ladakh. As per legends, Lamayuru's valley was a clear lake at the time of the Sakyamuni. The lake was the dwelling place of the holy serpents. The Bodhisattva Madhyantaka made a prediction that the lake will be emptied and a monastery will be built here. Naropa, a Buddhist scholar visited Ladakh in 11th century and spent many years meditating in a cave. Naropa then caused a split in the surrounding hillside and due to this the lake emptied. Thereafter, Naropa found a dead lion covered by the waters of the lake. Naropa built the first temple on this spot and named it as the 'Singhe Ghang' (Lion Mound).

Another historical account states that the King of Ladakh ordered the construction of Lamayuru in the 10th century and kept it under the supervision of Rinchen Zangbo. There were five buildings in the original gompa, although only the central one still stands.

In 16th century, Jamyang Namgyal, the then king of Ladakh was cured of leprosy by a monk from Tibet. Thus, the King bestowed the gompa to this lama. Some other benefits were also given such as the area surrounding the monastery was declared a sanctuary where none could be arrested and no taxes were collected. It is due to this, Lamayuru is still considered as the Tharpa Ling, the "Place of Freedom".

Alchi Monastery

Alchi Monastery, located in the Alchi village in Leh, was built by the great translator Guru Rinchen Zangpo between 958 and 1055. Today it is being monitored by Likir Monastery. This monastery is actually a complex of temples consisting of 4 separate portions that has monuments built at different times. The main complex has three temples- gTsug-lag-Khang (main temple), 'Jam-dpal lHa-Khang' (Manjushri temple) and 'Dukhang' (assembly hall).

Alchi monastery is one of the most well-known ones. The walls of the site are adorned with paintings depicting the details of Hinu kings as well as the teaching of Buddhism. There is also a huge Buddha statue in the complex, a famous tourist attraction.

Namgyal Tsemo Monastery

Namgyal Tsemo Monastery was founded in 15th century, 1430AD. It was founded by the king Tashi Namgyal and that's why the monastery has been named Namgyal Tsemo Gompa.The king Tashi Namgyal was the devotee of Buddhism.

This monastery is situated on the top hill and well-known for its three-storey high solid gold idol of Maitrieya Buddha. The environment around namgyal tsemo gompa leh looks very attractive due to flowing of the Indus river,views of surrounding,cold blowing air and the snowcapped peaks of Zanskar range. It boasts of a rich group of some ancient manuscripts and wall paintings. About the infrastructure of the namgyal tsemo monastery,gompa contain an assembly hall some statues of Buddhas,temples with frescoes,paintings.

Leh Palace

Leh Palace known as the 'Lhachen Palkhar' is a former royal palace of the Leh Kingdom. Located in Leh city. It is one of the biggest tourist attraction of Leh city. The 17th century Palace, Leh Palace is also one of the tallest buildings of its time with nine story's. The palace provides spectacular views of Stok Kangri and the Ladakh mountain range as well as town and surroundings.

The grand royal palace of Leh overlooks the Namgyal hill lying atop the old Leh city. Snuggled in the lap of beautiful landscapes, the Palace is a popular tourist destination in Leh.

The important hub of Buddhist culture and religion provides spectacular views. A statue of Lord Buddha graces the monastery of the palace. Old pictures and paintings are displayed in the exhibition halls of the palace, which include Tibetan thangka and other artistic paintings. Paintings that are over 450 years old are housed here. Some of these fine specimens were created using colors derived from powdered stones and gems. The Leh palace treasures a rich collection of crowns, ceremonial dresses and jewellery among others.

Stok Palace

Stok Palace, built by King Tsespal Tondup Namgyal in 1825, in the present times is the residential palace of the royal descendants of King Sengge Namgyal. The architecture of this palace is a perfect mix of the traditional and the contemporary architectural styles. This palatial property consists of a number of beautiful gardens as well as a library that has around 108 volumes of the Kangyur (a collection of teachings of Lord Buddha). The palace is located around 15 kms away from the main city of Leh.

This palace hosts an annual dance-mask festival in which there is a huge participation by the locals. There is also a collection of royal clothing, crowns and other important things which you can see while on the excursion of the palace.

Zorawar Fort

General Zorawar's Fort is situated above the Palace of Leh and the Gompa of Namgyal Tsemo. This prehistoric monument, also known as 'Riasi Fort', once held the wealth of the Dogra rulers in Jammu though it presently lies in a wrecked stage.

A prominent warrior named General Zorawar Singh, known for his consistent struggle against the Chinese rulers over Ladakh owned the fort. A huge collection of coins and specimens of new stamps apart from the precious treasure of the ruler are housed in the fort now. Situated in proximity to the river Chenab, the fort is an attraction for individuals interested in archaeology, prehistoric culture, and artefacts. Inside the fort are present a mosque, a natural spring, and a Temple dedicated to Hindu Goddesses Kali and Durga.

Hall of Frame

Hall of Fame is a proud displayer of Indian Army simultaneously acts as the symbol of those dark days of India’s war against Pakistan. The museum that showcases seized arms and weapons of Pakistan army is located in Ladakh, the paradise of adventure lovers lying in the beautiful Himalayas. Moreover, the museum is considered to be a tribute to the brave soldiers who lost their lives during the war. To make it more appealing, the Indian Army has kept the photos and the things of those soldiers inside the museum. Also, the arranged items related to the history and culture of Ladakh, wildlife and vegetation have importance and amuses the visitors definitely.

There are things which enhance every Indian’s patriotic feelings as well as they let us appreciate the bravery shown by every Indian soldier during the wars, from the heart. Different quotes, letters written by the soldiers, the tools, aircrafts, weapons, tents and what all the soldiers have used during the period are preserved which give every visitor a minute to think and pay tribute to those brave hearts who lost their lives to help every one of us sleep in peace. Located next to Leh Airfield, the museum is opened on all days. Every day, visitors will be able to watch a detailed documentary on Operation Vijai or Kargil War screened.