Leh

Leh Palace is a former Royal Palace that has been converted into a museum and it showcases 9 levels to the top of the Palace and is mostly in ruins. It’s a must to reach level 9 of the palace to get the 360 Degrees view of Leh City and surely the tourists will be spellbound by this beautiful view.

Stok Palace is the summer house for the Royal Family of Ladakh and was opened to the public in 1980 by Dalai Lama. Stok palace and its interiors still display their authenticity and the royal antique décor which are well-preserved. Stok Palace has been converted into the Heritage Hotel wherein tourists can book and stay in the King’s and Queen’s rooms. One can also witness the Buddha statue at the nearby monastery from the Palace. The heritage hotel offers magnificent views of the Indus River as its located on the top of a valley. All the rooms in the palace are spacious and anciently decorated and studded with photographs of the Royals.

Some parts of Stok Palace are converted into a museum which is extremely beautiful and showcasing the history, jewellery, clothing, currency, royal seals, paintings, war-related armours, kitchen sets, etc used during that time. Highlights of the museum include the Queen’s crown which is adorned with turquoise, coral, and golden gems as well as ancient jewels & the King’s sword.

Shey Palace served as the summer capital which is almost in ruins now but it’s located on a hillock offering some breathtaking views. The highlight of the Palace is the 39^th ft tall Shakyamuni Buddha statue in sitting posture almost comprising of three stories of the monastery. It’s just too peaceful to get lost in its tranquillity. Shey Monastery is often covered by tourists who wish to explore Thiksey monastery or local sightseeing of Leh.

A Tibetan-styled monastery perching on the top of the hill providing mesmerizing views of the town and the Indus valley. The highlight of this monastery is the Maitreya Buddha statue comprising of 15 meters height covering almost 2 stories of the building. The rooftop of the monastery is class and a must to be explored for some exciting views from the top. There are various temples in the monastery that can be visited and even admire the Buddhist Stupas, swords, wall paintings, and statues.

Shanti Stupa as the name suggests is one of the most peaceful white-washed decorated monuments lying on a steep hilltop offering exciting views of the Leh region and nearby village. It’s a religious place for the Buddhist as well as portraying the life story of Gautam Buddha and preserving the relics of the Buddha. There is a temple and a prayer hall which can be visited by tourists. Tourists can witness sunset here which is pretty if they visit during the evening hours.

The Druk White Lotus School often referred to as Rancho School got famous from the movie 3 Idiots and it’s become a local sight for tourists visiting Ladakh. They provide half an hour of guided tours regularly to provide tourists with an insight into locations used during the movie. The school also has a rancho café.

Hemis Monastery is one of the wealthiest monasteries of India housing a good number of monks under its care. The Monastery showcases Tibetan Style architecture which is extremely attractive and colourful and is surrounded by temples, galleries, and a museum with a courtyard in middle with larger colourful prayer flags.

The two main highlights of the monastery are - The admiring copper statue of Lord Buddha with thangkas and stupas adorned with Gold and Silver & The huge image of Guru Padmasambhava – the founder of Tibetan Buddhism residing on the upper level of the monastery.

Hemis Monastery is usually covered while reaching Leh from Pangong or along with Thiksey Monastery.

• Gurudwara Pathar Sahib – Gurudwara Pathar Sahib lying on the Leh and Kargil Highway devoted to Guru Nanak is a famous pilgrimage spot for tourists while on their visit to Ladakh. The Gurudwara houses the imprints of Shree Guru Nanak Dev and is well maintained by the Army of the area. The tourists and locals can bow down to the Guru and seek blessings and eat tasty langar food.
  
  
• Sangam Point – One of the best sights to experience is the confluence of the Blue Indus River flowing originating from Tibet and the muddy Zanskar river flowing from Zanskar valley. The meeting of both rivers is known as Sangam point and it’s a beautiful place to visit and enjoy nature with your naked eye.
  
  
• Magnetic Hill – Magnetic Hill attracts its visitors all over the world to witness the optical illusion of the road that seems to go uphill but instead in real it goes downhill. The magnetic properties define the force of gravity wherein the vehicles move upwards on a hill when parked at a location. To witness this the vehicle should be in neutral gear and parked around the yellow box marked ahead. One can take exciting pictures here with an amazing backdrop of the mountains and the sounds of the blowing winds can bring you peace and tranquillity.