Leh Palace

 Text and Photographs by Mr. Sachin Vaidya

Leh Palace (Lehchen Pelkhar) is the most popular tourist destination in Ladakh. Ladakh is an union territory in India. No visit to Ladakh is complete without a visit to the Leh Palace. However, the Palace should be visited only after mandatory twenty four hours of acclimatization if tourists arrive at Leh by flight. Leh town is at an altitude of 11,562 ft. Even though vehicles can go directly to the Palace gate, a lot of walking (including climbing a few steps) is involved if one is interested in visiting the Palace in its entirety. Of course, only a limited portion of the Palace is open to tourists. An ideal way to visit Leh Palace is a walk through the Leh market; however for this walking, minimum two nights acclimatization is required at Leh town.

The nine-storied Palace was neglected for decades; but thanks to conservation measures by Government, the Palace is in a better position. The Palace appears to be a miniature version of Potala Palace at Lhasa (Tibet).

The Palace was built by Sengye Namgyal when he shifted the capital from Basgo to Leh in the seventeenth century. Different kings of the Namgyal Dynasty continued the construction of the Palace. The material used in the construction of the Palace is stone, mud bricks, poplar wood, mud mortar, and wooden rafts.

I hereby share my photographs of the Palace and surroundings shot over a span of nearly a decade. Photographs have been mixed and they are not in chronological order.

From Leh market, Leh Palace can be seen on a hill in the following early morning photograph:

From Leh market, mosque and Palace can be seen in a single sight.

If we walk from the Leh market, we come across Buddhist religious sculpture, and building.

 

 

We also come across old buildings.

Early morning view of Leh City and Leh Palace is mesmerizing.

Early morning photographs of exteriors of Leh Palace stand out for their clarity due to clear weather at that time.

Near the Palace entrance, there is Soma Gompa built after Dogra rule by Lama Tashi Thampa of Stakna Gompa. Gompa / Gonpa is a Buddhist word for monastery.

 

The following view of the Palace gate is possible only if walk to the Palace from market.

Before exploring interiors of the Palace, I hereby share some photographs of exteriors of the Palace and the path to the Palace.

The walking way from the Leh market to the Palace is slippery at a few places and steps are available at other places.

Before arriving at the main gate of the Palace, we come across many structures, signboards, and breath-taking views of Leh town.

Old Buddhist religious structures were made of mud and stone; hence, they need maintenance.

Tall Fort walls look majestic when viewed from close quarters.

Shanti Stupa (white colour) is visible on a hill.

Chandazik Gompa is another gompa near the Palace. It is said to predate the Leh Palace.

I share last few photographs of the Palace exteriors before entering the Palace.

Leh panoramic landscape is fantastic from the steps of the Palace.

Interiors of the Palace were dark; hence, only a few photographs could be taken.

Old priceless idols were in the Palace temple.

Many masks are at display. They might have been used during religious dances performed by Buddhist monks.

There are stairs to go to the next floor / terrace.

Ruins and surviving portion of Tsemo Castle and Gompa are visible from the Palace terrace.

The Palace has various rooms at various levels.

The central courtyard shows the past and lost grandeur of the Palace.

The Palace had wooden pillars and beams.

Small windows protect the interiors from cold weather.

Following photograph shows entrance to a shrine within Palace; it appears that cement concrete is being used instead of traditional Ladakhi materials.

I tried to reach out everywhere a tourist was permitted to visit. At last, it was time to say goodbye to the Palace after appreciating its tall walls.