Located at the crowning point of Tsemo Hill, the Leh Palace which is also known as Lhachen Palkhar was home to the royal family of Leh. This ancient monument was constructed in the 17th century. The royal Leh palace was amongst the tallest structures built with 9 storeys during its heydays.
Leh Palace Overview
Considered as one of the most popular spots for attracting tourists, the royal Leh Palace is located in Leh, the capital of the Ladakh region of J&K. This ancient property holds a phenomenal aura within itself, and this is the factor that drives tourists to visit this place. Erected in the 17th Century, Namgyal Dynasty initiated the construction, which was later resumed by Tsewang Namgyal. However, Sengge Namgyal was the man who completed its construction.
The Leh Palace in Ladakh was constructed keeping in mind the royal family’s residence but things went haywire when Zoravar Singh Kahluria invaded the property and captured it. Despite being subject to multiple wars and decades of unrest, this marvelous structure somehow managed to keep its splendor alive, leaving everyone surprised!
The complex of the palace is of nine storeys and back in the glory days, each of them served a different purpose. Potala Palace of Lhasa was the inspiration behind the architecture of this property and therefore it reflects a fine artwork of the Tibetan architecture’s medieval period. One of the interesting things to note here is that the palace looks more imposing if seen from a distance during the night. Stunning panoramic views could be enjoyed of the lively town below & also the Stok Kangri mountains bowing down in their majesty.
For all the history lovers, this beautiful palace holds another treat. There’s a museum inside the property, compiling great artifacts which shed light on the region’s culture and history. The crown, jewelry and multiple 450-year-old paintings have all been displayed. The sad part is that photography is strictly prohibited inside this mesmerizing property so all you can do is, capture the remnants in your eyes.
Note: You can explore this amazing palace along with exploring Leh on a bike trip as well. One of the most popular road trips to Leh is the Manali to Leh bike trip!
Essential Information about Leh Palace
Best time for visiting:
Leh Palace gives the best views during summers. The best time to visit this ancient property is during the warm months of May and June. This is because you get to witness breathtaking views of landscapes and clear skies. On top of it, the months of September & October which bring the post-monsoon weather are also good for visiting this grand palace.
Visiting Hours:
The Royal Palace of Leh is open to tourists between 7 am to 4 pm, seven days a week.
Entry Fee:
Indian tourists are required to pay INR 15 per head whereas, for foreigners, the amount charged is INR 100 per head.
Altitude:
The breathtaking Leh Palace is located at an altitude of 17582 feet.
Distance between Leh & Leh Palace:
The distance of Leh Palace from Leh city center is 2.2 km.
How to reach Leh Airport?
Leh Royal Palace is at a distance of 4.5 km from Leh Airport and can be reached by road. Hiring a taxi to reach Leh Palace from the airport can be easily done.
History of Leh Palace
Leh Palace, located in the capital of Ladhak is the union territory’s magical realm and its history has a lot to offer. The man who laid down the foundation of this stunning palace in 1553 was Tsewang Namgyal who founded the Namgyal Dynasty. But the construction was later resumed and completed by Sengge Namgyal who ruled Ladakh in the 17th Century.
The huge, nine-storeyed palace was constructed by the royal family for inhabitation. The lower floors of the Leh Palace were used as storerooms and stables while the upper floors were clearly reserved for the members of the royal family. The palace prospered and witnessed glory under the rule of Sengge Namgyal. Unfortunately, in the middle of the 19th Century, the Dogra forces invaded the region and the Royal Palace was captured by them, which forced the royal family to flee.
The Royal family had to be shifted to Stok Palace and the Palace was left in the hands of General Zorawar Singh & Dogra’s dynasty force for some time, waiting for a very different fate.
Conquering the distant regions of Baltistan and Tibet, the forces who were the inhabitants of the palace left it abandoned with nobody to claim it.
The Architecture of Leh Palace
Leh Palace was initially built with the Potala Palace of Lhasa for its model structure design. The architectural construction of the palace was done in Medieval Tibetan which is considered to be the top-most illustration of the architecture of India. It is because of the same reason that it makes it emerge to be modest & grand simultaneously.
The formation of the palace is as dignified as possible because of its simplicity. Unlike other palaces, it does not involve typical ornaments such as glasswork & colorful patterns. The idea behind the construction of the palace was to serve the royal family with a residence, with a little touch of nobility to it.
When the construction of Leh Palace was done, it was considered to be the tallest building on the globe. The complex consists of 9 stories which make it look magnificent when seen from a lower angle. The royal family occupied the upper stories of the complex which is why the complex is noted to be significant.
On the other hand, the lower storeys were restrained as stable & storerooms. In case you are willing to witness the complex in its majesty, then it is best suggested to look at the structure after sunset from afar as its appearance at that time is illuminated by golden lights.
Other Essential Information about Leh Palace:
Mobile Connectivity:
Mobile connectivity isn’t an issue at the Royal Leh Palace as the property is situated in the capital of Ladakh. Still, it is to be noted that prepaid sims which are issued in other states of India, do not function in Jammu and Kashmir. So, the only way to get mobile connectivity is by issuing a prepaid sim in J&K or if you have a postpaid sim.
Medical Facilities:
There are almost no medical facilities at the Royal Leh Palace. But, keeping in mind that the palace is just at a distance of 2.4 km from Leh City Center, you’re not away from medical ailment while you’re in the palace. There are multiple options in Leh, including the well-equipped SNM Hospital.
ATMs:
There are numerous ATMs in the town as the Leh Royal Palace is situated in the capital of Ladakh. Therefore, a shortage of cash won’t be an issue in your tour to Leh-Ladakh.
Petrol Pumps:
There’s a gas station in the main town. Besides that, there is another petrol pump in Karu, 35 km from the main town. So, petrol won’t be a concern if you Visit Leh.
Food Joints:
Being the capital of Ladakh, you will find amazing food joints in the main market of Leh. The bustling market has plenty of options to satisfy your hunger.
You may also like to read about :
| State | Monuments |
| Agra | Red Fort Agra |
| Delhi | Red Fort |
| Delhi | Tughlaqabad Fort |
| Agra | Taj Mahal |
| Hyderabad | Golconda Fort |
| Delhi | India Gate |
| Kolkata | Victoria Memorial |
| Kolkata | Marble Place |
| Rameshwaram | Ram Setu |
FAQs
The construction of Leh Palace was initiated in the 16th Century. However, the construction was completed in the 17th Century.
The order to construct the Leh Palace was given by Tsewang Namgyal but the construction of the palace was completed by Sengge Namgyal in the 17th Century.
The architect of the Leh Palace is still unknown. But, the design of the palace is inspired by The Potala Palace of Lhasa and was constructed in the medieval Tibetan architecture. This glorious palace is loved because of its extraordinary architecture by the tourists.
The visiting hours of the Leh Palace are from 7am to 4 pm.
Plan your Ladakh tour as per your preference, as the Leh palace is open all days of the week.
You can find some remarkable tourist spots when in Leh. The places are easy to reach as there are roads connected for each of these places. The places that you can visit are as below: Shanti Stupa Thiksey Monastery General Zorawar Fort Hall of fame Museum Pangong Tso Lake Leh Market Stok Palace
The Leh Palace sits on the Tsome Hill right at the top, while overlooking a pleasant town that is laid down below the place. You can also see Stok Kangri that is clearly visible from the top of the palace i.e., the terrace.
Clicking pictures inside of the palace is strictly not allowed. But, if you want to, you can click the picture of the Leh Palace from the outside. In case, you have the written permission for the same from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), then you can easily take pictures inside the palace as well.
Yes, there is a minimal entry fee that you are supposed to pay when visiting the Leh Palace. The charge for all the Indian citizens is INR 15 per person and for foreigners it is INR 100 per person.
The Leh Palace is known as the Forgotten Monument because of its fate. After the construction, the Leh palace was served to the royal family as residence in the initial stage. However, in the 19th century, as the Dogra forces captured the place, therefore the residents had to leave and get shifted to the Stok Palace. It was captured by the Zorawar Singh forces and inhabited by the same. As Zorawar Singh and his forces also kept conquering other regions such as Baltistan, which is considered to be the palace that was abandoned and never got their permanent residents. As the time passed, the Leh palace lost its prestige & slowly was forgotten by many. But, the beauty of this palace that still stays is that the visitors who have visited the place even once cannot forget it so easily. When was Leh Palace built?
Who built the Leh Palace?
Who was the Architect of Leh Palace?
What are the visiting hours of Leh Palace?
How many days are the visitors allowed to visit the Leh Palace in a week?
Are there any other places to visit around the Palace?
Where is Leh Palace Located?
Are you allowed to click pictures inside the palace?
Is there any charge to be paid to visit The Leh Palace?
Why is Leh Palace called the ‘Forgotten Monument’?
