Geography

Demography

• Jammu
• Ladakh
• Srinagar

Tourist Place in Ladakh

01982

Location:	Jammu & Kashmir, India
Temperature:	Summer: 32°C,24°C: Winter:24°C, 8°C
STD Code:
Best Times:	April to September
Attractions:	Leh Palace. Chamba Temple, Chamba Temple Mahal,Shanti Stupa Temple, Leh Gompa
Language:	Hindi, Urdu, English

Leh Palace counts amongst the popular places to see in Ladakh. This nine-story palace was built in the 17th century. However, because of neglect, the palace now stands mostly in ruins. King Gragspa Bum-Lde built the "Red Gonpa" known as Tsemo Gonpa in 1430 AD. The monument has three-storied Maiterya Buddha's statue and a one-storied statue of Avaloketesvara and Manjushri.

One place definitely worth walking through the putrid smelling puddles to visit, however, is the Chamba temple. It's not easy to find on your own; ask at the second row of shops on the left after the big arch for the key keeper (gonyer), who will show you the way. Hemmed in by dilapidated medieval mansions, the one roomed shrine houses a colossal image of Maitreya, the Buddha to come, and some wonderful old wall paintings.

The Shanti Stupa of Leh was built by a Japanese order and was opened by the Dalai Lama in 1985. From the top, one can view the exotic locales nearby. The stupa is located at a distance of 3 km from the Fort Road and attracts various tourists.

The Leh Gompa stands high above the palace and also overlooks the ruins of the older palace of the King of Tagpebums. The Red Gompa also known as Namgyal Tsemo Gompa was built in 1430 by King Gvags-Pa-Bum-Ide and has a fine three-storey high seated Buddha figure flanked by Avalokitesvara on the right and Manjushri on the left. In all there are three Gompas at the top of the hill, the topmost one is in a very ruined condition but offers extremely fine views over Leh and the surrounding countryside. To the right of the palace one can see a Buddha painted on the rocks, a remnant of an earlier monastery.