Leh Palace

2467 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

4/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

2011

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Husband

Reasons for trip

Leh Palace can be reached by walking up through the old town or else by road which winds round the edge of the town and climbs up through desert scenery to the Palace. There are splendid views down on Leh from the Palace. The Palace is surrounded by small Lkakhangs and the newly restored Government Minister’s House.

The Palace is 9 storeys high and dominates Leh.

It was built by King Sengge Namgyal in the early 17thC. The upper floors accommodated the royal family, with stables and store rooms on lower floors. It was abandoned in the mid 19thC when Dogra forces took control of Ladakh and the royal family moved to Stok.

The massive walls taper inwards slightly to improve stability. The lower part of the walls is built of dressed stone blocks with horizontal beams of poplar to give strength. Above, the walls are made of sun dried mud bricks.

Over the years the Palace has become ruinous but the Archaeological Survey of India has begun to restore parts of the it and have put in new window frames. Local labour is used and there were women carrying 3 heavy stone slabs on their backs up the steps and ramps to where needed.

Inside is a rabbit warren of passageways, stairs and rooms. It would be very easy to get lost. It is very dark with little light. We went into the central Lhakhang with a statue of the Buddha of Compassion, old festival masks, sacred books and wall hangings. We climbed up to the main assembly hall where the King would meet with his ministers. This is a large room with a clerestory window. There are the remains of the original wall paintings which were in poor condition. Unfortunately many have graffiti scrawled over them, which is one of the few times we saw graffiti. There was an exhibition in the room showing before and after pictures of restoration work done by the the Archaeological Survey of India.

Our pictures of Leh Palace begin here

Silver Travel Advisor

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.