Leh Palace Ladakh : Leh Palace in Ladakh, is an example of the rich history and splendor of the state of Ladakh. Leh Palace is called Lhachen Palkhar. Leh Palace, as the name suggests, is situated atop a hill in the city of Leh, the capital of Ladakh. A very beautiful view of Leh city and surrounding areas can be seen from Leh Palace.
लेह पैलेस लद्दाख | Leh Palace in Hindi
Namgyal Dynasty – Leh Palace Ladakh
Leh Palace was built by the Namgyal rulers. The Namgyal dynasty was founded by Prince Bhagan of Tibet in the early 16th century. Buddhism had a great influence in Ladakh due to the influence of the Namgyal dynasty and had a lasting impact on the Ladakh region.
The Namgyal dynasty built monasteries and spread Buddhist teachings in Ladakh during their rule. During the same period, Leh Palace was also constructed in the 17th century. During their rule, the Namgyal dynasty had to fight continuously with states like Baltistan and Kashmir and finally in the 19th century, Ladakh came under the control of the Dogra rulers of Jammu and Kashmir and with this, the Namgyal dynasty came to an end in Ladakh.
Leh Palace is an important heritage of the Namgyal dynasty. The Namgyal dynasty is credited with the rich history and culture of Ladakh.
History – Leh Palace Ladakh
Leh Palace was built in the 17th century by King Sengge Namgyal of the Namgyal dynasty. Leh Palace used to be the royal palace of the Namgyal dynasty. Leh Palace, built in Tibetan style, is a main tourist place in Leh city of Ladakh. This palace effectively shows the history and culture of Ladakh and the influence of Buddhism on it.
Architecture – Leh Palace Ladakh
Leh Palace is a nine-storey high palace made of stone and wood. In hilly areas, houses are often built using similar materials. Leh Palace is a fine example of Tibetan architecture. The Leh Palace has wooden carvings, decorated balconies and windows. The central part of the palace contains the royal halls and many rooms of the palace have been used as granaries, kitchens and temples.
The architecture of Leh Palace is such that the temperature inside the palace always remains comfortable. In hilly areas, special care is taken to ensure that the temperature inside the house does not become too cold in winter and that is why the architecture there is different from the architecture of other places. The same technique can also be seen in the architecture of Leh Palace.
The palace has been built by dividing it into several levels. The upper floors were used for living the king’s family and the lower floors were used for stables and granaries. Tibetan style paintings can be seen in Leh Palace. These paintings show Buddhist aspects.
Museum – Leh Palace Ladakh
The Leh Palace houses a collection of thangkas, traditional clothing, jewelry and historical artefacts. A museum has been set up in a part of the palace which houses a collection of historical artefacts, thangkas (Tibetan Buddhist paintings) and other objects of cultural and historical importance related to Ladakh and the Namgyal dynasty. Tourism in Ladakh is increasing day by day and the Palace has now become a main tourist attraction. Tourists come here not only from India but from all over the world. From the terrace of the palace, one can see a beautiful view of Leh city, Stok Kangri range and Kangri peak.
Attractions for Tourists – Leh palace Ladakh
Some parts of the Leh Palace are in a dilapidated condition but are currently being maintained and renovated. Leh Palace is the cultural mirror of Ladakh and Leh city and here one gets to know many aspects related to the history of Ladakh which are not known to most of the people.
Leh Palace is open for tourists. The museum of the Palace is its special attraction. From the topmost part of the palace, you can see a beautiful view of Stok Kangra Chhoti and a beautiful view of Leh city can also be seen from here. Everyone likes the location of the palace and the beauty inside.
A beautiful view of sunrise and sunset can be seen from Leh Palace. Watching sunset and sunrise from here is a unique experience.
Timings – Leh Palace Ladakh
Leh Palace is open from 7 am to 4 pm. One needs 2 hours to see and understand the palace properly. The ticket for entry into the palace is Rs 100. To see Leh Palace one should come in the morning during sunrise or in the evening during sunset.
How to reach – Leh palace Ladakh
Leh Palace is located at a distance of about 1 kilometer from the Main Market in the city of Leh, the capital of Ladakh. You can reach the gate of Leh Palace by taxi or bike or by walking from the market.
Leh is a well-known location on the tourism map and the city is easily accessible by road and flight. The nearest railway station to Leh is Jammu Tawi station from where the distance to Leh is about 680 kilometers. From Jammu Tawi, Leh can be reached through motorable road network.
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