Shey Palace Ladakh

Shey Palace Ladakh : Shey Palace is a historic royal palace in Ladakh. Shey Palace attracts the attention of tourists towards the rich cultural heritage of Ladakh. This palace served as the residence of the Namgyal dynasty and now this palace is one of the famous tourist places of Ladakh.

शे पैलेस, लद्दाख | Shey Palace in Hindi, Ladakh

Namgyal Dynasty – Shey Palace Ladakh

The Namgyal dynasty ruled Ladakh from the 15th century to approximately the 19th century. The Namgyal dynasty was actually established in Ladakh by Prince Bhagan of Tibet. Buddhism spread in Ladakh during his rule. Leh Palace located in Leh is another main palace built by the Namgyal dynasty which is a major tourist attraction of Leh.

Shey Namak village had been an important part of the Namgyal dynasty’s kingdom. Shey Palace was a royal residence for the dynasty and an important place as a political and administrative centre.

With time, the royal family made its main residence in Leh and Shey Palace began to be neglected. Due to lack of proper care, the Shey Palace structure gradually started deteriorating. However, restoration work on the Shey Palace is being carried out to a great extent.

History – Shey Palace Ladakh

Shey Palace was built by King Deldan Namgyal. He was the king of Ladakh in the 17th century and chose this place as his summer capital. King Deldan Namgyal was a follower of Buddhism and was a religious person. He built Shey Monastery in the complex at Shey Palace.

The Namgyal dynasty has made a major contribution in making Buddhism effective in Ladakh. He built the monastery in Shay Palace to promote Buddhism. She Mahal once became the center of political and religious governance.

Architecture – Shey Palace Ladakh

The architecture of Shey Palace is a mix of Ladakhi and Tibetan styles. The influence of Buddhist art and culture can be seen on the architecture of the palace. The palace is built of stone and wood as is often the case in hilly areas. Leh Palace is also made of wood and stone in a similar manner.

The walls of the palace are decorated with artworks influenced by Buddhism. In these, many incidents related to Lord Buddha and his life have been shown in artistic form. Shey Palace is also known as Shey Monastery or Shey Gompa.

This palace is situated on a hill in Shey village. From here one can see beautiful views of the Himalayas and the Indus River flowing on one side. The outer walls of the palace were kept white. This entire scene looks as beautiful as a painting.

The monastery located in the palace houses a 3-storey statue of the seated Shakyamuni Buddha. This statue is one of the largest statues in Ladakh. The roof of the palace is flat which helps in maintaining the temperature inside the palace during heavy snowfall during winter. The windows and doors of the palace have carving work done on wooden frames.

The palace has a large courtyard in the middle which is a central part of Tibetan architecture. This courtyard was used for ceremonies and meetings etc.

Attractions – Shey Palace Ladakh

Shey Palace is a popular tourist attraction in Ladakh. For those interested in history, this palace gives an opportunity to peep into the history of Ladakh and introduces them to the art, culture and traditions of this place.

Ladakh has been greatly influenced by Buddhism and that is why the architecture and way of life here is quite different from the rest of India. Shey Palace gives a glimpse of that architecture and way of life.

She Monastery is an important religious and cultural place. The three-storey tall statue of Shakyamuni Buddha inside this monastery surprises the tourists. The monastery has a completely peaceful environment for meditation which is very difficult to find anywhere these days.

Attending the annual She Du Lhu Festival held here is a special experience. This festival is usually celebrated in the month of August. Mask dance, local music and other cultural activities are performed in it. In Buddhism, light is considered a symbol of enlightenment. Light removes the darkness of ignorance and that is why devotees often offer oil in Buddhist monasteries. Hundreds of oil bottles can be seen outside Shey Monastery.

From the palace one can see the beautiful view of Indus Valley and Stok Kangri mountains. The palace and its surrounding scenes are very much liked by the tourists and especially those who are fond of photography. A beautiful view of sunset and sunrise can be seen from the palace.

You can buy Ladakhi traditional art items in the local market near Shey Palace and keep some memories of your Ladakh trip at home forever.

Best time to Visit -Shey Palace Ladakh

When to go to Ladakh completely depends on the choice of the tourists. The temperature becomes very low and there is severe cold. Some roads also get closed due to snowfall. In such a situation, tourists prefer to come here in summer.

If you want to attend the religious festivals organized here then you can plan your trip in the month of August.

How to reach – Shey Palace Ladakh

The easiest way to reach Shey Palace is by taxi or by driving your own bike or car. Taxis are easily available in Leh city. The drive from Leh to Shey village is only 15 kilometers and the road is also in good condition. It may take approximately 30 to 40 minutes to cover this distance.

Public transport buses can also be taken from Leh to Shey.

If you like cycling, you can rent a bicycle in Leh and ride to Shey. Tourists often go on group bicycle tours here.

How to reach Leh

Leh city is the capital of Ladakh and is easily accessible by road. Often people come here on bike tours from far away parts of the country.

If you are traveling by flight then Leh is well connected to all the main cities of the country. You can reach here by direct flight from Delhi, Mumbai and other big cities.