Mesmerizing Ladakh – Part 5: Shey Monastery & Palace

The Shey Monastery and the Shey Palace complex are located on a hillock in Shey village 15 km south of Leh on the Leh-Manali road. Built in 1655 by King Deldan Namgyal, the palace is mostly in ruins now. The Shey monastery was also built in 1655 on his instructions in memory of his father Singay Namgyal, within the palace complex.

The monastery is noted for its giant copper with gilded gold statue of a seated Shakyamuni Buddha. But unfortunately we could not see the statue as the Gompa was closed at the time when we were there.

Towards the Shey Monastery and Palace
Towards the Shey Monastery and Palace
The Shey Monastery and Palace
The Shey Monastery and Palace
The Shey Monastery and Palace
The Shey Monastery and Palace
The Shey Monastery and Palace
The Shey Monastery and Palace
The Shey Monastery and Palace
The Shey Monastery and Palace
The Shey Monastery and Palace, the details
The Shey Monastery and Palace, the details
The prayer wheel and the shrine which was closed
The prayer wheel and the shrine which was closed
The stupa at the top
The stupa at the top
Ruins all around
Ruins all around
View from the top
View from the top
View from the top
View from the top
Ruins all around
Ruins all around
View from top
View from top
More ruins
More ruins
More ruins
More ruins
View from top
View from top
View from top
View from top

From the palace grounds one can have a distant view of the Druk White Lotus School locally known as Druk Padma Karpo School (Karpo means White and Padma means Lotus in the local language Bodhi). This school has become famous after few scenes of the Bollywood film “Three Idiots” were shot there.

View from top, you can see the Druk White Lotus School at the back
View from top, you can see the Druk White Lotus School at the back

9 thoughts on “Mesmerizing Ladakh – Part 5: Shey Monastery & Palace”

  1. No doubt those doors are often closed in troubled times. Thank you for showing us these places we may never visit in person or know about except for you. Your knowledge of the history of these places is valuable and appreciated. Many thanks!

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