Thiksey Monastery crowning a hill above green trees, with mountains and clouds behind

Mountain · Leh, Ladakh

Leh and Ladakh

High-altitude Buddhist monasteries and the blue waters of Pangong Tso in India's trans-Himalaya

Ambient sound · similar settingStrong wind in open country

Photo: Satyadev Hirani (@nomadpixel) / Unsplash

Discover Leh and Ladakh

Ladakh is a high, dry land of bare brown mountains, green oases and whitewashed monasteries, lying beyond the main Himalayan range. Its capital, Leh, sits at around 3,500 metres beneath the old royal palace and makes the natural base for exploring the region.

A short drive up the Indus Valley brings you to Thiksey Monastery, a cluster of white and red buildings stacked up a hillside, often compared to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Further east, beyond the Chang La pass, lies Pangong Tso, a long, narrow lake at about 4,350 metres whose water changes from turquoise to deep blue with the light. Between these landmarks are prayer flags, chortens, apricot orchards and villages where Ladakhi Buddhist traditions remain strong. Altitude, permits and seasonal roads all need planning, but the rewards are extraordinary.

Don’t miss

01Thiksey Monastery, a Gelugpa monastery rising in tiers above the Indus Valley
02The 15-metre Maitreya Buddha statue inside Thiksey's Maitreya temple
03Pangong Tso, a high-altitude lake at about 4,350 m reached via the Chang La pass
04Leh Palace, the seventeenth-century royal palace overlooking Leh
05Early morning prayers with the monks at Thiksey

History & culture

The story of Leh and Ladakh

Ladakh was for centuries an independent Himalayan kingdom on trade routes linking Tibet, Central Asia and Kashmir. Leh Palace was built in the seventeenth century by King Sengge Namgyal. Tibetan Buddhism shaped the region's culture, and its monasteries remain centres of learning and ritual.

Thiksey Monastery, of the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat order, dates from the fifteenth century and sits about 19 km east of Leh. Its Maitreya temple, built to mark the Dalai Lama's visit in 1970, houses a 15-metre statue of the future Buddha. Pangong Tso stretches across the Line of Actual Control, with roughly a third of its length on the Indian side.

Local life & traditions

Ladakhi life follows the short growing season and the Buddhist calendar. Villagers farm barley and apricots, monasteries hold masked dance festivals, and prayer wheels, chortens and prayer flags mark every settlement. Walk clockwise around chortens and prayer wheels, ask before photographing monks or people at prayer, and dress modestly in monasteries. Leh also has a long-established Muslim community and mosques in the old town.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Spend your first days in Leh resting and acclimatising, with gentle walks through the old town, up to Leh Palace and to the viewpoints above town. Then visit the Indus Valley monasteries, starting with Thiksey; arriving early lets you hear the monks' morning prayers and see the valley in soft light.

Pangong Tso is usually visited as a long day trip or, more comfortably, with an overnight stay in a lakeside camp or guesthouse, crossing the Chang La pass on the way. Other classic trips include the Nubra Valley over the Khardung La and monastery festivals such as Thiksey's annual Gustor.

When to go

The main season runs from May to September, when the roads from Manali and Srinagar are open, monasteries are lively and the weather is generally dry and sunny. July and August are the warmest months. Nights are cold even in summer, especially at Pangong Tso, and the sun is intense at altitude. Winters are severe; Pangong Tso freezes completely, and road access is limited, though flights still reach Leh.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Thiksey Monastery: About 19 km east of Leh on a hilltop in the Indus Valley; a Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) monastery with a 15-metre Maitreya Buddha statue. Source: tourism.ladakh.gov.in ↗
Pangong Tso: A lake at about 4,350 m reached via the Chang La pass; it freezes completely in winter. Source: tourism.ladakh.gov.in ↗
Permits for foreign nationals: Restricted parts of Ladakh fall under the Protected Area Permit (PAP) and Restricted Area Permit framework. In August 2026 the Ladakh administration was reviewing this framework (including a possible single PAP); check current rules before travel. Source: ladakh.gov.in ↗
Roads: The Leh-Manali and Srinagar-Leh roads open only seasonally; Leh is served year-round by flights from Delhi to Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport. Source: en.wikipedia.org ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Rest for at least the first 24 to 48 hours in Leh to acclimatise, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol early in your trip.
Check permit requirements for Pangong Tso and other border areas with the Ladakh administration or a registered local agent before you travel; rules for Indian and foreign visitors differ and have changed in recent years.
Carry several copies of your passport or ID; they may be checked at police checkpoints.
Bring warm layers, sunscreen and sunglasses; the sun is strong and nights are cold at altitude.
Walk clockwise around chortens and prayer wheels, and ask before photographing monks.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Leh and Ladakh: food, markets & places to stay

Leh's main bazaar and old town have cafes, restaurants, bakeries and shops selling Tibetan and Ladakhi crafts, and most guesthouses and hotels are in and around the town. Shey Palace, Stok Palace and Hemis Monastery are within easy reach along the Indus Valley. Taxis are usually hired through the local taxi union for trips to Thiksey, Pangong Tso and Nubra. Leh airport has daily flights from Delhi.

Where Leh and Ladakh is

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