Leh Palace

Leh Palace is a nine-storey former royal palace of mud brick, stone and timber that stands on Namgyal Hill above the old town of Leh, Ladakh. Leh Palace was built in the 17th century by King Sengge Namgyal, the most powerful of the Namgyal kings, and its sloping walls follow the style of the Potala Palace in Lhasa on a smaller scale.

The royal family lived in Leh Palace until the Dogra forces of Jammu took over Ladakh in the 1830s, when they moved to Stok Palace across the Indus. The building was then left empty for well over a century and began to crumble. The Archaeological Survey of India has restored much of it, and it now stands as a protected monument. The interiors are largely bare, with a small prayer room and a few displays, so the reason to climb up is the building itself and the view from the roof over the old town, the green Indus valley and the Stok range beyond.

What to see

• The layered facade, best seen from the Main Bazaar below
• Timber balconies and carved window frames on the upper floors
• The rooftop view over old Leh to the Stok Kangri range
• The mud-brick lanes of Leh old town on the walk up
• Namgyal Tsemo Gompa and the old fort on the peak above

What to wear

At 3,500 metres the sun is strong and the wind cool, so wear a sun hat, sunglasses and a light jacket, adding warm layers in spring and autumn. The walk up is steep and uneven with dark stairs inside, so wear shoes with good grip and carry a small torch. There is no formal dress code, but modest clothing suits the old town. Ladakhi people traditionally wear the goncha, a long woollen robe tied with a bright sash.

Local food to try

The old town and the Main Bazaar below Leh Palace are full of cafes and small Tibetan and Ladakhi kitchens. Try thukpa noodle soup, skyu (a hearty stew of thumb-pressed wheat pasta and vegetables), momos, khambir flatbread with apricot jam, and salty butter tea. Many places also serve sea buckthorn juice, a tart local berry. Vegetarian food is easy to find; for halal meat, look to the Muslim eateries near the Jama Masjid at the head of the bazaar.

Good to know

• Best from May to September; early morning or late afternoon light is best
• Open daily in daylight hours
• Entry ticket, with a higher rate for foreign visitors
• Allow about an hour, plus time for the walk up
• About 1 km above the Main Bazaar, reached on foot or by road
• Take the climb slowly on your first days at altitude

Nearby places

Leh Palace looks down on Leh Main Bazaar and the Soma Gompa, both a short walk below. For sunset, head across town to Shanti Stupa.