Shey Palace and Monastery

Shey Palace and Monastery stand on a hill above the Indus valley about 15 km southeast of Leh in Ladakh. Shey was the old royal capital of Ladakh and later a summer palace of the Namgyal kings, and Shey Palace is best known today for its great seated copper-gilt statue of the Shakyamuni Buddha.

Shey was the seat of Ladakh's early rulers long before the capital moved to Leh in the 17th century, and ruined walls, chortens and a fort are still scattered along the ridge. The palace temple and its giant Buddha were built in the 17th century by King Deldan Namgyal, the son of Sengge Namgyal, in memory of his father. The copper-gilt Shakyamuni Buddha is one of the largest statues of its kind in Ladakh and rises through several floors of the temple. Below the hill, the Shey fields and willow groves are among the greenest in the Indus valley, and nearby the Sindhu Ghat hosts the Sindhu Darshan festival each June.

What to see

• The seated copper-gilt Shakyamuni Buddha, rising through several floors
• Murals in the palace temple and the main hall
• The ruined fort and chortens along the ridge
• Rock carvings of the Buddha near the foot of the hill
• Views over green fields and the Indus

What to wear

Shey is an active temple, so dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, remove shoes before entering and walk clockwise inside. The climb up the hill is short but steep and rocky, so wear good shoes, a sun hat and sunglasses, and bring a light jacket for the wind. Ladakh's traditional goncha, a long woollen robe tied with a sash, is still worn by older villagers in Shey.

Local food to try

Small cafes on the highway serve thukpa noodle soup, skyu (a hearty stew of thumb-pressed wheat pasta and vegetables), momos, khambir flatbread with apricot jam, and salty butter tea. Leh, 15 km away, has the widest choice, with vegetarian and halal options.

Good to know

• Best from May to October in the morning
• Open daily, morning to evening
• Small entry fee payable at the gate
• Allow 45 minutes to an hour
• About 15 km from Leh, 25 minutes by road on the Leh to Manali road
• Photography rules vary inside the temple; ask first

Nearby places

Shey Palace combines easily with Thiksey Monastery, 4 km further on, and Hemis Monastery, about 30 km south. Leh Palace is on the way back to Leh.