Thiksey Monastery

Thiksey Monastery is a Gelugpa Buddhist monastery about 19 km southeast of Leh in Ladakh, rising in tiers of white and red buildings up a hill above the Indus valley. Thiksey Monastery is often compared to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, and it is one of the largest and most photographed monasteries in Ladakh.

Thiksey Monastery was founded in the 15th century and belongs to the Gelugpa school, the order of the Dalai Lama. It is home to a large community of monks, with a school for young novices. Its best-known treasure is a 15-metre seated statue of Maitreya, the Future Buddha, the largest in Ladakh, which fills two storeys of a temple built to mark the 14th Dalai Lama's visit in 1970. The monastery has several prayer halls with murals, a small museum and a rooftop with wide views over the Indus valley, Shey and Stok. Arriving at dawn allows visitors to hear the monks' morning prayers, announced by horns blown from the roof.

What to see

• The 15-metre Maitreya Buddha in the Maitreya temple
• Morning prayers in the main assembly hall, from about 6am
• Murals and thangkas in the older temples
• The small museum of statues and ritual objects
• The rooftop view over the Indus valley

What to wear

Thiksey Monastery is an active monastery, so cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes before entering prayer halls, and do not touch statues or walk in front of praying monks. Mornings are cold, even in summer, so bring a warm layer for the early prayers. There are many steps, so wear shoes that slip on and off easily. The Ladakhi goncha, a long woollen robe tied with a sash, is often worn by local families visiting the monastery.

Local food to try

The monastery has a small cafe near the car park serving tea, snacks and simple meals. Try Ladakhi and Tibetan staples such as thukpa noodle soup, momos, skyu and salty butter tea, which the monks drink during prayers. Food here is vegetarian. Leh, 19 km away, has a wide choice of cafes and restaurants.

Good to know

• Best from May to October; arrive around 6am for morning prayers
• Open daily, morning to evening
• Small entry fee payable at the gate
• Allow 1 to 1.5 hours
• About 19 km from Leh, 30 to 40 minutes by road
• Flash photography is not allowed inside the temples

Nearby places

Thiksey Monastery is usually combined with Shey Palace, 4 km away, and Hemis Monastery, about 25 km south, on the same day. It is also on the road to Pangong Lake.