Leh Palace, or Lachen Palkar Palace, was the royal residence of the royal family. King Sengge Namgyal built the palace in 1600. The building is a nine-storey architectural marvel because it was built on a cliff using stones, mud bricks, juniper and willow wood. The construction is such that there were no vertical cracks in the structure. The Leh Palace was the tallest building in the world at the time of its construction.

The structure sits on a cliff overlooking Leh and resembles the Potala Palace in Lhasa. It was the royal residence until the 19th century when the Dogras attacked and forced the royal family to leave and move to the Stok Palace. However, due to neglect, the Leh palace has lost its grandeur. But the Archaeological Survey of India has started renovations and restoration of Leh Palace.

TIMINGS:- Leh Palace is open from 8 am to 5 pm from Monday to Sunday.

TICKETS:- For Indians and citizens of the SAARC, a ticket costs Rs.25. For foreigners, it is Rs. 300. Free entry for 7-14 years.

THE STRUCTURE

The palace has nine storeys, each serving a different purpose. The lower levels were stables and storage rooms. The Lion Gate (Singe-Sgo) is on the second level and is currently a museum. The cultural and social activities took place on the fourth floor. The fifth level was for people who wanted an audience with the King. The royal family resided on the sixth floor, whereas the King’s residence was on the seventh floor. There are several rooms on the eighth floor for various activities, and the ninth level houses the royal shrine of the deity who protected the royal family.

The eighth floor offers aerial views of the city. There is a royal shrine on the fourth level. You can visit the shrine and pay your respects. Most of the floors are now a museum with pictures, maps and the history of Leh.

IS LEH PALACE WORTH VISITING?

But the question remains. Whether Leh Palace is worth visiting? Well, I would say skip it. Due to restoration and repairs, the palace is almost empty, and many parts are closed to the public. Maybe after the restoration is complete, they might open more sections. Aside from the shrine and the few photos, there’s not much to see in the palace. It took me 20 minutes to walk around the building.

There are more beautiful monasteries around Leh that you can visit. If you are short on time, definitely skip Leh Palace. But if you are determined to cover every attraction in Leh, visit Leh Palace. The best time to visit is in the morning when the crowds haven’t arrived and in the evening, to watch a beautiful sunset. However, it is a favourite sunset point and gets overcrowded in the evenings. Leh has other attractions. Want to know what they are? Head to my “Places to visit in Leh” guide.

I had heard so much about Leh Palace. So many reviews and people sang praises about this magnificent place. But I was disappointed. I thought it would take an hour or two to explore the 100 rooms. But I was out within 20 minutes. Maybe it was due to the restorations that I couldn’t enjoy the beautiful palace. I don’t know. The only good thing about my visit was the views of Leh. You can see the Shanti stupa in the distance, the market and the city.

The Leh Palace was once a beautiful and mighty structure. The restoration and renovations are slowly restoring the palace to its former glory. To conclude, whether the Leh Palace is worth visiting or not, you can skip it if you are short of time. If time permits, visit the palace to catch a beautiful sunset.