Top Places for Art and Cultural Activities in Leh

A trip to Leh cannot be complete without understanding its rich heritage. The art and cultural activities in Leh will give you an insight into the city's history, traditions, and artwork. While visiting the cultural attractions in Leh would prove to be informative, attending its artsy events will leave you entertained. From cultural performances to historical monuments that give you a glimpse of the past, take a look at this list to know Leh better. Include these in attractions in your itinerary for Leh and have a great vacation.

Check the list of top places for art and culture in Leh:

  1. Thiksey Monastery

    4.7 (7028 Votes)
    Thiksey Monastery

    Art And Culture, Religious Site, Landmark, Architecture

    Famous for it’s architecture and location, and also as the location for the Satrangi Re music video from the critically acclaimed movie, Dil Se, the Thiksey Monastery in the Indus valley is renowned for being the largest among all of the gomphas located in the provinces of Ladakh and Leh. Managed by the Gelighpa sect, it’s extensive architecture is said to imitate the style of the Pal...Read more
  2. Leh Palace

    4.3 (6219 Votes)
    Leh Palace

    Palace, Architecture

    A lonely, proud structure, the Leh Palace was built by King Sengge Namgyal of Tibet in the 17th century. Once, it was the world’s highest building; now it’s in abandoned disrepair. It’s nine floors, once exotically furnished and decorated are now a dark maze that you must navigate to reach the top. The upper stories were used as the residence for the royal families and were ex...Read more
  3. Shanti Stupa

    4.7 (6567 Votes)
    Shanti Stupa

    Art And Culture, Religious Site, Architecture

    Twilight is divine from this elevated spot, three miles from Leh. Whether sunrise or sunset, the changing light brings mystic beauty to the panorama of mountains surrounding the Stupa. The striking structure owes its remarkability to both; it’s isolation and its design. It was designed by a Japanese, and thus is greatly different from the orthodox Ladakhi structures. This relatively new S...Read more
  4. Lamayuru Monastery

    4.6 (5332 Votes)
    Lamayuru Monastery

    Religious Site, Monastery

    A hundred and thirty kilometres from Leh, the thousand-year-old Lamayuru Monastery is a famous traditional Tibetan Gompha following Buddhism, and is situated at an altitude of 3500 meters. The land surrounding the monastery is famously known as The Moonscape, as it strikingly resembles lunar landscapes. The monastery is regarded as the first ever monastery following the customary traditions of ...Read more
  5. Hemis Monastery

    Religious Site, Monastery , Festival

    This affluent monastery, the largest in Ladakh, has been around for almost a thousand years, and is only an hour away from Leh by road. It would at times fall into disuse, but King Sengge Namgyain restored it completely in the seventeenth century. The Bropka sects, who are thought to be some of the purest descendants of the original Indo-European stock, manage it. The monastery is particularly ...Read more
  6. Gurudwara Pathar Sahib

    4.8 (609 Votes)
    Gurudwara Pathar Sahib

    Religious Site, Gurudwara

    25 miles west of Leh is a 16th century Gurudwara built to commemorate the visit of Sikh saint and founder of the Sikh religion Guru Nakak to Ladakh. Legend says a demon attacked the saint here with a rock while he was meditating, and upon contact, the rock melted, forming a depression in the shape of the meditating mystic. The rock was discovered by lamas in 1970 during the construction of the ...Read more
  7. Diskit

    Religious Site, Monastery

    The Dishkit is more famously known as the Dishkit Gompa or monastery, precisely situated in the Nubra valley of Leh. The sect of the Gelugpa is followed in the Tibetan monastery under the religion of Tibetan Buddhism. The founder of Dishkit was Changzem Tserab Zangpo, who was a follower of the founder of Gelugpa sect- Tsong Khapa. The interior of the monastery features the idol of the Maitreya ...Read more
  8. Alchi Monastery

    4.5 (188 Votes)
    Alchi Monastery

    Religious Site, Monument, Monastery

    Locals say Buddhist leader Guru Rinchen Zangpo built the monastery in the 11th century, but the monuments record Tibetan Kal-dan Shes-rab doing so in the 12th. This is not any one building but a complex of structures, of which the main ones are: The Dukhang (Assembly and worship hall): See the frescoes of 1000 buddhas in the main passage, the paintings of Buddhas and other divinities, and the ...Read more
  9. Likir Monastery

    4.6 (202 Votes)
    Likir Monastery

    Religious Site, Monastery

    This most well preserved monastery in Likir village was built in 1065 by Lama Duwang Chosje, under the rule of King Lha-chen-rgyal-po. It is said that the monastery is guarded by two serpent spirits: Nanda and Taksako. It is currently home to about 120 monks of the Gelugpa or Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It is the official seat of Ngari Rinpoche, the younger brother of the Dalai Lama. There...Read more
  10. Jama Masjid

    4.5 (5060 Votes)
    Jama Masjid

    Mosque, Religious Site, Historical Site, Architecture

    Over three hundred years old and patronized primarily by the Sunni Muslims, the Jama Masjid of Leh is the largest, and most visited mosque in the region. Carved out of stone, it is revered as a temple of ancient heritage, which once welcomed the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who directed its construction in collaboration with King Deldan Namgyal of Ladakh. This was done as a symbol of the agreement...Read more
  11. Spituk Monastery

    4.5 (137 Votes)
    Spituk Monastery

    Religious Site, Historical Site, Statue, Monastery

    Founded by Od-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od, in the 11th century, this monastery is the home of the Tsonkhapa order of Tibetan Buddhism. It is famous for the giant statue it has of the Goddess Kali. The structure rises on a hill overlooking the Indus river, making for some great views. Getting around the complex involves climbing between terraced landings. Make sure to visit th...Read more
  12. Stakna Monastery

    4.7 (87 Votes)
    Stakna Monastery

    Religious Site, Monastery

    This 16th century Buddhist Monastery was founded by Bhutanese Chosje Jamyang Palkar on a hill shaped like a ‘tiger’s nose.’ Incidentally, that’s exactly what Stakna means. About 30 monks of the Dugpa sect live here. The highlight of the monastery is the Avalokitesvara statue from Kamrup, Assam. Also of note are the walls of the Dukhang (main prayer hall), which are adorn...Read more
  13. Basgo Monastery

    4.5 (67 Votes)
    Basgo Monastery

    Religious Site, Historical Site, Monastery

    Though the temple itself was only built in the second half of the 17th century, the Basgo area has been culturally significant for hundreds of years and even longer. The town is now in ruins, and only the monastery remains looking over it. Technically the structure was built as a mud fortress by Namgyal rulers to protect against invaders. Highlights of the monastery are the huge statue Golden M...Read more
  14. Shey Monastery

    4.4 (84 Votes)
    Shey Monastery

    Religious Site, Monastery

    Shey Monastery or Gompa are the structures which are located on a hillock in Shey. The monastery was built in 1655 by Deldan Namgyal to commemorate the work of his father Singye Namgyal. In this monastery, you will be enchanted by the gilded golden statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. The statue is claimed to be the second largest statue in Ladakh. The surrounding walls of the Buddha’s statue dis...Read more
  15. Namgyal Tsemo Gompa

    4.6 (35 Votes)
    Namgyal Tsemo Gompa

    Religious Site, Temple, Monastery

    Namgyal Tsemo Monastery is popularly known as Namgyal Tsemo Gompa which is a renowned Buddhist Monastery of Northern India. The monastery was founded by King Tashi Namgyal in 1430 and it features a three storied gold statue of Maitreya Buddha. The gompa includes an assembly hall and a large temple displaying frescoes, paintings, scriptures, and several idols of Buddha. In this monastery, you wi...Read more