Main Info
Leh Palace
The Leh Palace, additionally called ‘Lhachen Palkhar’ is one amongst the foremost traditionally wealthyedifices which will be found within the country and is found within the breathtakingly stunning Jammu and Kashmir, within the city of Leh in Asian nation. This grand structure was inbuilt the seventeenth century by King Sengge Namgyal as a royal palace, and also the King and his family were the previous residents of the majestic mansion. The Leh Palace is additionally one {in all|one amongst|one in every of} the tallest buildings of its time with 9 stories in all, and offers marvellous broad views of the whole city of Leh, further as of the Stok Kangri and Zanskar mountains of the mighty chain ranges, thereby giving the palace a strategic position.
Sunrises and sunsets ar very stunning and charming scenes once viewed from the highest of the Leh Palace,. The palace appearance even additional beautiful once it’s lighted upon sure special occasions, like Galdam Namchot competition once natives gather round the palace to celebrate the local competition.
Even though a substantial a part of the Leh Palace is currently in ruins thanks to the Kashmiri invasion thatmaterialized within the nineteenth century, the stately palace continues to stay a shocking place to explore.the sweetness of the Leh Palace still stands in pride with a great deal of ancient Buddha relics, paintings,previous utensils, cutlery utilized by the royalty and artefacts adorning the walls of the palace. The majestic palace is presently beneath the anthropology Survey of Asian nation, that is functioning on renovating the traditional structures of that era and nisus to stay intact the history of the Namgyal family line in Leh.
Leh Palace Museum
The Leh Palace is sadly now in ruins, but a few small rooms and corridors still exist. The more substantial rooms and compartments have been turned into exhibition halls, and the museum is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Leh Palace Museum holds a rich collection of utensils that were used by the royal family, ceremonial dresses, jewellery, ornaments and crowns. Chinese thangka or sooth paintings with intricate designs, which date back to more than 450 years, are undoubtedly one of the best-preserved artefacts in the museum. The bright colours used in the paintings had been derived from crushed and powdered gems and stones, and are intact up to this date.
Architecture of Leh Palace
The Leh Palace is a magnificent example of the Tibetan architecture and attracts tourists from all across the globe, who cannot help but marvel at the grandeur and elegance of this antique structure. Even though the size of the Leh Palace is smaller, it closely resembles the Patola Palace of Lhasa. Huge buttressed walls and jutted out wooden balconies are characteristic features of this architectural style.
The structure is entirely made up the hard bricks, mud, wood and sand. The unique style of construction allows the palace to illuminate itself naturally during the day. Also, the material used is such that the temperature inside remains soothing and pleasant. The entrance to the palace is adorned with intricate wood-carved figurines.
The exquisite Leh Palace is nine stories high, and the topmost floor of the palace is called the Victory Tower since it offers a bird’s eye view of the entire Leh town as well as the Himalayan ranges. The Victory Tower was constructed to commemorate the Ladakhi soldiers who had fought against the invading Kashmiri soldiers. The base of the palace is embellished with several other Tibetan structures, such as the famous Namgyal Stupa, Chandazik Stupa and Chamba Lhakhang Stupa.
History of Leh Palace
The Leh Palace has been designed in line with the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. The construction of the palace, which began in 1553, was started by one of the rulers of Namgyal dynasty, Tsewang Namgyal. The construction was then completed by his successor, Sengge Namgyal in the 17th century. These rulers later resided in the Leh Palace along with their family. The grand structure of the palace was complete with nine storeys in all, which made it one of the tallest structures of those times. The upper floors were used for accommodation, while the floors below houses stables and storerooms.
The Leh Palace was abandoned by the royal family in the mid 19 century when the Dongra forces took over Ladakh. Consequently, the Namgyal family had to shift to the Stok Palace. The grand edifice is now in a dilapidated condition and has been converted into an archaeological museum that proudly displays the artefacts of the yesteryear’s rulers of Leh.
Tips For Visiting Leh Palace
1. Dodge attending to visit the Leh Royal residence through railroads, since the nearest railways stations are three-day transport rides absent from the ultimate goal.
2. Wear comfortable footwear as you’ll walk around a part, and the street is full of slants. Other than, the staircases within the royal residence are a bit troublesome to walk through.
3. The royal residence isn’t prescribed to be gone to by senior citizens since of the sum of strolling that should be done.
How to Reach Leh Palace
The Leh Royal residence is found within the ancient Leh city, on the Tsemo slope, at a separate of 5 kilometers from the Leh Air Force Base Airport. To reach here, you’ll got to walk through the ancient town. From the most bazaar within the city, the royal residence can be come to effectively either through Jama Masjid or through the Zangsti Street.