Main Info
Stok Palace
A summer home dedicated to the royal family of Ladakh and the descendants of King Sengge Namgyal, is the Stok Palace. The Palace is located 15 km from Leh in the village of Stok. The palace was established as a sign of the rich history and lifestyle of the royal family of Ladakh. The establishment was concluded in 1820 by King Tsepal Namgyal. The Palace is also home to the stunning Stok Monastery along with lush green gardens and a massive, elegant library pridefully housing 108 volumes of Kangur, an elaborate collection of the teachings of Lord Buddha. While still being a vacation home to the royal family, the Stok Palace has been since opened up to the general public as a heritage hotel. People can come to visit and experience the rich Ladakhi heritage.
The palace is located near the river valley of Singey Tsangpo, more commonly known as the Indus River. The architecture of the royal palace can be observed to be an amalgamation of traditional and contemporary styles. The Stok palace is more than just a heritage hotel for the tourists. It is a pride house to many precious family treasures, one of which is the stunning turquoise and gold-encrusted crown of the queen, Yub-Jhur. Another great family heirloom housed at the Stok Palace is the sword of the king, famous for its bending in a knot by the king’s oracle.
Stok Palace Museum
A part of the Stok Palace is converted to a museum – the Stok Museum. Many precious royal family treasures are on display at the museum. The royal treasure belongs to King Sengge Namgyal and his descendants. The treasure has been the main attraction amongst tourists, historians and anthropologists. Of the many things preserved at the museum, a few of them are ancient coins, royal seals, precious jewellery and photographs. Paintings, as old as 400 years, belonging to the royal family, of Lord Buddha are also present at the museum. These paintings are known as Thangkas and are of great importance in the Buddhist community.
Weapons and armour belonging to the royal family can be found on display in another room of the museum. This includes swords, guns, quivers and arrows. The centre of attraction at the museum, however, remains to be Yub-Jhur. It is the crown of the queen that is encrusted with many precious stones including 401 stones of turquoise, coral and gold. The king’s sword, that was bent in a knot by the king’s oracle, is also a famous attraction.
Stok Palace Heritage Hotel
The Stok Palace Heritage Hotel is a four-storey building. The corridors and courtyards of the hotel were constructed in a way that they all lead to colourful places. Even the strategic location of the hotel, at the top of the hill by the Indus river, offers a stunning view of the valley below. The construction and architecture of the hotel make for low doorways and corridors. These complement the simple lifestyle, with comfortable bedrooms and hygienic bathrooms, that the rest of the hotel promotes. Different suites are located on different levels of the hotel. You can choose from the 4 Standard Suite Rooms, the Royal Suite and the Queen’s Room. All rooms will give you an experience of basking in the royal luxury amongst precious historic artefacts and royal photographs.
The food at the Hotel also holds up to the standards of the Heritage Hotel. You can find a vast range of cuisines on the menu of the hotel. You can choose from Ladakhi, Tibetan and Indian. Traditional Ladakhi cuisine can be enjoyed at the Royal Old Kitchen at the Heritage Hotel.
How to Reach Stok Palace
The Palace is located just 15 km from Leh, Ladakh. You can reach the palace through local cabs available. One can also travel via local buses operating in Leh. Buses and cabs both take about 30-40 minutes to get to the Palace.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Stok Palace would be from the months of June to September. However, visiting the Palace during the festival of Stok Guru Tsechu is recommended. It is a Tibetan festival celebrated for two days in the first month of the Tibetan Calendar.