Planning a trip to Ladakh and wondering what all the buzz is about? Don’t miss Thiksey Monastery—it’s one of the top spots you’ll find in most Ladakh tour packages, and for good reason.
Just 20 km from Leh, this beautiful monastery sits on a hill and looks like it’s built layer by layer, with white buildings and red rooftops that really stand out against the landscape. It’s often called a mini version of the Potala Palace in Tibet, but Thiksey Gompa has its own charm. The monastery is peaceful, full of history, and home to a 15-meter-tall statue of Maitreya Buddha that’s impossible to ignore. The chanting, the calm, and the view—it all hits different up here.
If you’re on a biking trip to Ladakh, this is the perfect place to stop, stretch your legs, and take in the view. Add it to your route—you won't regret it.
Thiksey Monastery, or Thiksey Gompa, has its roots in the 15th century, when a Buddhist teacher named Jangsem Sherab Zangpo came to Ladakh to spread the teachings of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. He carried a special statue gifted by his master, Je Tsongkhapa, and met the King of Ladakh, who was impressed and supported his mission.
With the King’s help, Sherab Zangpo first set up a small temple called the Yellow Temple (Lhakhang Serpo) in a village named Stagmo. Later, his student, Palden Zangpo, decided to build a bigger monastery. According to a local legend, two crows picked up a ceremonial offering and placed it on a hill. Seeing this as a divine sign, Palden Zangpo chose that very spot to build what is now Thiksey Monastery.
Over time, Thiksey grew into one of the most important monasteries in Ladakh, second only to Hemis, and guided several others in the region.
