Short Trips from Leh 04 Feb 2019 – Posted in: Blogs

As enchanting as Leh is, sometimes you want to explore some more. Be it monasteries, quiet spots to recharge your spirit or places to give you that adrenaline rush, we have a short list of places that you can visit from Leh. Some of them are really close, some might take a little bit of effort.

• Spituk Gompa

8 km from Leh

Located close to the airport and offering a panoramic view of the beautiful landscape, this monastery has both the restored old gompa and a new gompa.  You will find a collection of antique masks and arms. If you decide to go a little higher, you will discover the chamber of the goddess, whose face is covered and unveiled only once a year.

• Phyang Gompa

16 km from Leh

As it is not on the standard tourist route, this modern gompa offers an aura of tranquillity and solitude. Take the help of a local monk to guide you around both the old and new structures. Apart from beautiful paintings, the ice stupa is also worth taking a look.

• Shey Palace and Monastery

15 km from Leh

May to October

Time: 8 am to 7 pm

This abandoned palace and monastery was built in 1665 as a summer retreat house by the King of Ladakh. It has a beautiful gold topped victory Stupa. It is better to make arrangements about your visit with the head Lama as this monastery is exclusive. However, the breathtaking frescos and engravings are worth the effort.

• Thiksey Gompa

25 km from Leh

6 am to 6 pm

The twelve-story structure offers an enchanting view of the valley. The early morning prayers are a beautiful experience and popular with the tourists.

• Basgo

36 km from Leh

Once a prosperous economic capital, this quaint village now only has a monastery and the ruins of a beautiful royal palace.  Basgo may be hard to spot from a distance as it blends with the colour of the landscape beautifully. It has three main temples of Maitreya which are decorated with wall paintings and copper statues. The view below is one worth capturing.

• Upshi

47 km from Leh

A small village on the Leh-Manali highway, this is an excellent place to take rest in case of altitude sickness or travel fatigue. A unique sight and marvel are the local Changthangi goats who have thick long hair. Their fur is shiny as the locals brush these animals almost on a daily basis. Apart from being a convenient spot from the Stok, Hemis, Thiksey and Shrey monasteries, this village has a number of hotels, guest houses and campsites that are budget friendly.

• Likir

54.1 km from Leh

‘Lu-khyil’ means circled by water spirits.

It is said that the area was once occupied by fairies.

The monastery has a small museum with a carefully curated collection of unique artefacts. These include a 900-year-old shield (fak-fali) and quiver (sakdha) and a 400-year-old iron jacket.

• Camping in Uleytokpo

60 km from Leh

A little farther from Leh, Uleytokpo offers a serene picnic and camping spot away from the city. The river, the regional birds and the scenery make for a rejuvenating experience. Tents and cottages are readily available in this lap of nature.

• Alchi

66 km from Leh

Time: 8 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm.

This is one of the oldest monasteries in the region

You can explore the influence of Kashmiri art in vibrant murals and wooden figures in the temple. It is believed that the statue of Avalokiteshvara is made out of pure gold.

Been there? Have some short and sweet suggestions for us and other travellers? Let us know! Do email us on support@tripnme.com