Thiksay Monastery | Resamble to Tibet’s Potala Palace

Thiksey Monastery is the biggest gompa in central Leh. It’s a must destination in the surroundings of Leh. It is one of India’s most magnificent Tibetan Buddhist style monasteries.

It is located between the icy deserts of Ladakh and Leh, at the height of around 3,600 meters high. Thiksey monastery, the oldest Tibetan monastery in Ladakh, includes many stupas, sculptures, and other Buddhist artefacts atop its 12 storey building.

The Maitreya Monastery, which was built to honour the 14th Dalai Lama’s visit to Thiksey Monastery in 1970, is one of the monastery’s main attractions. The monastery has a 15-meter-tall statue of Maitreya Buddha, the highest in Ladakh, covering two storeys.

Thiksey Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery affiliated with the Gelug or Yellow Hat school. It is also noted for its annual Gustor Festival, which takes place in October/November and features a trade fair at the monastery base when locals from all over Ladakh gather to barter, trade, and socialise.