Thiksey Monastery

The Potala of Ladakh - Resembling Lhasa's Iconic Palace

Thiksey Monastery – The Potala of Ladakh - Resembling Lhasa's Iconic Palace

Thiksey Monastery is a 15th-century Tibetan Buddhist monastery located on a hilltop approximately 19 km east of Leh along the Indus Valley. It belongs to the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) order and is architecturally reminiscent of the Potala Palace in Lhasa.

The monastery houses a 15-metre-high statue of Maitreya Buddha, one of the largest such statues in Ladakh. It serves as an active religious centre with residential quarters, prayer halls, and monastic education facilities. Thiksey is an important cultural landmark, hosting annual festival like Gustor that attract devotees and visitors alike.