Leh
Palace is situated on the edge of a hill overseeing the town below. It
is said to be a miniature version of the Potala in Lhasa. Known as
Lhachen Palkhar, the Leh Palace was built in the 17th century by
Dharmaraja Singey Namgial. This nine-storied palace took three years to
complete. It served as the royal residence until the royal family was
exiled to Stok in the 1830s. Now, it houses the Ladakhi branch of the
Indian Government's archaeological conservation organization. Leh Palace
also houses a museum displaying some exquisite tangkhas (painted or
embroidered scrolls) and paintings.There is a Victory Tower above the palace, on the Namgyal hill. It was built to commemorate the victory of Ladakh over the Balti Kashmir armies in the early 16th century. There is also a monastery above the Leh Palace known as Namgyal Tsemo Gompa. The monastery boasts of some beautiful frescos, Buddhist scriptures & idols and a huge statue of the Maitreya Buddha (future Buddha).
