8N/9DLadakhKashmir and Ladakh Road Trip
2N Srinagar · 1N Kargil · 2N Leh · 1N Nubra · 1N Pangong · 1N Leh- Hotels
- Meals
- Transfers
- Sightseeing
Starts from
₹34,900
per person
Thiksey Monastery, Thiksey
A hilltop monastery with a two-storey Maitreya Buddha
- Type
- Monastery
- Location
- Thiksey, Ladakh
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours
- Best time to visit
- All year. Early morning is best, for the prayers and the soft light.
About Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Monastery stands on a hilltop above the Indus valley, about 19 km from Leh on the road towards Hemis and Manali. It belongs to the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Its white buildings rise in tiers up the hill to the red prayer halls at the top, and it is often compared to the Potala Palace in Lhasa.
The best known sight inside is the large seated statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha, which rises through two storeys of its own temple. The monastery also has prayer halls with wall paintings, old manuscripts and a small museum. From the roof there are wide views of the valley, the village fields and the Stok range.
Many visitors come early in the morning to sit in on the prayers, when monks chant and long horns are played, often with butter tea served. It is a calm, easy visit and works well on an acclimatisation day, combined with Shey Palace and Hemis.
Things to do at Thiksey Monastery
- Attend the early morning prayers with the monks
- See the Maitreya Buddha statue in its temple
- Walk up to the roof for views over the Indus valley
- Visit the monastery museum
- Combine with Shey Palace on the way and Hemis Monastery further on
How to reach Thiksey Monastery
- By road from Leh: about 19 km, about 30 minutes by car on the Leh to Manali highway.
Tips before you go
- Morning prayers start early, around dawn. Confirm the time locally the evening before
- Wear modest clothing, walk clockwise around prayer wheels and stupas, and ask before photographing monks
- There are steps to climb, so take them slowly if you have only just arrived in Leh
Packages that cover Thiksey Monastery
8N/9DLadakhView
Nearby places to visit
Monastery · Hemis
Hemis Monastery
One of the largest and best-known monasteries in Ladakh, set in a side valley south of Leh. It hosts the Hemis festival with masked dances every summer.
Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hoursRead more →Must visit
Stupa · Leh
Shanti Stupa
A white Buddhist stupa on a hilltop in Changspa, built by Japanese monks and inaugurated in 1991. Known for sunset views over Leh and the Stok range.
Time needed: 1 hourRead more →Palace · Leh
Leh Palace
A 17th-century royal palace of nine storeys on the hill above Leh's old town, with views over the town and the Stok range.
Time needed: 1 to 2 hoursRead more →Must visit
Town
Leh
Ladakh's main town, with Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa and a busy main bazaar. Your base for the first and last nights, and the place to acclimatise.
Time needed: 2 to 3 days, split between the start and end of the tripRead more →Thiksey Monastery: FAQs
What time are the morning prayers at Thiksey Monastery?
Prayers start early in the morning, around dawn, so the time shifts with the season. Ask your hotel or driver the evening before and leave Leh early.
Can Thiksey and Hemis be visited on the same day?
Yes. They are on the same road, and a half day or full day trip from Leh can cover Shey, Thiksey and Hemis together.