SANGAM is a 48 kilometre drive from Leh and is the confluence of the rivers Indus and Zanskar the view of two different color rivers from the road . It is an amazing place to sit, relax, and enjoy.

Magnetic hill: Magnetic Hill is a gravity hill that is believed to possess strong magnetic properties, Situated at an elevation of 14000 feet and on the way to the Sangam.. To the east of this hill flows the Sindhu River.It is said that the magnetic force at this place pulls.

 

SINDHU GHAT is a riverbank of Indus river which originated from Tibet Mansarovor Lake. Situated near Shay village, this riverbank is the venue of a famous cultural event, which known as Ladakh Singhey Khabab Spring Festival. Every year for three-day in the month of June, on Guru Purnima – the auspicious day of full moon. The festival begins with a ritual that is performed by 50 Buddhist lamas along the riverside. Cultural programmes are organised at the venue that are followed by a short sightseeing trip, campfire and get-together. The third day is marked by a religious ceremony called Sindhu Pujan, during which the river is worshipped. Apart from that this river is famous for river rafting.

 

SHANTI STUPA It was built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu, Gyomyo Nakamurathe. Stupa was built to promote world peace and prosperity and to commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism.It is considered a symbol of the ties between the people of Japan and Ladakh. This Stupa has become a tourist attraction not only due to its religious significance but also due to its location which provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. According to “The Hindu” it is the "most famous tourist attraction" around Leh, though its architectural style is different from the Ladakhi style.

 

LEH PALACE The 17th century Leh Palace is a 15-minute walk from the Leh Market and has a unique beauty ancient building. Visit on top of this beautiful palace and enjoy the beautiful view.

JAMA MASJID Situated in the heart of Leh, Jama Masjid is the main witness of the religious harmony in Ladakh. This mosque is considered to be the biggest mosques in the Ladkah region and consists of a memorial which is known as Shahi Hamdan. This memorial is made in dedication to Mir Syed Ali Hamdani,  a Muslim Sufi Saint. It was built in 1666-67 A.D.

 

SHEY PALACE 15km drive to the east on Leh Manali road. The monastery was established in 1655 by Ladakh's king Deldan Namgyal, as a memorial of his father Singay Namgyal. The prime prime attraction of this Monastery is an imposing copper statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, which is gilded. Colorful illustrations of 16 Arhats and two prime disciples of Buddha adorn the walls near this statue. A sacred wax bowl is placed in front of the statue, and its flame burns for a year before being replaced by a new one on a scared day. The monastery organises two grand celebrations, namely Shey Doo Lhoo and Shey Rupla. The former is celebrated during the start of the sowing season while the latter marks the season of harvest.

 

GURUDWARA PATTHAR SAHIB About 40 away from Leh, on the Leh-Kargil road, 12000 ft above sea level.is a beautiful Gurudwara sahib constructed in the memory of Guru Nanak. The Gurdwara was built in 1517 to commemorate the visit to the Ladakh region of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder Guru of the Sikh faith.

During his lifetime Guru Nanak travelled to many distant places and one such place was Tibet. Guru Nanak is well respected by Tibetan Buddhists who consider him a saint; The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Buddhists in Tibet, has confirmed this in his discussions with some Sikh leaders saying that Tibetans revere Guru Nanak as a Buddhist saint under the name of Guru Gompka Mahara

 

HEMIS MONASTERY located in Hemis village about 45 km from Leh,  Hemis Monastery existed before the 11th century. Naropa, the pupil of the yogi Tilopa, and teacher of the translator Marpa is connected with this monastery. It is a Monastery of the Drukpa Lineage, the monastery was re-established in 1672 by the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal. This monastery is consider as the largest and the wealthiest monastery of Ladakh. The famous mask dance, museum and the monastery itself have attract the tourist from all around the world.

 

SPITUK MONASTERY The beautiful monastery is about 8 km from leh on the Leh-Kargil road, average elevation of 3,307mtrs. It was founded by Od-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od when he came to Maryul in the 11th Century.nEvery year in the month of November, the famous festival celebrated known as Spituk-Gustor.

 

THIKSEY MONASTERY It is located on top of a hill in Thiksey village, approximately 19 km from Leh on the Leh-Manali road. The monastery is located at an altitude of 3,600 metrs. It is a twelve-story complex and houses many items of Buddhist art such as stupas, statues, thangkas, wall paintings and swords. One of the main points of interest is the Maitreya Temple installed to commemorate the visit of the 14th Dalai Lama to this monastery in 1970; it contains a 15 metres (49 ft) high statue of Maitreya, the largest such statue in Ladakh, covering two stories of the building. The architecture of the monastery strongly resembles the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, the former official seat of the Dalai Lamas.[15] Thus, Thikse Monastery is also known as 'Mini Potala.

STOK VILLAGE On the left side of river Indus 15 km south of Leh. There is beautiful monastery  which was founded by Lama Lhawang Lotus in the 14th Century. A ritual dance-mask festival  held annually. Next to the monastery is  the 71 feet (22 m) high seated Gautama Buddha statue. Around 2 km from the monastery lies the royal Stok Palace, built in 1820 and still the summer home of Ladakhi royal family from the Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh.                                                                                                                

ALCHI MONASTERY one of the oldest monastery in Ladakh monastery situated in Alchi village about 70 km from Leh, founded by the great transilator Guru Lotasava Rinchen Zangpo in local tradition style between 958 and 1055. However, inscriptions in the preserved monuments ascribe it to a Tibetan noble called Kal-dan Shes-rab later in the 11th century. This monastery is known for its uniqueness and as the oldest surving paintings in Ladakh. Dukhang or Assembly Hall and the Main Temple (gTsug-lag-khang), which is a three-storied temple called the Sumtseg (gSum-brtsegs), are built in Kashmiri style as seen in many monasteries; the third temple is called the Manjushri Temple ('Jam-dpal lHa-khang). Chortens are also an important part of the complex.

 

LAMAYURU 130km to the west of Leh on the Leh-Kargil road. The village is Well known as the moon land due to the magnificent landscape the average elevation 3,510 metres. There is a beautiful monastery and the famous Naropa cave there,. The Drikung history states that the Indian scholar Naropa (956-1041 CE) allegedly caused a lake which filled the valley to dry up and founded Lamayuru Monastery. The oldest surviving building at Lamayuru is a temple called Seng-ge-sgang, at the southern end of the Lamayuru rock, which is attributed to the famous builder-monk Rinchen Zangpo (958-1055 CE). Rinchen Zangpo was charged by the king of Ladakh to build 108 gompas,

The gompa consisted originally of five buildings, and some remains of the four corner buildings can still be seen.

Lamayuru is one of the largest and oldest gompas in Ladakh, with a population of around 100 permanent monks resident. It has, in the past, housed up to 400 monks, many of which are now based in gompas in surrounding villages.The monastery host  famous mask dance festivals in the month of 2nd and the 5th acc. to lunar calander of Tibetan.

 

LIKIR MONASTERY it is about 53 km  to the wets from Leh. The monastery  was established in 1065 by Lama Duwang Chosje, under the command of the fifth king of Ladakh, Lhachen Gyalpo (Lha-chen-rgyal-po). It belongs to the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism.. Likir it was once on a major trade route which travelled via Tingmosgang, Hemis and Likir to Leh. Likir Dos-mo-che, the annual festival of the monastery, is held from the 27th to 29th of the 12th Tibetan month.

Other interesting places around Leh are: Basgo, Ritzong, Chemray  Phyang etc.