Exploring Shey Palace(built in 17 century around 1665)at Ladakh, India.

Radhe Radhe Everyone!

Today we are on our way to Shey, which was used to be the summer capital of Ladakh and now it's Leh as you all must know but back then it used to be a winter capital. Located approx 15 to 20 kilometres from Leh, this place is beautiful and it's beyond my imagination. If you are planning to visit Ladakh then don't skip to visit this gem.

View From Shey Palace

It was a beautiful day and the roads of Ladakh are too go. I have shared a blod earlier about it. Here's a link in case you missed it.

https://hive.blog/hive-163772/@vaibhavrawat/spotted-wild-yak-on-srinagar-leh-highway-a-perfect-adventurous-trip-along-with-the-picturesque-landscape

This village is very well connected to the roads, you can reach here Manali-Leh Highway or from Srinagar-Leh Highway. The roads become challenging sometimes cause of weather conditions or else if you love long drives, then it's perfect for you.

Shey Valley

From the distance, this is how the villages looked. As the leaves have changed their colors the whole village seemed completely drenched in the yellow and golden hues. As the mountains here are rugged, these yellow trees create a picturesque view by adding contrast and it's literally paradise for photography lovers. I was amazed by the beauty of this village.

You will see such trees around the Shey valley and other parts of Indus valley. These people do group vegetables here using the traditional agricultural methods despite bring the barren land. Well Indus river plays a major role. As its near Leh, so its a combination of traditional and moderan activities and nearly hub for tourist, handcraft and local trade. People here are loving and the hospitality is on next level. They are calm and spiritual just like the vibe of the place.

As we reached closer, we got a clear view. You guys can also see the limited houses in the valley. The reason behind this is the migration of the villagers based on environmental conditions and it's remote too. In order to do business like tourism and stuff they have to move out. This valley haven't nearly 150 to 200 households, each made in traditional way using stones and mud. The houses constructed using mud are cold during the summers and hot during the winter. Some new homes were also there, as a result of modernization and to cater tourism. This valley is at the elevation of 3, 500 meters above see level so the weather condition are harsh here like every other regions of Ladakh.

This is a beautiful picture have capture with my camera but it's not clear, btw you can imagine how beautiful it is. We did a little photoshoot ther as we found the spot majestic. The valley is along the Indus river, so there are lots of trees in and around the valley.

Upon reaching closer to the valley we came to know about the shey place which is a historical and literary iconic Buddhist monastery. It is among the oldest monasteries and dates back to the 17th century when it was built by the Ladakhi King named Deldan Namgyal. As it is situated at the top of the hill, this palace was specially for the members of the royal family. They used to spend the summer here so they can enjoy the view as well as the cold breeze.

The Shey Palace

As we entered the monastery we saw a giant Shakyamuni Buddha statue which is approx 32 meters tall. It is the second largest status of Buddha in Ladakh. It was constructed in 1895 by a Nepalese craftsman along with the 3 Ladakhi. Lots of copper and gold is used in it's construction. And I was amazed to know as no one can see straight into the eyes of Buddha, the craftsman painted the eyes by being on his shoulder with back toward the idol. Photography isn't allowed so I was not able to capture it. There were lots of prayer halls decorated with the local Buddhist artwork. The rich heritage of this place as well its historical significance has attracted a lot of tourism, which is eventually beneficial for the people living here.

12 Meter Guru Padmasambhava Statue

Also there was this huge idol of Guru Padmasambhava, which is one of the largest metal statue of the Ladakh upto 12 meters high. This shows the spiritual significance of the palace.

You will lots of idols of Guru Padmasambhava here in Ladakh cause of his profound significance in Tibetan Buddhism. The beautiful statue represent strength, love and spirituality. That's all about the blog.

Thanks a million for reading.
Stay happy and enjoy.