Old Town Leh, below the 17th century palace Lhachen Palkhar, is a melting pot of different cultures that stems from the vision of Ladakh's most famous king, Singe Namgyal.
The palace was an active administrative building with meeting halls, performance spaces, etc. Below the palace were the residences of subjects that served under the royalty. As trade between Ladakh, Tibet, Central Asia, Kashmir, etc., grew and gained importance, Leh was made the capital because of its strategically important location. The vibrant trade exchanges also led to cultural exchanges. Through the ages, Leh has seen the emergence of a close-knit community that has lasted till date. Because of the cultural amalgamation that took place in this region, it is often termed as the Crossroads of High Asia.
The palace was built on a hillock that actually gave Leh town its name—the shape of the hillock is like a local basket called Tsemo, which is also spelt Le. The hill also looks like a sleeping elephant, and the nine-storey palace was built on the head side of it, as it was considered auspicious.
This guided tour is free.
