Shey Palace And Monastery is an excellent example of a complex that comprises a monastery and palace. The monastery is known for its huge copper with a gilded gold statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, which is said to be the second-largest in Ladakh. It's a must-see destination.
Shey is an amazing example of Tibetan Buddhism in action, as it's home to a beautiful monastery compound. Shey Monastery also holds two annual festivals with its two main attractions being Shey Doo Lhoo (sowing season) and Shey Rupla (harvesting season).
Shey Place and the monastery's history reveal that the current purpose-built structure was built in 1655 by Deldan Namgyal, who wanted to reflect his father Sengge Namgyal. In connection with this, the original palace was built in the village originally, during the 10th century.
The architecture of the Shey Palace and Monastery was designed in Tibetan style. The tall Buddha statue in its main hall is covered with three floors, while a painting on the upper floor of the building depicts a lotus with over thirty disciples. The lower floor contains a library with several manuscripts and murals of Buddha's hand gestures. A short distance away from the sanctuary is another small shrine built by Sengge Namgyal that houses another large statue of Shakyamuni Buddha.
When you visit Shey Monastery, you'll notice that, aside from the two festivals of Shey Loo Doo and Shey Rupla, there are only a few months in which it's considered a good time to visit. July through September is best for these months when the weather is ideal.
The best way to reach the Shey Monastery is by either hiring a cab or renting a bike, which is on Delhi-Manali Road, 16 kilometers from Leh City.
