Shey

Shey, a quiet village a short distance from Leh, was once the royal capital of Ladakh before Leh rose to full prominence. Its history centres on Shey Palace and the monastery that crown a rocky hill above the Indus valley. Early settlements existed here because of fertile fields and river access, but Shey’s real importance began when the Namgyal dynasty chose it as a seat of power.

The first royal structures at Shey are believed to date to around the 15th–16th centuries, when Ladakhi kings fortified the hill and built palaces and chapels overlooking the valley. Later rulers expanded these buildings and added the famous monastery with its large copper-gilt statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, one of the tallest indoor Buddha figures in Ladakh. This image and the surrounding chapels symbolised the piety and authority of the Namgyal rulers.

As trade and politics increasingly focused on Leh, the royal family gradually shifted its main residence there, and Shey’s role changed from capital to ceremonial and religious centre. The palace complex slowly fell partly into ruin, but the monastery and Buddha statue remained active. Today, Shey stands as a reminder of Ladakh’s earlier royal capital era—its hilltop ruins, chortens and fields telling the story of a place where kings once ruled the Indus valley.