It is an important centre for Tibetan Buddhism and the study of Tibetan culture and history. There is a Tibetan Refugee Camp here and also a Library.

Built in the mid-16th century, the palace has been described as a miniature version of Lhasa's Potala Palace. It has nine storeys, sloping buttresses and projecting wooden balconies. From the town below, it is dazzling in the morning sun and ghostly at night. The views from the palace roof are exceptional. The narrow passages are lined with old thangkas, paintings and arms. A part of the palace is a museum.

This is a 15th century monastery located in the north of the city. It has a colossal 3-storey high Buddha image and ancient manuscripts and frescoes. The fort above the Gompa is ruined but the views of Leh from here are superb.

Located about 14km east of Leh, this was once the capital of Lower Ladakh before the Ladakh kingdom was united at Leh. There are ruins of the Buddhist citadel impressively sited on a spur overlooking the Indus Valley. It served as the Royal residence for several periods between the 15th and 17th centuries. The Fort Palace was once considered almost impregnable having survived a three-year siege by Tibetan Mongol armies in the 17th century. The 400-year-old Gompa here is up some winding steep tracks and is often deserted. The prayer room of the Ser Zung Temple has some great frescoes. There is another temple in the village that has an enormous gold and copper statue of the Maitrey Buddha (the coming Buddha) and some elaborate roof and wall frescoes.

Located 45km south of Leh, this is the biggest monastery in Ladakh. Located up a side valley, it contains statues of gold, stupas decorated with precious stones and many thangkas (religious paintings on cloth). It also contains some of the finest art treasures in Ladakh, including a giant thangka, which is only displayed every 12 years. Hemis is the seat of the Rimpoche, a spiritual lord who is head of the Drugpa Kargyupa, one of the divisions of the red hat sect. He is said to be a reincarnation of the 17th century founder of Hemis Stagtshang Raspa. The colourful Hemis festival is held every year in the month of July, the most famous feature of which is the masked dance.