Leh
Leh Palace, a nine-storey royal residence built in the 17th century and modelled on the Potala Palace in Lhasa, dominates the Leh skyline from its rocky hilltop and is the centrepiece of Leh's architectural heritage. The Shanti Stupa above the opposite hillside was built in 1991 by Japanese monks and offers the finest 360-degree panoramic views over Leh town, the Stok Kangri range, and the Ladakh mountains at sunset — arguably the most iconic view in Ladakh.
Visit Leh Palace in the morning and Shanti Stupa in the evening for the sunset — the light on the mountains at dusk from the stupa is genuinely extraordinary and well worth timing your day around.