Leh
Thiksey Monastery is the most visually striking gompa in Central Ladakh — its twelve-storey complex rising from a rocky hill above the Indus Valley like a Tibetan Potala Palace. The gompa contains a stunning 15-metre Maitreya Buddha statue, impressive thangka collections, and dramatic wall murals. The early morning puja (prayers) at Thiksey, when monks fill the prayer hall with chanting and the smell of yak-butter lamps, is one of the most atmospheric spiritual experiences in India.
Morning prayers begin at 6 AM — arrive by 5:45 AM and ask the head monk for permission to observe. Dress in layers as the monastery is extremely cold in early morning even in summer.