Shey Monastery
Until the 16th century, the Shey gompa was the royal residence. It was constructed by the first king of Ladakh, Lhachen Palgyigon. According to tradition, it and of successive kings was the seat of power of the pre-Tibetan kings. It is located at a distance of 15 km south of Leh. This Palace Monastery has the largest statue of Maitreya Buddha (the Buddha to come) in Ladakh. Erected in the mid-17th century, worked out of gold and gilded copper sheets with blue hair, it stands 17.5 m high. It is built by Deldan Namgyal in 1633 as funerary memorial to his father, king Singee Namgyal. There is another statue of the Buddha three stories in height at dresthang down the castle. Stone carving and many chortens are scattered around the Dresthang Gompa. On the 30th day of the 1st Tibetan month celebrates shey rul-lo and on the 10th day of the 7th Tibetan month the festival of Shey Surb-lo is held.
