Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1126 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Late medieval · Buddhist · India

Thikse Monastery

Thiksey, Leh, Ladakh · 34.0564°, 77.6667°

Gelug school; a 15 m Maitreya Buddha in the main hallLadakh kingdomTwelve-storey hilltop fort-monastery in the central Tibetan manner
Sacred since
1430 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
15th c. (Palden Zangpo)
Ladakh kingdom

History & significance

The largest monastery in central Ladakh, rising in tiers on a hill 19 km east of Leh and often likened to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. It houses a celebrated two-storey Maitreya image, a nunnery and a large collection of Buddhist art.

Sthala katha — the legend

Two crows are said to have carried off the founder's ritual offerings and set them down in order at this hill, which he read as a sign to build here.

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Related sites

Diskit Monastery
Nubra Valley · India
14th c. (Changzem Tserab Zangpo)
Spituk Monastery
Leh · India
11th c. (founded by Od-de)

Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Ladakh kingdom