Shey is a small village in Ladakh located 15 kms South East of the capital city of Leh. In the ancient times, Shey was the capital of Ladakh. The place is characterized by Chortens (Stupas), a Gompa (monastery) and the palace. Buddhist pilgrims visit Shey in July to celebrate the Metukba festival. There are prayers for the whole world in the Shey Gompa on that day. Shey also has an Oracle like the other villages of Ladakh. In August, during the Shey Shublas, the oracle tours the village on horse and predicts the future. Such interesting practices makes Shey a “must visit” on the trip to Ladakh.
Ladakh has a cold climate due to its altitude. Due to its dry weather conditions and the cool weather it is called a Cold Desert. The air is rarified and so some people may experience breathing problems. The summer temperature ranges from 8oC to 27oC. The minimum temperature in summer sometimes may go as low as -3oC. The winter is very cold. The range of temperature in winters is -20oC to -15oC. There is snowfall by late September. It is a must to rest on the day of arrival to Ladakh region to acclimatize with the environment here.
The best time to visit Shey is from June to September. It is advisable to carry thick woolen clothes, wind cheaters, sun glasses, sturdy shoes, caps and sun screen. The skin needs to be well protected against the harsh climate.
Hotels here may not accept international credit cards. There are no ATMs in Shey. But bank branches and ATMs are there in the city of Leh. It is best to carry cash to this place. There may not be any money exchangers here so carry Indian currency only.
No permit is required for Indian nationals in Ladakh. For foreign tourists, registration is done at the airport or at Drass, Rumste and Sechru if they travel by road to Ladakh.
Leh airport is the nearest airport to Shey. It is at a distance of 15 km from Shey. There are flights to Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar. The flights are operated by Indian Airlines, Jet and Deccan. There may not be daily flights. Due to bad weather there may be delay or cancellation of flights and that has to be taken into consideration when the trip is planned..
Leh Airport is 15 kms from Shey. From the airport one can take a jeep taxi or a bus to reach Shey. The flights are mostly full in peak season and so it’s better to book in advance. By road, you can reach Leh from Srinagar or Manali. The roads are open only from June to September and may be blocked sometimes due to landslides or other conditions. The journey offers breathtaking views of the desert landscape.
• Shey Gompa is the main attraction of the village of Shey. It has a huge Shakyamuni Buddha statue which is the biggest metal statue in Ladakh. The upper storey has beautiful frescos.
• Shey Palace was the summer palace of the king. It houses the Gompa with the Buddha.
• Temple of Shakyamuni is very close to the palace. It is a shrine to a Shakyamuni Buddha statue. It is open only from 7 to 8 in the mornings and 5 to 6 in the evenings.
• The ancient monument of Shey is a rock carving of five Tathagata (thus gone) Buddhas.
Ladakhi food mainly consists of vegetables like Potato, Pumpkin, beans and beetroot along with meat like chicken and mutton. The flavouring is mild. ‘Thupka’, which is a thick soup and ‘Momos’ – dumplings stuffed with vegetables or meat should not be missed out. Tibetian food is also quite common in Shey and all around Ladakh. The capital Leh has many restaurants serving Indian and continental food. Sweet shops and bakeries serve delicacies and bread. Himalaya Café, Shangrila and Budshah Inn are good restaurants in Leh.
In Shey, rooms are available near the Shil Khar which is on the path leading to the palace. The rooms are clean and provide a nice view of the river and plains. Leh, which is just 15 kms from here, has many good hotels to stay. HotelRoyalPalace, Hotel Lingzi, Hotel Ladakh Sarai and Hotel Shambha La are nice hotels in Leh. You can stay in Leh and take a day trip to Shey.
