Thikse is a village located 19 kms from the Ladakhi capital of Leh. It is well known for its beautiful Gompa (monastery). The Gompa is regarded as the best one in Ladakh. Thikse has an annual festival called the “Thikse Gostor”. The beautiful Thangka paintings are unrolled during this time every year. Thikse has a good collection of books in the Gompa library. The books are handwritten or block printed. Thikse offers a great view of the Ladakhi landscape with monasteries, barley fields and the snow covered mountains in the background.
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 Thikse 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.
Chances are that hotels here will not accept international credit cards. There are no ATMs in Thikse. 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 Thikse. It is at a distance of 19 kms from Thikse. There are flights to Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar. The flights are operated by Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Decca . They may not be daily flights operating. The weather may delay or cancel flights and that has to be taken into consideration when the trip is planned.
Leh Airport is 19 km from Thikse. From the airport one can take a jeep taxi or a bus to reach Thikse. The flights are mostly full in peak season and so it is better to book in advance. By road, one can reach Leh from Srinagar or Manali. The roads are open only from June to September and maybe blocked sometimes due to landslides or other conditions. The journey offers breathtaking views of the desert landscape.
• The Thikse Gompa is the most beautiful monastery in Ladakh. The architecture is worth seeing. It has a temple complex of ten temples painted in Ochre and Red with golden finials seen even from far away. It also has a library with a good collection of books on Buddhism. • The Maitreya Temple is another place to visit in Thikse. It has a huge Maitreya Buddha statue seated in the lotus position. Colourful murals are painted behind it. They depict scenes from Buddha’s life. • Dingy Du-Khang is a historical structure in Thikse. It has murals of Tantric deties on the walls. There are ancient manuscripts on the racks in the walls. It also has beautiful Thangka paintings which is unveiled once a year.
Ladakhi food mainly consists of vegetables like Potato, Pumpkin, beans and beetroot along with meat-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 on. Tibetian food is also quite common in Thikse 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.
Where To Stay:.
The only hotel in Thikse is the Skalzang Chamba Hotel. It is run by the monastery and offers rooms and food. Leh, which is just 19 km from here, has many good hotels to stay. Hotel Royal Palace, 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 Thikse.
