Shanti Stupa is the major attraction of Leh, which was built to foster world peace and prosperity and commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism. This religious place is set on top of the mountain and offers also a panoramic view of the city and the environment.

This attraction was built by the Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu, Gyomyo Nakamura, in 1991 as part of the Peace Pagoda mission. The relics of Buddha, consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama, are underneath the stupa. When the views from Leh are spectacular, sunrise and sunset are considered to be the best time of the day to visit the Shanti Stupa.

Shanti Stupa's architecture was done in order to turn it into a two-tier structure. The first level is the Dharmachakra relief and a central Golden Buddha image sits on a platform with a wild deer on both sides. On the second floor there are reliefs that show Buddha's birth and death while he meditates and defeats the demons. However, a series of smaller Buddha reliefs can be seen on both levels of meditation.

Timings : 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Time Required : 1 - 2 hours

Entry Fee : INR 40 per person