Basgo Palace

Ladakh


Rising above Basgo village on a surreal collection of eroded earthen pinnacles are the photogenic stubs of a once-great palace dating from when Basgo was a capital of lower Ladakh. It’s worth coming just for the views, but within the complex you can also visit three splendid temples: the Chamba Lhakhang, Chamchung and Serzang, the former housing a fine two-storey Maitreya statue.

The temples date from the 15th to 17th centuries, and the Chamchung was originally built as a mosque before the queen converted to Buddhism.

The 1.6km access road leaves the NH1 Kargil–Leh Hwy by a hairpin bend at Km390. After 1km keep straight ahead (the tight left turn heads for Ney).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ladakh attractions

1. Ney Buddha

4.03 MILES

The golden form of Ney's 21st-century Buddha statue is claimed to be 26m tall. In reality it looks about half that high but is still an impressive sight…

2. Choskhor Temple Complex

5.82 MILES

The original murals and statues within these four outwardly modest 11th-century temples are considered the crowning glory of Ladakh’s Indo-Tibetan art…

3. Likir Gompa

5.92 MILES

Though founded in 1065, this monastery’s current incarnation as a Gelukpa monastery originated in the 15th century. The main prayer hall to the right on…

4. Saspol Chamba

6.87 MILES

Almost opposite the small SBI Bank (not the ATM, which is 200m further east), a small shop hides the entrance to an unexpectedly impressive trio of 5m…

5. Saspol Caves

6.93 MILES

The orchard town of Saspol is backed by a conglomerate promontory topped with the ruins of Toyos Khar fortress-palace. Somehow still surviving in the…

6. Sumdha Chun Temple

9.54 MILES

The remote monastery at tiny Sumdha Chun boasts some splendid Alchi-style carvings that are directly linked to Tibet's 'Great Translator' Ringchen Zangpo.

7. Rizong Gompa

10.15 MILES

Stepped handsomely within a hidden amphitheatre of rocky cliff, this lonely but much-revered little 19th-century monastery is famous for its code of…

8. Phyang Gompa

12.45 MILES

Sitting on a knoll in the heart of Phyang, this large Drigung Kagyud school monastery complex has been heavily rebuilt in the last decade but its core…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "india/leh-to-kargil/attractions/basgo-palace/a/poi-sig/1385819/1335913",
      "destination": "Ladakh",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "India",
      "region": "Ladakh",
      "position": "superzone"
    }