The Shanti Stupa history is not as grand as the architecture. But still, it is worth knowing. The Fuji Guruji was the one who came up with the idea of building a Shanti Stupa in 1914. The Tibetan and Japanese monks then came together and supported the construction. The Stupa was built by Gyomyo Nakamura a Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu in 1991. Along with him Kushok Bakula, the then Lama of Ladakh supervised the construction too. The relics of Buddha are in the base here. The 14th Dalai lama consecrated it. 

The Shanti Stupa was built as an epitome of the ‘Peace Pagoda Mission’. This mission was funded by the Government and the construction started in 1983 and was completed within a year. The 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso inaugurated it.

Buddhist stupas are the epitome of the Buddha’s burial mound. The Shanti Stupa architecture is an imitation of an ancient stupa. The style of the stupa is old and unique, it stands out from the typical Ladakhi architecture. 

The Shanti Stupa is white and the pure white stands for peace and serenity that the monument stands for. After climbing roughly 500 stairs one gets to the Buddhist stone structure. The two-storyed tall structure has a dome on top. The sacred site is visited by many tourists throughout the year. The central pillar has a chhatra which stands for the pivot of the universe, it means that this is where the divine beings arrive from the heavens and become available to humans. 

The walls are painted beautifully with colorful paintings that showcase the life led by Gautam Buddha. The huge meditation hall inside the monument is accessible and people can be seen chanting, offering prayers, and meditating here. Many can be seen visiting the place in search of inner peace.

• Enjoy the view from the top of the Shanti Stupa.
• Click a lot of pictures and if you end up being here on a day when the sky is cloudy then it is a win-win situation. 
• One can meditate and offer prayers here. Let the positivity and calmness of the place suck out the stress in you. 
• One must see this place after it turns dark. The illuminating lamps make the place look mesmerizing. 
• Meet and greet the people around you. They may have some amazing stories worth sharing. If you come across some backpackers then you can ask them about a few places worth exploring because they may introduce you to one of the hidden gems of Leh Ladakh.

• Make sure that you carry a water bottle along with you and something light to eat.
• Do not carry heavy backpacks with you as you will have to walk a bit to reach the Shanti Stupa.
• Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and clothes. You will have to walk a bit to reach the top. 
• Remember to take off your shoes and respect the beliefs of the people there.
• Do not throw waste here and there. Help in keeping the place clean.
• Do not create any kind of chaos here and be calm.
• Do not cause any kind of damage to the monument.
• Click lots of pictures while you are at Shanti Stupa.

The best time of the day to visit the Shanti Stupa in Leh Ladakh is either during sunrise or sunset. The soft sunlight adds to the beauty of the beautiful architecture. One can visit the Shanti Stupa during the summer season, it is considered favorable because the chance of a landslide happening is minimal.

• Sankar Gompa
• The Leh Palace
• Gomang Stupa
• Spituk Gompa
• Sankar Gompa
• Namgyal Tsemo
• Zorawar Fort