The Shey village is a tiny village that backs in the golden days was the capital of Ladakh. Ladakh was invaded by the Dogras in 1842. During the invasion, the Royal family of Ladakh, known as Namgyals, decided to relocate. They left the Shey palace and went to Stok Palace.  The Namgyals choose the opposite side of the Indus river to reside permanently. As time passed, Leh was declared the new capital of Ladakh but the importance of Shey was never affected. 
 
The structure of the Shey monastery that we get to see today is the one that was constructed in 1655 after the Shey Palace. The original Shey Palace, which is now in ruins, was constructed in the 10th century. The Leh Palace serves as the seat of power for the Namgyal. As the royal family shifted from the Shey Palace, it lost its magnificence and couldn’t stand the test of time. However, the monks decided to take charge of the Shey Monastery and kept it alive. The Namgyal dynasty never returned to the Shey Palace as its residents, but they ‌visit the Shey Monastery as a destination to bless their heir.

The Shey Monastery stands out as it houses a huge statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. The monastery is very old and simple look-wise. It carries the vintage charm and during festivals, it possesses a different kind of grace. The statue is 32ft tall and goes through three floors of the monastery. This statue is the second largest one in Ladakh. The mural of Shambhunath is ‌on the first level, along with the feet of Buddha. 
Followed by the second level, which displays murals of Buddha in various positions. The last and the third floor may seem slightly dark due to the smoke of the huge butter lamps placed there. These lamps have been lit for ages and are considered auspicious. These lamps have been burning eternally at the altar. The huge idol of Buddha is so mesmerizing that it will make you want to stay a bit longer.

• You can offer prayers at the monastery.
• Listen to the monks chant holy mantras.
• Trekk up to the monastery and spend some time enjoying the view from there.
• Look at the huge idol of Buddha and take your time to explore the monastery.
• Click as many pictures as you want.
• Meditate for some time and let the aura of the place help you find calm within.

• Give yourself a day to get used to the oxygen levels and surroundings in Leh. Make sure to have a light itinerary for the first day.
• If you are visiting during summers make sure to carry a hat along and apply lots of sunscreens.
• Keep yourself hydrated and carry a water bottle with you and some snacks to eat.
• One may end up facing acute mountain sickness, yes, it truly exists. The change in climatic conditions doesn’t suit everyone. 
• You need special permission to get into the prayer hall of the monastery.  
• Wear appropriate clothes while you visit the monastery.
• Photography is prohibited in the prayer hall of the monastery, so if you wish to click pictures better ask for permission. 
• Making videos inside the monastery is prohibited. 
• You are not allowed to talk loudly or create chaos in the monastery as it may disturb the meditating monks. 
• Do not cause any kind of damage to the monastery. Avoid touching things in the museum.

The best time to visit the Shey Monastery is from March to October. If possible, try to visit this place during one of the festivals organized by Shey. When it comes to visiting Leh and Ladakh the best time is from February to August. 

• Thiksey Monastery
• Stok Monastery
• Matho Monastery
• Stakna Monastery
• Hemis Monastery
• Sindhu Ghat
• Leh Palace
• Shanti Stupa
• Hemis Gompa

• The monastery has a museum on the lower floor.
• You need to take special permission if you wish to visit the main prayer hall. 
• The Shey Monastery was inaugurated by the 14th Dalai Lama.
• A huge copper statue of Shakyamuni Buddha resides in this monastery which also has gilded gold. 
• There are wall paintings depicting the life of Buddha on the upper floor.
• This monastery holds two annual festivals named Shey Rupla and Shey Doo Lhoo Festival.