Stok,
14 kms southeast of Leh, is a place, where the present day royal family resides.
The three days trek from Stok to Spituk and the 8 days trek of Markha Valley
starts from here. King Tsespal Tondup Namgyal built Stok palace & Museum
in the year 1825, after Zorawar Singh's annexation of Ladakh. The royal family
resides here since Ladakh lost to Zorawar Singh. At present the palace has a
collection of royal dresses, old Thankas, King's crown etc. that is open for
visitors. Gurphuk Gompa, a branch of Spituk Monastery is a little away from
the palace, which is famous for its festival "Guru Tsechu" held on
the 9th and 10th of the 1st month of Tibetan Calendar.
The Stok Palace is located on a glacial deposit of pebbles and overlooks fields
of barley grown on terraces on the mountains. Standing four storeys tall, the
Stok Palace was the official residence of the royal family of Ladakh and was
constructed in 1814 by Ladakh's last ruler. The museum at the Stok Palace has
an intriguing collection of Buddhist art, weapons, jewelry and artifacts, including
thangkas painted with colors derived from crushed precious stones. Also on display
are the ceremonial headdresses or 'peraks' of the erstwhile rulers of Ladakh.
These headdresses are decorated with turquoise, lapis lazuli and coral and gold,
making them an exotic sight.
