Tourism in Thiksey revolves almost entirely around its magnificent monastic heritage and stunning high-altitude scenery.
* **Thiksey Monastery (Gompa):** This breathtaking 15th-century gompa is the largest in central Ladakh and is globally famous for its architectural resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. It spans 12 cascading stories down the hillside and houses numerous stupas, statues, and thangkas. * **Maitreya Buddha:** A major highlight of the monastery is the 15-meter (49 ft) high seated statue of Maitreya (the future Buddha), which took four years to craft and covers two stories of the building. * **Surrounding Attractions:** Thiksey is conveniently located on the Leh-Manali highway, making it a natural anchor for those visiting the nearby Shey Palace (the former summer capital of Ladakh) and Hemis Monastery.