Zangla Palace

Zangla Palace is a ruined hilltop palace in Zangla village in the Zanskar Valley of Kargil district, Ladakh. Perched on a hill above the Zanskar River, it served as the former residence of the royal family of the Kingdom of Zanskar. The dilapidated structure offers panoramic views of the village and surrounding mountains and is located close to Zangla Monastery. It is noted for its association with Hungarian scholar Alexander Csoma de Koros who stayed there in 1823-1824.

Visitors can expect a ruined, largely unmaintained palace complex on a hilltop overlooking Zangla village and the Zanskar River valley. Access involves a short uphill walk on uneven paths to reach the crumbling walls and rooms. Inside there are empty chambers and remnants of the former royal residence with views of the village, fields, and mountains. The adjacent Zangla Monastery and nunnery can be visited nearby. There are no formal exhibits or restored interiors; the experience is primarily sightseeing, photography and viewing the landscape.

Zangla Palace served as the palace of the royal family of the former Kingdom of Zanskar. The ruling family resided here until recent decades. The palace gained historical importance when Hungarian scholar and Tibetologist Alexander Csoma de Koros stayed here for over a year in 1823-1824, where he studied Tibetan language and Buddhism and worked on his Tibetan-English dictionary and grammar.

The palace reflects the Tibetan Buddhist cultural heritage of Zanskar and the traditional architecture of the region. It is closely linked to Zangla Monastery and the local Buddhist community, representing the former political and cultural centre of Zangla village.