Thikse Monastery, located in Thiksey village near Leh in Ladakh, India, is a prominent Tibetan Buddhist monastery affiliated with the Gelugpa sect. Perched atop a hill at an altitude of 3,600 meters (11,800 feet), the monastery offers stunning panoramic views of the Indus Valley. Often referred to as "Mini Potala" because of its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, Thikse Monastery is a 12-story complex that houses numerous stupas, statues, thangkas, and an impressive 15-meter (49-foot) statue of Maitreya Buddha.
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