The village of Thikse is around several km away from Leh. The village itself houses quite a population. The importance here is the Thikse Monastery. The monastery is situated on top of a hillock, with the hostels of the monks on the slopes of the hillock. Your vehicle is allowed upto halfway. From there, one has to climb the steps which take you to top. Along with joy and excitement, and a few clicks of the villages down, breathlessness is also going to accompany you to the top. Mid way on the steps, a big prayer wheel is kept. On top, ask a monk to accompany you. The main monastery houses age old relics, hand written scriptures, and of course the Chorten and photos of His Highness The Dalai Lama, and others. The other building houses a huge 42 feet, colourful statue of Gautam Buddha. Photos are allowed, but for a video shoot, one has to offer a donation of Rs.50. But it's worth it. After coming out of the prayer halls, stand outside and enjoy the stunning view of The villages. You can see a barren brown patch, followed by village houses, followed by a green zone around Indus, and then again the brown desert. The view is amazing. The importance and contribution of Indus will become evident as you survey the Landscape.