Stakna Monastery is the earliest of the Drug-pa foundations in Ladakh. It was established before the arrival on the Ladakh scene of the great lama Stag-tsang-ras-pa, the founder of Hanle and Hemis, and later of Chemrey under the patronage of Sengge Namgyal. The name of Nawang Namgyal is associated with the gompa`s early history, one of Sengge`s half-brothers. They were the sons of Jamyang Namgyal`s first marriage, who entered holy orders in 1630. He is said to have `restored` the building, perhaps replacing an originally more modest structure with the present impressive pile. It was later endowed by Delegs Namgyal. However in the eighteenth century seems to have lost ground to Hemis in the matter of royal patronage and political importance. Stakna connotes `tiger`s nose` and the monastery was named accordingly due to the fact that the hill on which the monastery was located, is shaped like a tiger`s nose. Stakna Monastery of Leh Ladakh owes its inception to Chosje Jamyang Palkar, the great scholar saint of Bhutan. Around 1580 AD, it formed a part of the many religious estates offered by the Dharmaraja Jamyang Namgial to the saint.

The Stakna monastery is situated on an isolated rock sixty metres high, which rises from the almost dead flat of the Indus valley a few kilometres above Tikse. It is on the left bank of the river. The gompa buildings, crowning their rock, are not extensive but are beautifully maintained. A small courtyard has steps leading up to the du-khang, whose principal feature is a silver chorten manufactured in Chiling in the middle decades of this century. The chorten is exemplary of the exquisite craftsmanship and is studded with great flawless turquoises. The murals are nothing out of the ordinary, being in the familiar style and therefore presumably of fairly recent date. But a small chapel behind the chorten and its attendant images has paintings which probably date from the gompa`s foundation. The style and creativity are much more free and alive and individual. The paintings that are exhibited are of exceedingly high quality and are the instances of brilliant artistry.

The gonkhang is closed to women due to the fact that it is usually gloomy short chamber. As might be expected from the gompa`s situation, there are astounding views from the roof, both down and up the Indus valley, taking in Shey, Tikse, Chushot and Matho. The scenic beauty of the bare slopes of the Ladakh range to the north, and the tremendous snow-capped peaks and ridges of the Zanskar range to the south are enjoyed from the same place.