The museum, which lies extremely close to the Leh Market, is one of the city's most notable structures. It is a superbly constructed museum with a first-floor picture exhibition which is followed by relics, maps, and other items dating back to the 16th century.
Courtyard of the museum also houses Leh's oldest mosque along with a small exhibition hall. The museum is dedicated to Central Asian commerce, of which Ladakh has long been a vital junction and which has had an enduring impact on the formation of Ladakh's distinct culture.
The Central Asian Museum in Leh houses a diverse collection of antiquities, manuscripts, and cultural artifacts from Central Asia. Old handwritten copies of the Quran, and the ancient handwritten chronology of the Prophet are the two top attractions here.
The Central Asian Museum currently houses rock art, day to day instruments such as weighing machines from ancient Ladakh and even currency gathered from across the Central Asian states. The Museum courtyard also houses an ancient Ladakhi kitchen and an old caravan water heater, which stand testament to the way of life led by Ladakhi settlers in the earlier days.
In parlance with the concept of the Museum, the ground-floor ceiling is inspired by early Ladakhi and Baltistani style architecture. The Museum even features diamond ceilings similar to those in traditional Ladakhi temples.
