Places To Visit In Hemis

Top Places To Visit In Hemis

About Hemis

Hemis is a village in Leh district of J&K. The place is well known for its Monastery establishes by the King Senge Nampar Gyalva in 1672 AD. The village celebrates a colourful festival held in July. The literacy rate of the population excluding children aged 6 and below is 95%.

Best Time To Visit:

To spot snow leopards is in the Late Winter i.e., ending of March. The best time to visit the park and enjoy the Hemis festival tourists have to visit the place from Mau to September.

How To Reach:

The nearest airport to Hemis is Leh Rimpochee airport – 42 KM

The nearest railway station is Katra – 277 Km

Regular bus services are there to the city of Hemis.

As Hemis is a small village, people can travel on foot and visit the places.

Address: Hemis, Leh District, J&K – 194201.

Places To Visit In Hemis:

High Alitude Wildlife Sanctuary,
Hemis Monastery,
Gotsang Gompa,
Stakna Gompa and
Shang Gompa.

Best Places To Visit In Hemis:

1.Hemis High Altitude Wildlife sanctuary:

Hemis High Altitude Wildlife Sanctuary is National Park in the eastern part of Ladakh region of J&K. The park is home to a number of endangered species which include the Snow leopards. The park is surrounded on the banks of Indus River on North and includes the basins of Markha, Sumdah and Rumbak and the parts of Zanskar Range.

This National Park is the largest in South Asia. The park is found in 1981 by protecting the Markha and Rumbak, in an area of about 230 sq miles. In 1988 the park is around 1290 sq miles and in 1990 the park has increased to 1700 sq miles.

The park is home for 200 snow leopards and also home for Great Tibetan Sheep, Blue sheep, Ladakhi Urial, Asiatic Ibex, Tibetan wolf, Eurasian Brown Bear, Red Fox, Himalayan Marmot, Mountain weasel, Himalayan Mouse Hare.

The park is also home for the Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan birds like the golden eagle, lammergeyer vulture, Himalayan Griffon vulture, brown accentor, robin accentor, Tickell’s leaf warbler, streaked rosefinch, black-winged snowfinch, chukar, Blyth’s Swift, Red-Billed chough, Himalayan Snowcock and the fire-fronted serin. Total of 16 mammals and 73 bird species are been recorded in the park till now.

The park also is the home for number of flora species like Juniper, Populus- Salix forests, subalpine dry birch-fir are at the lower altitudes. As the upper altitude mountain slopes are moist, so this area is having alpine vegetation which includes Anemone, Thallctrwn, Veronica, Gentiana, Lloydia, Delphinum, Kobresia and Carex and also Caragana, Artemisia, Stachys, Ephedra and 15 rare medicinal plants are grown whch includes Arnebia euchroma, Acantholimon Lycopodiodes, Artimisia maritime, Ephedra Gerardiana, Bergenia Stracheyi, Hyoscyamus niger and Ferula Jaeschkeana.

How To Reach:

Leh Rimpochee Airport is the nearest airport, Jammu is the nearest rail head.

Entry Fee:

For Indians – Rs 20.

For Foreigners – Rs 100.

Timings:

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Time To Be Spent:

2-3 Hours.

Address: Hemis National Park, Leh District, J&K- 194302.

2. Hemis Monastery:

Hemis Monastery is a Buddhist Monastery in Ladakh. It is located 45kms from South of Leh. This monastery is considered to be one of the 7 wonders of India and the world heritage site of the country.

Hemis Monastery is one of the wealthiest monasteries in India. Lord Buddha statue here is with the spectacular copper along with Stupas made of gold and silver, thangkas and murals.

The walls of the main building are composed of white color. The entrance to the monastery is through a big gate which reaches to the rectangular courtyard. The monastery is wide and open and has 2 raised platforms and a scared pole in the center. It has raised platforms with richly cushioned seat and a Tibetan table containing ceremonial items such as uncooked rice, incense sticks and holy water.

Festivals:

The festival is done for 2-days in Hemis Monastery in the Month of Monkey according to Chinese calendar, which is in the July month of Hindu calendar, is dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava, actually known as Guru Rinpoche. This Hemis Festival at the monastery is celebrated to appreciate his life, contributions and memories.

At the time of festival, the locals dress up in traditional Tibetan clothes. Men wear belts and women wear vibrant crowns and jewellery. The Chaam dance is performed at the time of the festival and this festival is the main attraction of the city.

Hemis Monastery Timings:

8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

2:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Hemis Monastery Entry fee:

Rs 60 per adult.

Time To Be spent:

1-2 Hours.

How To Reach:

Hemis to Hemis Monastery – 1.2 KM

Address: Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, J&K.

3. Gotsang Gompa

Gotsang Gompa is the Buddhist monastery situated very close to Hemis Monastery. The only way to reach this Gompa is via one hour trek from the Hemis Gompa. This Gompa has 2 main buildings; the main building is the mountain cave in which Gyalwang Gotsang. A mantra chanter master and an enlightened Tibetan lama, whom the lineage of Drukpa Buddhists travel back to.

Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Time To Be spent: 1-2 Hours.

Entry Fee: Free entry

How To Reach: Hemis to Gotsang Gompa – 3 KM.

4. Stakna Gompa

Stakna Gompa is over a small unsteady bridge over the Indus and looks like the most panoramic and beautiful views of Hemis. The structure may not be as sprawling and colourful as a lot of other monasteries around the area. The Gompa name is translated into “Tiger’s nose”.

Timings:

6:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

1:30 PM to 6:00 PM.

Time To Spend:

2-3 hours.

Entry Fee:

Rs 30 per person.

Photography:

Allowed.

How To Reach:

Leh to Stakna Monastery – 25 KM.

5. Shang Gompa:

Shang Gompa is a symbol of composure, peace, spending and placidity. The chanting of the monks is mesmerizing.

The paintings of the Gompa are complex, colourful and unbelievable, depicting deities wearing crowns decorated with jewels and human skulls, holding swords or lotus flowers, wearing silken robes and tiger skins.

Timings: 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Time To Be Spent: 1-2 Hours.

Entry Fee: Free Entry.

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