Hemis Monastery Leh Ladakh

If you are planning the trip to LehLadakh and looking for the tourist attractions then Hemis Monastery which is in Ladakh would win your heart for sure. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ladakh and it is situated on the west banks of peaceful Indus River. The place is 45 km far from the city of Leh. It is the largest and also the one which is favored the most in Ladakh. 

Hemis Monastery was constructed in 1672 AD under the reign of King SinggeNamgyal. The Monastery hosts festivals annually which are known as HemisTsechu and attracts many tourists from all over the world. During the time of the festival, the lamas glorify the victory of good over bad and also perform dance wearing masks.

Attraction for tourists

The Monastery consists of the beautiful architecture which attracts many tourists and visitors every year. If you want to, you can pay homage to the structures of Lord Buddha and Guru Rimpoche. There’s also the museum which has a vast collection of Buddhist statues, structures and several other ancient items that shows the existence of rich culture at the time of ancient period. 

Not only this, you may also visit the High Altitude Wildlife Sanctuary, it is at the altitude from 3300 m to 6000 m above the level of the sea. The place is also considered as the largest park in South Asia and all over the world. At the sanctuary, there are also chances of spotting the Ibex, snow leopard and other wild animals. 

How to reach the Monastery?

If you don’t know how toreach to Hemis Monastery, you don’t need to worry as Hemis is connected well by the road with rest of India. There are also active services of bus available by the Government and private authorities. There’s no direct rail or flight connectivity to reach Hemis. 

If you are looking for the rail services to Hemis, nearest station is Katra which is 278 km away whereas nearest airport is LehRimpoche Airport which lies 42 km from the Hemis Monastery.

Food to try

Many different platters are found in Hemis. Some of the famous items at Hemis include Thukpa which is a thick soup filled with vegetables, Pava made of Sattu, Khambir which is a local bread of Leh, flour, Skieu made with mutton and veggies, steamed dumplings made with vegetables meat, sandwiches and chili sauce with apricot jam.

Best time to visit the place in Ladakh

If you want to visit the Hemis Monastery, book your tickets for the month of June or July. At that time, the Monastery is decorated by the lamas and also the two days annual Hemis festival takes place. The famous Cham Dance and the age-old Thangkas at the time of festival is the spectacular and enjoyable event to experience. Also, the summer season from April to June is also the main pick for most of the tourists.