Hemis

Hemis is a famous heritage spot in Jammu and Kashmir. From Leh, it is situated at a distance of 45 Km. Hemis is also considered to be a pilgrim of the Buddhists. Among the many Gompas in the Ladakh region, Hemis is mostly visited by the tourists. During summer, a festival is organized in this area.

There are a number of Buddhist Gompas located in Ladakh of Jammu and Kashmir. Among all the Gompas of this region, Hemis is considered to be the largest one. This Gompa was set up 350 years ago. This ancient monastery is believed to be founded by Stagtshang Rinchen. The Gompa has a courtyard of an area of about thousand square meter.

Hemis is an important tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir. This place has been a noted center for the Buddhist monks at one point of time. Later about 500 monks have moved to different places in Ladakh. The monastery of Hemis is headed by the Lama, known as Rimpoche.

The surrounding areas of Hemis in Jammu and Kashmir are very peaceful. It is only during the festival that the local people celebrate with lots of gusto. The tourists can also join in with the local people.

There is a Hemis National Park in Ladakh. This national park has derived its name from the Hemis Gompa. It has an area of about 600 square kilometer and many species of animal are found here. A rare species of Snow Leopard can be seen in this national park. May to October are favorable months to visit Hemis National Park.

Last Updated on 8/29/2011