Tourism Ladakh : Hemis National Park

The stunningly beautiful Hemis National Park is located in the Eastern part of Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir. It is the only national park in India north of the Himalayas and lies at an altitude of up to 6,930m above sea level, covering an area of 600 sq kms.

Hemis-national-park-Ladakh

History

The park was founded in 1981 and is currently the largest national park in South Asia. Hemis was a destination and stopping point on the silk routes of Tibet and the park includes the famous 400-year old Hemis Gompa Monastery, for which it was named, within it’s boundaries.

Hemis_Gompa_India

Flora and Fauna

The park has been dubbed the “Snow Leopard Capital of India” and wide variety of flora and fauna can be seen here. The park is receives little rain fall and contains many dry forests, alpine grasslands and scrub lands. Wildlife lovers are drawn to this remote location are the park’s many endangered animals. Some of its inhabitants include the snow leopard, ibex, serow, Tibetan antelope and red fox. There have been 16 mammal species and 73 bird species recorded in the park so far.

Yak-hemis-national-park-wildlife

Natural Beauty

Views overlooking the Indus River and the surrounding area make Hemis National Park photographer’s delight. The park offers a number of routes for trekking from mid-June to mid-October.

Indus-River

When to Visit

Visitors should plan their trip from May to October. During winters the temperature goes well below zero and heavy snowfall is seen.

Ladakh tourism:The Hemis Festival in Leh

Hemis Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Ladakh (in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir). Located 45 km from Leh, the 300 year old monastery is home to the famous Hemis festival which falls in June or July every year.

Hemis-festival-Leh

History of the festival

The Hemis Festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava who founded Tantric Buddhism in Tibet. Also known as Second Buddha, the festival is of huge importance to those celebrating.

Hemis is celebrated on the 10th day of the Tibetan lunar month in the Hemis Monastery, the largest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh.

Hemis-festival

The ceremonies begin with an early morning ritual atop the Gompa where, to the beat of drums and the resounding clash of cymbals and wail of pipes, the portrait of the sacred Guru Rinpoche (another name for the Guru) is brought forward so that all devotees can take blessings.

The most esoteric of festivities are the mystic mask dances. The Mask Dances of Ladakh are referred collectively as chams Performance.

Hemis-festival-mask

At the Festival

A bevy of locals and tourists alike are seen making a beeline in local buses and cabs to the cosy monastery, clearly not equipped to handle the massive surge of humanity. Many travellers also camp outside the night before to get early entry and row side seats to the wonderful traditional dances.

Masks and monks-Hemis-Festival

Masked lamas perform elaborate dances, special music performances and commentaries in front of a large but intimate crowd. The half day ceremony is watched in awe by thousands. As a spectator try and get a seat as close to the main courtyard. These fill fast, so arrive at the festival as early as 7 in the morning. Tickets are available for Rs 500/- to sit very close to the performance. It is a great experience to sit and watch this marvellous show with the locals. They too, come dressed in their traditional cummerbunds and head gear for this annual ceremony.

Hemis-masks-festival

Outside the monastery, the ambience is nothing short of a fair. Local food, artefacts and knick-knacks are on display. This is a good occasion to pick up local handicrafts as all merchants come and display their wares at the festival.

Things To Do in Ladakh

Some of the most stunning landscapes in India can be found in one place, Ladakh where there are many natural wonders. The tricky terrain of Ladakh has kept it a secret from tourists until recently. Now it stands as one of the most enchanting locales in the country with some of the finest experiences this spectacular land has to offer and plenty of places for tourists to explore.

1. A True Attraction

One of the most intriguing occurrences in the world is the Magnetic Hill in Ladakh, which is located 30 kilometres from Leh. Here, switched off vehicles move up a steep mountain at the speed of 20 kilometres/hour. The ride is an unbelievable, almost magical experience.

2. Trekking Trails

Trekking in Ladakh is an exceptional and incomparable experience. Choose from all-day treks as well as shorter ones to manoeuvre mountain slopes and reach a remote village or monastery. Longer treks can last up to 21 days and sometimes even more. These spectacular but testing trans-mountain journeys will offer up some of the most dazzling landscapes in the world and involve camping in the middle of nowhere. Treks limited to the Indus Valley, are possible to arrange in May and other routes are safe and accessible after July. A route called Chaddar is considered one the world’s most exciting trekking trails. Irrespective of what trail you choose, prior arrangements and supplies are essential. The terrain is tricky and deceptive, and you should not make the mistake of underestimating the conditions.

Trekking in Ladakh

3. River Rafting

Rafting options are widely available on River Indus and many of its tributaries. The stretch between Spituk and Saspol is the most suitable for rides and the ideal location for tourists to experience the sport without pushing their luck. Beyond Saspol, even ardent adventure seekers would require highly skilled professionals to guide the journey. The most tumultuous route is between Padum and Nimo. To take on this journey, advance preparation is imperative. Even with professional guides and participants, rescue crews are a pre-requisite when taking on the mighty Zanskar.

The-Indus-River

4. Photographer’s Paradise

Ladakh is considered one of the most stunning places in India for photography, if not the best. Even though, or perhaps because it was, opened to the general public only in 1974, it is not over-exposed and has mystique. In just the last decade its elusive beauty has become the toast of the film making and photography world. Photographers brave the long journey to reach far flung corners of Ladakh and capture its unreal beauty of film. Ladakh’s natural terrain resembles lunar landscapes with spurts of azure pools set within golden mountain-sides. To take back images of the local life in Ladakh, opt for one of the communal homestays here. These are homestays where the entire village operates as a team to promote eco-tourism. These native villagers have access to the beautiful local monasteries and by staying with them you can obtain an insider’s view into rituals and festivals; a priceless experience.

Paradise

5. Drives of a lifetime

A trip to Ladakh is incomplete if one hasn’t driven on the Manali-Leh route. This journey is possible the best part of a trip to Ladakh. The journey is set along breath-taking locales. Driving isn’t the only option of undertaking this journey, private taxis can also be hired in Manali to reach Leh. More often than not, taxi drivers can be cajoled into letting guests take the wheel. The route of Delhi-Manali-Leh is significantly longer than a Delhi-Leh flight. But without a shadow of a doubt it is worth the extra time and money spent. Another unbelievable driving route is in Khardungla. At 18380 above sea level this the highest motorable road in the world and offers the most splendid and incomparable vistas to visitors.

Mountain range Ladakh

6. Life in Leh

Leh is famous for the Victory Peak, which was built in the 16th century by King Tashi Namgyal. A very important religious and historical monument Leh’s Sunni Mosque that is over 400 years old. Other than due to its age, the mosque is important because it a rare amalgam of Islamic and Tibetan architecture. Most Buddhist monasteries in Leh can be covered within two days. An idyllic way to experience the real life and culture of Leh is by living with a local family. Many families have opened their homes to visitors as homestays. By staying with them, one can experience Leh’s rich culture through food, music, and conversation as well as learn about their history through elders who have lived it first-hand.