H E M I S

How to reach there?

Hemis Monastery is the most important and significant Monastery in Ladakh. The road to Hemis bifurcates at Karu. Hemis is situated on the other side of the Indus, while Leh and Karu remain on one side. Hemis gives a good view of the overall Ladakh Landscape.

Hemis has a rectangular structure, which is two storeyed at places, and a hostel inside the Complex , which is single storeyed. There are other hostels outside the Complex also. On entering the Complex, there is a big central ground surrounded on all sides by structures. On the right hand side are two doors, spaced at 50 metres away from each other, each of which leads to separate prayer halls, and with all the literature, decorations, photos of Lamas, and Buddha, and all. A Monk will take you upstairs to a room, where there is a huge statue of Sri Padmasambhava (about 20 to 30 feet or so.), and a monk keeps chanting here continuously. There are other nearby rooms as well, where there is no dearth of antique murals, literature etc. On request, they may allow you to see the hostel as well. From the terrace, you can have a good view of Karu on the other side of Indus.

There is some amount of farming here. Mustard fields may be seen. The festival of Hemis is the biggest and the most important in Ladakh, and attracts a lot of visitors. The colorful event is one thing worth seeing. It is usually held in late June or the first week of July. It is dedicated to Sri Padmasambhava. Every 12 years, the gompa's greatest treasure, a huge thangka - a religious icon, painted or embroidered on cloth - is ritually exhibited.