Attracting visitors from every corner of the world, Hemis is home to wonderful landscapes, scenic ambiences and ancient monasteries. The destination, though religiously inclined, is visited by naturalists, photo fanatics, backpackers and week end travelers. Out of all attractions, Hemis monastery tops the list of locations visited by tourists and devotees alike.

Historians record that the monastery has been in existence since 11th century and seen periodic refurbishments by the Kings reigning over the periods.

Hemis is also popular for National Park with rich flora & fauna and Hemis festival. Some of the most exciting attractions of Hemis are enumerated in this section which will definitely interest you.

Hemis High Altitude National Park : Located at an elevation of 3000 – 6000 meters above the sea level, the Hemis High Altitude National Park is home to world’s highest number of snow leopards which are very rarely found in other National Parks.

As the name suggests, this is the world’s highest national park owing to its location. Sitting on the banks of River Indus, the vast region houses number of animals and plants which can be explored while you are touring to Kashmir. Also, the adventurer in you can take you through unexplored regions of Hemis High Altitude National Park. Please note, to keep the inhabitants comfortable, motorized vehicles are not permitted inside this 4000 sq km area.

Hemis Monastery : The tranquil ambience, scenic backdrop and exuberant architecture makes Hemis Monastery, the most visited location in Kashmir region. With a strong historic background of many centuries, Hemis Monastery is the power seat of Drupka Lineage in Buddhism.

The festivals celebrated in Hemis Monastery are so vibrant to behold the beauty of religious and cultural events. The Tibetan style architecture of Hemis monastery is impressive style with a giant entrance gate leading to a huge open yard where the festivals are witnessed by both tourists and devotees.

Shang Gompa : Tucked in the wrinkled mountains of Himalayas, Shang Gompa is a must visit destination during your tour to Leh in Kashmir region. The tourists and spiritually inclined visitors get drenched into the vibrant sounds of chanting made by monks residing here. The paintings inside this monastery speaks volumes of history about various deities embellished with crowns, flowers and swords, an interesting composition of history and religion which seem to be mutually exclusive in this ancient premise

Gotsang Gompa : One of the rarest occasions where you will be allowed to stay inside a Buddhist Monastery comes when you visit Gotsang Gompa while visiting Leh, the ideal place to enjoy nature sitting on its lap and is the most popular tourist destination in Kashmir region. The aesthetic ambience, tranquil sceneries and on top of everything, an opportunity to explore the religious and historic side of this monastery staying inside is something special about Gotsang Gompa. Though not fluent, the monks will enlighten you on your queries in English, which will be an interesting session to rewind later.

Shopping in Hemis : Your trip to Hemis will not be complete if you don’t visit the shopping centres dotted across the small region. Wooden dragon statues, paintings, curios and lot more artifacts are exhibited in the Hemis Museum. Get souvenirs to your friends and family connecting you to the historic Hemis.