Hemis is a village in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located at a distance of 45 kms from the capital city Leh. It was founded around 350 years ago. It has the largest Gompa (monastery) in Ladakh. Anyone visiting Ladakh is sure to visit the Hemis Gompa. Hemis Setchu festival which takes place in mid July attracts a lot of visitors, mostly foreigners. A huge Thangka painting is unrolled every twelve years during the festival. One can experience a sense of tranquility outside the Gompa. It also offers a panoramic view of the valley below.
Ladakh has a cold climate due to its altitude. Due to its dry weather conditions and the cool weather, it is called a Cold Desert. The air is rarified and so some people may experience breathing problems. The summer temperature ranges from 8oC to 27oC. The minimum temperature in summer sometimes may go as low as -3oC. The winter is very cold. The range of temperature in winters is -20oC to -15oC. There is snowfall by late September. It is a must to rest on the day of arrival to Ladakh region to acclimatize with the environment here.
The best time to visit Hemis is from June to September. It is advisable to carry thick woolen clothes, wind cheaters, sun glasses, sturdy shoes, caps and sun screen. The skin needs to be well protected against the harsh climate.
The hotels here may not accept international credit cards. There are no ATMs in Hemis. But bank branches and ATMs are there in the city of Leh. It is best to carry cash to this place. There may not be any moneychangers here so carry Indian currency only.
No permits are required for Indian nationals in Ladakh. For foreign tourists, registration is done at the airport or at Drass, Rumste and Sechru if they travel by road to Ladakh.
By Air
Leh Airport is 45 kms from Hemis. The flights are mostly full in peak season and so it is better to book in advance. From the airport, one can take a taxi or a bus to reach Hemis.There are flights to Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar. The flights are operated by Indian Airlines, Jet and Deccan. They may not be daily flights. The weather may delay or cancel flights and that has to be taken into consideration when the trip is planned.
By Road
The buses are frequent in the festive season. Otherwise there is a bus in the morning at 9 and another one to returns back at 12.30 pm.
By road, one can reach Leh from Srinagar or Manali. The roads are open only from June to September and maybe blocked sometimes due to landslides or other conditions. The journey offers breathtaking views of the desert landscape.
• Hemis Gompa is the most famous and the largest Gompa in Ladakh. It is located on a hillock. It is reached by climbing 3 kms which takes an hour. The Thangka is kept in this Gompa and is unveiled once in 12 years on the façade of the Gompa. • The Lakhang has a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha with blue hair. It has beautiful frescoes too. It also has a great library with well preserved wall paintings and Buddhas.
Ladakhi food mainly consists of vegetables like Potato, Pumpkin, beans and beetroot along with meat like chicken and mutton. The flavouring is mild. ‘Thupka’, which is a thick soup and ‘Momos’ – dumplings stuffed with vegetables or meat are must not be missed. Tibetian food is also quite common in Hemis and all around Ladakh. There are cafes run by the Gompa in the village. The capital, Leh has many restaurants serving Indian and continental food. Sweet shops and bakeries serve delicacies and bread. Himalaya Café, Shangrila and Budshah Inn are good restaurants in Leh.
There is no hotel in Hemis. Rooms are available at the Gompa .Tented accommodation is also available in the village below or in the woods. Leh, which is just 45km from here, has many good hotels to stay. Hotel Royal Palace, Hotel Lingzi, Hotel Ladakh Sarai and Hotel Shambha La are nice hotels in Leh. You can stay in Leh and take a day trip to Hemis.
