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Hemis Monastery Overview

Hemis Monastery is the largest monastery in North India and a must-see destination in Ladakh. More than 1,000 monks reside in the Hemis Monastery, which is located in the foothills of the Indus River. It belongs to the Buddhist order of the red sect Brokpa. Here, young Lamas are prepared to enter the royal monasteries of Shey, Leh, and Basgo, all of which can be experience with our well-curated Leh Ladakh holiday packages.

For centuries, Ladakh's Hemis Monastery has been regarded as India's largest monastery. In the Himalayan region, there are over 200 outposts of the monastery staffed by more than 1,000 monks. There are motorable roads leading to the monastery, which is 45 kilometres from Leh. The trip to Hemis Monastery is an adventure in and of itself, but the surroundings further enhance the experience.

Among the richest monasteries in India, the Hemis Monastery is renowned for its collection of ancient artefacts, including a copper Buddha figure, gold and silver stupas, and more. Sacred Thangkas, murals, and other items may be seen throughout the monastery. Mahayana Buddhism's Drukpa Lineage (also known as the Dragon Order) runs through this monastery in Tibet which was founded by Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje in the 13th century by Tsangwang Drukpan. The monastery's colourful Tibetan-style architecture is a visual treat with the assembly hall, called Dukhang, and the temple, called Tshongkhang, having been separated by a wall. Additionally, the monastery's enormous courtyard is well worth the visit as you will find the Buddhist murals depicting Kalchakra cover the verandah.

Then there is a dwelling for nuns located beneath the monastery that is well worth a visit besides the Hemis National Park that lies close to the monastery and is one of the country's highest national parks. Snow leopards and wolves are among the park's most notable residents. The Hemis Festival is a huge draw for visitors from all over the world. It's lucky to view the monastery's Thanka during the celebration every twelve years since it signifies spiritual health and power. The Vajrayana school of Tantric Buddhism, which is divided into Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug sects, serves as the philosophical framework for the monastery. They are a direct descendant of the Mahayoga Tantra school's practices.

Highlights

• Visit the 17th century shrine of Hemis Monastery that belongs to Buddhism’s Drukpa lineage.
• Walk up to the central courtyard and let the spectacular views of the surrounding landscape and mountains fascinate you.
• Explore the rich collection of dated remnants namely the buddha statue made of copper, various artifacts, murals, silver and gold stupas.
• Appreciate the impressive structures, and architecture of the monastery.
• Enter the assembly hall to discover the Gyalpo statue also known as the fierce protector believed to shield the monastery.
• Stop by the Dukhang Barpa to appreciate the Sakyamani statue, and Guru Lhakhang to marvel at the Guru Padmasambhava statue.
• Partake in the Hemis festival that involves the unfurling of a massive religious painting called thangka before a huge crowd.
• Visit the monastery’s museum which has an extensive collection of different weapons, carriers, artifacts, Buddhist thangkas, and manuscripts on display.
• Shop for souvenirs such as books and t-shirts from a small shop near the museum for friends and family back home.

How To Reach

By Air:

The closest airport to Leh is Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, which is connected to several major Indian airports. To get to your hotel in Leh, you can take a taxi from the airport, and then arrange a day excursion from Leh to Hemis Monastery and other surrounding sights.

By Road:

You can use a taxi or a bus to get to Ladakh, or you can drive your own car or bike to Hemis. To get to the monastery if you're coming from Srinagar, you can take the Leh-Srinagar highway.

By Train:

Jammu Tawi, the nearest railway station to Leh, is 812 kilometers away. To go to Leh from the train station, simply call a taxi. With overnight stays in both Srinagar and Kargil, the trek takes three days to complete. As previously said, after you arrive in Leh, you can take a taxi to the Hemis Monastery.

Best Time To Visit

In the months of May to October, you'll have the best chance of seeing the Hemis Monastery. When the Hemis festival occurs in June and July, you can visit the monastery to learn more about Buddhism. Roads between Srinagar and Manali to Ladakh are open during this time period thus this is the ideal time to go on a trip.

Other Essential Information

Tips to visit 

  • To acclimate to the severe environment of Ladakh, you should get as much rest as possible on your first day there.
  • To keep your skin safe from the sun's harmful rays, use a high-quality sunscreen before going outside.
  • To visit the monastery, visitors do not need Inner Line Permits. To enter the monastery, you'll need to purchase a ticket.
  • You must adhere to the monastery's dress code and adhere to the monastery's regulations.
  • You can leave your cell phone and camera in the monastery museum's lockers while you explore the collection.
  • From the gompa, you may capture breathtaking panoramas on film. You should acquire permission before photographing any monk in the monastery.
  • Sign up for a postpaid number with BSNL, Jio, or Airtel, as other networks do not perform properly in Ladakh.
  • If you're planning a trip to Leh, Ladakh during the high season, book your flights early to avoid price increases.

Places to visit nearby the monastery

Guru Lhakhang

Drukchen suggested that the Guru Lhakhang be built in 1985 and in lieu of a temple that had been demolished, this new structure was created, with the ceiling partially collapsed. The courtyard leading to the porch, where a stairwell leads to the Guru Lhakhang, provides entrance to the hall. In the Guru Lhakhang, Tsering Wangdus painted a massive statue of Guru Padmasambhava, and Nawang Tsering erected it.

Sacred Hermitage

Gyalwa Kotsang built a sacred hermitage about three kilometres from the monastery grounds. The colourful Buddhist flags adorning the cave contrasted well with the rough rocks. On the rocks of the cave, you will discover the hand and footprints of Gyalwa Kotsang. 

Thiksey Monastery 

Thirteen stories high, Thiksey monastery is situated at an altitude of 11,800 feet. There are various Buddhist artefacts found here, including thangkas, stupas, wall murals, sculptures, and swords. The Maitreya Temple is one of the monastery's most prominent attractions as a massive statue of Maitreya Buddha can be found inside of the temple, which spans two storeys and is 15 metres tall. 

Stakna Monastery

The Stakna Monastery, a Buddhist retreat on the banks of the Indus River, is linked with the Drukpa Sect. The monastery is known as "Stakna" because of its hilltop location, which resembles the nose of a tiger. Located at an elevation of 11,800 feet, the Stakna monastery affords spectacular views of Hemis monastery and its environs.

Shey Monastery and Palace

The Shey Monastery and Palace are a must-see when in Leh, Ladakh, because they have so much to offer visitors of all types. The enormous statue of Shakyamuni Buddha and the picturesque site of the monastery in Stok, which is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, attract a large number of people from around the globe. The monastery is well-known not just for its stunning design, but also for the breathtaking views it affords from the vantage point from which it was erected. From here, it's possible to have a bird's eye view over the Indus Valley and Indus River as far as the settlement of Stok.

Hotels nearby

Hotel Lotus 

The Hotel Lotus, nestled under poplar trees and lush green lawns, has all the modern conveniences at a reasonable price. It's easy to get to Hotel Lotus from any part of Leh thanks to its location on Upper Karzo Road. Nearby attractions and shopping malls make it an ideal location for visitors to the city of Leh.

Hotel Omasila 

Your stay at the Hotel Omasila will be a memorable one in this extraordinary Himalayan Kingdom. Taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and breathing in some fresh air will help you relax. Located in a gorgeous area, Hotel Omasila, which is only a 15-minute drive from Leh's airport and close to the market, offers stunning views of the Himalayas.

Lha-Ri-Sa resort

Located in Ladakh, Lha-Ri-Sa Boutique Hotel offers a unique blend of comfort and eco-consciousness with modern conveniences. You'll be enchanted by the snow-capped Zanskar ranges while you relax in shady poplar trees.

Welcome Heritage Shamba-La

Located in a forest of poplar trees about a mile from the centre of Leh, the WelcomHeritage Shamba-La resort exudes peace and quiet. This resort, perched atop a ridge 11,000 feet above sea level in Leh's Indus River Valley, offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

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Point of Interest for Hemis Monastery
Monastery Courtyard
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Monastery Courtyard

A short distance later, you will arrive at the monastery's main courtyard. It is impossible not to be captivated by the breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding mountains and countryside as there are multiple buildings surrounding the courtyard, giving it plenty of space.

Prayer Hall of the Monastery
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Prayer Hall of the Monastery

Tibetan paintings on silk cloth representing deities or mandalas are known as Thangkas, and the prayer hall featured an impressive collection of them. Thanks to its enormous size, one of the monastery's Thangkas could only be presented once every 12-years or so.

Assembly Hall
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Assembly Hall

In this chamber, we discovered a statue of the Gyalpo (Fierce Protector), who is said to guard the Hemis Monastery. The statue is a representation of Tantric Buddhism in its greatest and most effective form. After a while, you will make your way to a different building, known as Dukhang Barpa where you will find the walls covered with artwork, and a golden Buddha statue in the room as well.

Monastery Museum
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Monastery Museum

Buddhism's most famous artwork, artefacts, and weaponry are all on display at the museum. The  most attractive feature of it is that it is nicely illustrated, displaying numerous monastic artefacts. There is a tiny shop on the ground level of the museum where souvenirs including t-shirts, books, and other items are sold.

The Nyingma Lhakhang Temple
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The Nyingma Lhakhang Temple

With a history dating back over a thousand years, it is the most important portion of the monastery. The courtyard in front of the temple's main entrance leads to the Nyingma Lhakhang. Beautiful spring water flows from the courtyard, and a wood shop houses willow stumps. Kitchen and other support structures are linked to the Nyingma Lhakhang. There are two statues of Tara and Stagsan Raspa in the Nyingma Lhakhang. Various Buddha-themed artwork, murals, and paintings decorate the chamber. Nyingma Lhakhang's paintings had to be repainted in 2015 after some were damaged by water seepage.

Dukhang Barpa
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Dukhang Barpa

In the centre of the prayer halls is the Dukhang Barpa, and only special occasions need the employment of this room. From the courtyard, there is a stairway that leads to the porch, from where one can enter the hall. Four wooden pillars support the porch and its balconies with the three-tiered ceiling that is supported by slender wooden pillars in the hall. For the Hemis Festival, it serves as a dressing room and waiting area for the performers, and also features a large Shakyamuni sculpture and statues honouring Gyalra Rinpoche, Stagsan Raspa, alongside countless stupas.

Dukhang Chenmo
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Dukhang Chenmo

Stagsan Raspa and Drukchen take their places in the prayer hall known as the Dukhang Chenmo. It's interesting to compare the paintings in this room to those in the Nyingma Lhakhang as some believe they symbolise the distinctive artistic sensibilities of Ladakhi artisans as deities and lineage masters. In the monastery, it is one of the most prominent places to be because the Drukchen and Stagsan, as well as other gods and masters, are honoured in this place through sacred rites and invocations of their namesakes.

 Visitors’ Gallery
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Visitors’ Gallery

The Hemis Festival
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The Hemis Festival

To commemorate Guru Padmasambhava's birth, Ladakh's Hemis Festival is one of the most significant Buddhist celebrations as well as a top tourist attraction. Festivities at Hemis Gompa, Ladakh's most-visited monastery and an important Buddhist shrine, are held for two days each year in June/July (the fifth and tenth days respectively). During this annual event in Ladakh, the Hemis Monastery hosts performances of the Cham Dance and other folk dance performances to the sounds of drums, cymbals, and a long pipe-like Tibetan musical instrument. There will be public unveilings of massive thangkas (Buddhist artworks) on both days. In reality, on the festival's first day in Hemis, the biggest thangka in Ladakh is displayed to the public every 12 years.

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Hemis Monastery Reviews

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Uttam Kaniyar
Reviewed: 24 Jan 2020
5.0/5
Breathtaking place, Lots of tourists visited this place every year, Just loved everything I had experience there with the group... All places were my favorite... Amazing stay, foods, and people... 8-days in Leh-Ladakh was the best days of my life
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Bankimchandra Mukhopadhyay
Reviewed: 11 Dec 2019
5.0/5
All that I've been waiting for was fulfilled...At-last I got what I wanted...I want to visit this place and plan for many years but this time it works out as Thrillophilia offers the budgeted-package plus everything was amazingly-organized which we felt safe to travel with them...The coordinator and... Read More
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Sanya Abbott
Reviewed: 16 Mar 2017
5.0/5
I joined a group of around 12 people from different states of India. All of them were coming to Ladakh for the first time. So the excitement was in the sky. We traveled through the hills and valleys. Many gompas or temples I think were there on the way. Hardly I saw the natives. At Leh only we saw p... Read More
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Hiranmaya Khan
Reviewed: 16 Mar 2017
5.0/5
It was an amazing trip for me and my wife. After waiting for a long time only we got this opportunity. From booking, everything was at ease and Thrillophilia helped us very well. The tour was also an amazing one, we did not know even how the days pass. Brilliant place. A must visit.
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Hamsini Chopra
Reviewed: 16 Mar 2017
4.0/5
Ladakh is a magic. From the start to the end the whole location was changing colours, appearing different and what not. I could not believe my eyes. I am expecting this time also I can join any team like last year with my friends. Last year I bought some souvenirs from Leh and I keep looking at it t... Read More

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