Best Leh Attractions: Tours & Tickets

Hemis National Park is a very famous wildlife attraction in Ladakh, renowned for its large population of snow leopards as well as the varied bird species. After the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, it is India's second-largest continuous protected area. The park covers an area of 3,350 square kilometres and is a must-see, not only for animal aficionados, but also for photographers and hikers as well. Since it is positioned in the Himalayan rain shadow area, Hemis National Park receives very little rainfall throughout the year. As a result, the park is scattered with dry forests, with fir growing at lower elevations. The most common flora species are fir, juniper and dry birch as well as several rare and endangered medicinal plants.The park is a part of the Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau ecoregion, which includes dense pine forests, alpine plants, and large meadows. The sweeping panoramas of the stream of the Indus River offered here are unmatched and in their raw form. Within the park lies several famous attractions of Ladakh, including the Hemis Monastery as well as the Stok Kangri Peak. Even after having such a huge collection of animals and birds, the Hemis National Park has been providing a route to various trekking trails. Read More: Best Tour Packages to Leh Ladakh

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.