About Hemis National Park – Why is it a must visit for you?

The white beauty that Ladakh is, is on everyone’s list of places to travel, because of the many wonders that it has in store for you. If you have ever glanced through the pictures of Ladakh, you might have come across the most common sightseeing places.

Now you know Ladakh is filled with the mighty snow-capped Himalayas on all sides, the glistering bright blue lakes in several parts of its region, famous monasteries that give you a glimpse of Tibetan and Buddhist culture as well as a journey through some of the highest motorable passes in the world.

But there’s more to Ladakh. Did you ever know about the wildlife and vegetation that thrives in this white desert? If not then visiting Ladakh will get even more interesting for you. Every state boasts of national parks and Ladakh is also one of them.

The Hemis National Park is a must-visit if you want to see the marvellous flora and fauna in this high altitude region of the Himalayas. Here is everything you need to know about the Hemis National Park in Ladakh.

About Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park  Hemis High Altitude National Park is a national park situated in Easter Ladakh region, Its famous around the world for Spotting snow leopards. Hemis is believed to have the highest density of snow leopards. It is the only National park that is towards the north of Himalayas and is one of the biggest protected regions. Snow leopards are difficult to spot because they blend so well amongst the snow-clad mountains. Hemis national park is home to mammals like Snow Leopards, Tibetan Wolf, Eurasian Brown Bear, Red fox, Himalayan marmot, mountain weasel and the Himalayan mouse hare.

Why you should visit Hemis National Park?

You must be wondering why the Hemis National Park should go on your places to visit in Ladakh. Are you thinking that there aren’t enough places in Leh Ladakh to visit? Well, yes, there are several places to visit and things to do but the Hemis National Park allows you to discover a different side of Ladakh. All the kinds of fauna that you might not come across during your expedition through Ladakh can be seen in the Hemis National Park. Established in the year 1981, this park gets its name from the famous monastery, the Hemis Gompa in Ladakh. Apart from the surreal landscapes, this park boasts of almost 11 species of fauna and 30 species of avifauna, with the major attraction being the snow leopard. You can also get to explore the vegetation of Ladakh, which comes in different variety.

Things to discover in the Hemis National Park

Of course, the varied vegetation and wildlife are the things to be explored in the Hemis National Park. The flora includes Himalayan subtropical pine forests, Western Himalayan alpine shrubs and meadows and Himalayan alpine tundra. While in the lower areas of the park, there are several kinds of plant species including dry birch, juniper and fir. The upper mountainous slopes of the park have higher levels of precipitation and hence you will find much of Alpine vegetation. There are different kinds of animal species that you will find in this park, out of which, the Shapu sheep and the snow leopard can only be found in Ladakh, which make them the best attraction here. As you explore the park, you will spot various kinds of animals like Bharal (Blue Sheep), Shapu (Ladakhi Urial) and Great Tibetan Sheep. Several endangered species including the Eurasian brown bear, Tibetan wolf and red fox, among others, can also be found in the Hemis National Park.

Best time to visit this park

If you wish to visit the Hemis National Park, plan your trip to Ladakh between the months of May and October. After October, most of the roads are used for the purpose of jeep safaris or blocked due to heavy rainfall.

How to reach Hemis National Park, Leh

After landing in Leh via flight, you can reach the Hemis National Park via a bus or by hiring a private vehicle. Several buses ply between Leh to Hemis on a regular basis, so you can hop in any one of them. If you want this journey to be an adventurous one, you can trek all the way to this park from Spituk village below Leh and pass through Zingchen and the Markha Valleys. Do make sure to carry all your trekking essentials in order to avoid any hassles.

Leh Ladakh rests in the Himalayas, making it one great journey for you to embark upon. The sunsets and sunrises from this high altitudes are worth watching, for which, you need to charge up your camera batteries.

In case you plan to visit Leh Ladakh, write to us on support@adventourist.in for exclusive itineraries and a truly customized trip.