Ladakh is a land like no other. Bounded by two of
the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the
Karakoram, it lies athwart two other, the Ladakh range and the Zanskar
range. Ladakh lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet (2750m)
at Kargil to 25,170 feet (7,672m) at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram.
47 Kms from Leh on the west bank of the Indus, the monastery belongs to Dugpa
Order, built on a green hillside surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery,
is hidden in a gorge.
It is the biggest and wealthiest monastery in Ladakh and is a must for visitors.
Sacred musk dance is performed on 9th and 10th day of the Tibetan 5th month.
During the Hemis Tsechu held in the year of the Monkey it is possible to se
the sacred appliqué- work tapestry wrought with pearls the depicts the
precious teacher.
Padmasambhava.Next display of great Thanka will be in 2004.Within the monastery
there are to be seen a copper-gilt statue of the Lord Buddha, various stupas
made of gold and silver, sacred thankas and many objects.
The monastery was founded by the 1st incarnation of Stagsang Raspa Nawang Gyatso
in 1630, which was invited to Ladakh by the king Singay Namgial and offered
him a religious estate through out the region.
There is a pleasant 3 Kms walk, on the side of the mountain above the monastery
there is a sacred hermitage founded by the great Gyalwa Kotsang where there
can be seen his meditation cave, his foot-print and hand - print on the rock
and sacred shrines.
This Kotsang is an old hermitage, which was founded many years before the Hemis
Monastery. A stay in Hemis over night enables you to attend early morning prayers,
a moving experience and strongly recommended.
Hemis Monastery, Monastries in Ladakh
Reservation Form
