The Hemis High Altitude National Park is located within the Ladakh district of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located along the west bank of the mighty River Indus. The park got it's name from the Hemis Gompa(monastery) located within it's borders. The park's main area covers 600 square kilometers at an altitude ranging between 3300 to 6400 meters.
General Information
State : Jammu & Kashmir
Location : Eastern part of Ladakh, Jammu&Kashmir
Area : 600 sq. kms.
Best time to visit : May To October
Altitude : 3,500 to 6,930 m above sea level.
Hemis National Park :
The Hemis National Park is located in the Ladakh division of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. Situated at a distance of around 40 km southeast of Leh, it takes its name from the world famous Buddhist Gompa situated here. The National Park is situated at the bank of river Indus and includes the catchments areas of Markha, Sumdah, and Rumbak streams. The park extends from the latitude 33º38'-34º11' in the North to longitude 77º00'-77º44' in the East. Hemis National Park is a high altitude protected area created in 1981 in the eastern part of the cold desert of Ladakh for the conservation and protection of its unique flora and fauna. It covers an area of 600 sq. kms in the Markha and Rumbak valleys. The terrain surrounding the park is rocky and the thin soil cover supports a poor vegetative growth. Dry alpine pastures are present in sheltered locations and the grass growth is relatively rapid during the summer season after the snow melts from the region. There are many U-shaped valleys, carved by the glacial actions that occurred in the past. Rivers and streams have laid a thick National Park Hemisdeposit of sand along their banks. The general elevation of the parks exact location is over 3,000 meters.
Wild Attractions :
Dry forests of juniper, birch and fir are found in the region. Also present are the alpine grasslands and scrublands. There are many rare and endangered animal species found in the cold desert area that are also found in the hemis national park, known to be the home of an interesting assemblage of cold desert fauna. Amongst these are the snow leopard, Tibetan wild or kiang, ibex, serow and Tibetan antelope. Amongst the avi fauna population found in the hemis national park are the snow, snow partridge and golden oriole.
Climate :
The climatic conditions vary from sub-arctic to arctic. Rainfall is low and the bulk of the total annual precipitation is in the form of snow. In winter the mercury drops to far below the freezing point and this tract receives very heavy snowfall, which remains on the ground for several months at a stretch. Summers are short and mild, while there is no marked rainy season.
Reaching there :
By Air : The nearest airport is Leh, which is connected by Indian Airlines to Delhi, Chandigarh, Srinagar, and Jammu.
Rail : The nearest railhead is Jammu, situated at a distance of around 690 km. Jammu is connected to all parts of India.
Road : The Leh-Srinagar National Highway officially opens from May 15 to November 15 every year (depending on weather condition). The distances of some important destinations from Leh by road are: Srinagar, 434 km; Kargil, 230 km; Manali, 497 km; and Keylong, 380 km.
Bus : The Jammu Kashmir Road Transport Corporation operates buses between Srinagar and Leh.
