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Pilgrimage Guide › Sacred Sites 28–36 › Hemis Monastery
Hemis Monastery near Leh is the largest and best-known monastery in Ladakh and the main seat of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition in the region. It is famous for the Hemis festival, held each summer in honour of Guru Padmasambhava.
Hemis, about 45 km from Leh, Ladakh
Drukpa Kagyu school
Re-established in 1672
Leh (Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport)
June to September
2–3 hours
Hemis Monastery lies in a quiet side valley above the Indus, about 45 km from Leh. It was re-established in 1672 under the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal and became the largest and richest monastery of Ladakh. It belongs to the Drukpa Kagyu school.
The monastery is known for its fine murals, statues, stupas and a museum of thangkas and sacred objects. Each summer, the Hemis Tsechu festival honours Guru Padmasambhava with sacred Cham masked dances in the courtyard. Once every 12 years, a huge thangka of Padmasambhava is unrolled for the festival. The monastery is surrounded by Hemis National Park.
Hemis brings together devotion, art and ritual. The sacred Cham dances of the Hemis festival teach the victory of wisdom and compassion over ignorance, and are watched with great faith by local people and pilgrims.
Outside festival time, Hemis is a calm place to pray among its old images and stupas.
Hemis is about 45 km from Leh, around one hour by road along the Indus Valley. Leh Airport has flights from Delhi and other cities all year. Hemis is easily combined with Thiksey Monastery and Shey on the same day. Book hotels in Leh early for the festival season.
June to September is the main season. Leh is at about 3,500 m, so rest for at least 24–48 hours after arriving before visiting monasteries. The Hemis festival date follows the Tibetan calendar, usually in June or July; ask us for the exact date. Dress modestly and walk clockwise around stupas.
Prime Value Tours can include this sacred place in a private tour for your group, with an English or Thai-speaking guide, comfortable air-conditioned transport, vegetarian meals and unhurried time for chanting and meditation at every stop. Tell us your group size and travel dates, and we will plan the best route and send your quotation within 24 hours.
Hemis is the largest monastery in Ladakh and is famous for the Hemis Tsechu festival, with sacred Cham masked dances in honour of Guru Padmasambhava.
Hemis Monastery is about 45 km from Leh, around one hour by road.
The Hemis festival is held each summer on the 10th day of the 5th Tibetan month, usually in June or July.
Hemis Monastery belongs to the Drukpa Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.
Yes. Thiksey is on the way from Leh to Hemis, so both can be visited in one day.
Government-approved tour operator from Varanasi since 1999. Private Buddhist pilgrimage tours for Thai and Southeast Asian groups, with English or Thai-speaking guides.
