Hemis Monastry and National park

Hemis 48 kms from Leh is definitely on the itinerary of every visitor to Ladakh. A drive alongside the Indus river brings you to the Hemis Monastry which was built in 1630 with the support of King Singge Namgyal. It is the largest and oldest Monastry in the region. there is a good museum that takes the visitor into the history of Buddhism in Ladakh.

A further drive takes you to the beautiful Hemis National Park and we are camping for two nights in the vicinity of a small but charming monastry alongside the flowing indus river. As is typical of a camp, all our needs of water are from the pristine river. have a look at this beautiful place where I spot my lifers - the Bharal, Fire-fronted Serin & the Chukor

Views of the Hemis Monastry

Bharal or Blue Sheep

Yak at the campsite

Black Redstart were in abundance (this is the female of the species)

Flock of Bharal on the mountain side

A real commoner in the area - Black-billed Magpie

left Oriental Turtle Dove & right Black-billed Magpie

Festivity at the Gompa

Black Redstart - Male

view of our campsite with the monastry in the background

view from the campsite

above & below Fire-fronted Serin

above & 2 below - Chukor