Hemis Festival - The Magical Event in Ladakh

Hemis Festival

Ladakh has two districts - one being Kargil and the other being Leh. The picturesque mountainous landscape and beautiful valleys beckon one to Ladakh. It is thus a sought after place, favourite among the visitors. The mesmerizing beauty of the rough and rugged mountains simply spell wonders. It is a place that can satisfy one’s appetite for adventure. The diverse culture that one is faced with just makes one happy and overjoyed. Ladakh just helps you escape from the monotonous routine life. One can also see rare tribal culture in a few of the villages. The physical features of the Ladakh landscape are spectacular. The religious and the cultural heritage of Ladakh stems from the settlers from Tibet, Dards  etc.

The summer season is duly recognised for being a comfortable period to pay a visit to Ladakh. The month of June to September witnesses the temperature ranging between 15 to 30°C making it pleasant and comfortable for the visitors to explore the region. It is a boon to the tourists as it provides opportunities whereby one can observe and take part in the number of festivals that are celebrated like Hemis festival, Yurukabgyat and Sakadawa festival.

Winters in Ladakh is cold with temperature ranging from 0°C to temperatures going well below 0 degrees to reach up to -30°C that makes the place too hostile to pay a visit to.

There are several beautiful places and sites to explore like - Lamayuru, Tso Moriri Lake, Dha Hanu, Zorawar Fort, Magnetic hill, Nubra Valley, Pangong Tse Lake and other elegant places. The magnificence of the picturesque places and sites leave ever-lasting memories that one savours for life.  

The nearest airport to Ladakh is Kushok Bakula Rimpochee airport which is situated in Leh. It is directly connected to some major cities such as as- Delhi, Srinagar, Jammu, Mumbai and Kolkata. One can board Air India, Jet Airways, Go Air. International tourists can directly board a flight from Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi to reach Leh airport. After reaching the airport tourists can hire taxis to reach anywhere and any place in Ladakh.

Tourists can board JKSRTC bus to reach Ladakh. Ladakh is almost 434km from Srinagar and 494km from Manali. Tourists can trip to Leh on the bike from Srinagar, Manali or Chandigarh. Ladakh is connected to 2 roads- Leh-Srinagar National Highway and Leh-Manali road. These two open only in summer months and in winters the road is closed due to the closure of passes-Zojila, Rohtang Pass, Baralacha, Changla.

The nearest railway station is Jammu Tawi which is well connected to important cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. From the railway station, one can reach the desired destination by hiring a taxi, which will be more convenient and time-saving.

Things to do at Hemis Festival

Enjoy a stroll in the markets of Leh Ladakh. Grab some pretty handicrafts and wares, silver and stone jewellery, Pashmina shawls, woollens and other stuff. There are several famous markets in Ladakh. Visitors can shop from Main Bazaar where several handicrafts, antiques, Ladakhi jewellery are available. Then there is a Tibetian handicraft emporium, which is situated at Main Bazaar Road.

Dalai Lama Charitable Trust handicraft emporium caters to the art and craft materials made by the local artisans. One may also find shawls, woollens, paintings, handicrafts and artefacts displayed for the connoisseurs. Moti market is also famous for the local items. One who has an appetite for apricots can visit Ladag Apricot Store. The store has dried, fresh, Jam and oil of apricots.

One having an adventurous bent of mind can go for trekking. There are several Trekking options available like- Chadar Trek, Markha Valley Trek. The Markha Valley Trek offers one to explore the beauty of Gandola La and Hemis National Park. The best time for this trek spans from May to September. Then there is Stok Kangri Trek which is considered to be the toughest as the trekkers need to climb up to the highest peak in the region.

One having a keen interest in camping can go for Camel Resort Camp, Camp Water Mark, Bikamp at Leh and Nature’s Nest Camp at Pangong Lake. One can indulge in rock climbing also that will bring more adventure to one’s visit as the sport demands one’s mental and physical presence. One of the most loved sports activity that one can enjoy is Ice Hockey.

Several campsites offer such activity. Interested in water sports then one can indulge in river rafting in Indus and Zanskar rivers. Quad biking is yet another adventure in Nubra Valley to enjoy. One can enjoy the ATV ride on the highest motorable regions. There are several beautiful sites to pay a visit to like- Lamayuru, Tso Moriri Lake, Dha Hanu, Zorawar Fort, Magnetic hill, Nubra Valley. Thus amazing as it is, Ladakh offers many more superb and beautiful sites for curious visitors.

What is the Hemis Festival

As winter fizzles out enfolding its long covers of snowfall, the astounding Ladakh is filled with a refreshing aura to celebrate their grandest fiesta, Hemis Festival. Hemis festival of Ladakh is celebrated with great enthusiasm every year on the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. It is a two-day celebration that marks the victory of good over evil. The legend has it that Lord Padamsambhav defeated the dark forces with the help of Vajrayana Buddhism. Witness the valleys and mountains and rivers thriving on the beats of trumpets, cymbals, and drums as the locals of Ladakh enters the frenzied two-day grand celebration of the Hemis festival.

It is celebrated in the Hemis Monastery. This Monastery dates back to 300 years and is under the rule of Namgyal. This festival begins with the followers seeking blessings of the portrait of the Guru early in the morning where musicians play music while the ceremony goes on. Enjoy mask dance performances called Cham. It is a slow dance and depicts the war between good and evil wherein the good wins.

It is truly a sight to behold as the colourfully dressed Lamas brings enthusiasm in the whole crowd. Visitors can enjoy the fair and grab some Tibetan souvenirs. There are pretty good hotels near Hemis Monastery where one can make their stay comfortable during the Hemis festival tour in Ladakh. Some to include are- the Driftwood Ladakh, Ladakh Sarai Resort, Hotel Royal Palace, and many other hotels too. So get drenched into the culture of Ladakh and let yourself witness the beauty of the place. Get ready to explore the most lively and dazzling festival of Ladakh.

Highlights of Hemis Festival

The colourful Hemis festival of Ladakh brings the arid land of the valley into life with its grand festival. The Hemis festival has a deep association with the rich history and rich culture. This festival is all about Buddhist people and their culture. It is truly the grandest display of Tibetan culture in India. It is so exciting to see all the Tibetan that comes together and celebrates the day by performing pretty dance and various cultural activities.

One can see the multitudes of onlookers at Hemis Gompa revelling in the fun of the Hemis festival of Ladakh. Witness the real charm of the Hemis festival of Ladakh that is truly a great blend of rich history, culture, spirituality, entertainment, and enthusiasm. With its gaiety and ebullience, the Hemis festival truly creates a magical aura inevitably.

Following are the major highlights of the Hemis festival-

1. Chham Dance

The superb masked dances that depict the triumph of good over the bad are one of the major highlights of the Hemis festival that one should surely not miss. Watch the performances of Lamas dressed in beautiful attire and watch them dance around the central flagpole to the tunes of drums, cymbals, and longhorns.

2. Devil Dances

Devil Dance is another attraction of this Hemis festival. it is an eminent part of this festival.

3. Chang

Try the local drink Chang in this festival as it is served in the Hemis festival that surely needs to be tried. The process of making Chang is-  first the highland barley is washed and cooked, then when the temperature falls lower wine cubes are added and then put into a tub or stean and then it is sealed to ferment it. After two or three days later clean water is added to it and then it is kept sealed.

4. Handicrafts

Grab some local pretty items. The local organises an exhibition of pretty handicrafts that all tourists love to purchase. Buy some pottery, wooden craft, wicker baskets, woollens, bags, hand-woven rugs, wall hangings, shawls, and trinkets galore.

5. Delicacies

Satiate your taste buds with lip-smacking delicacies like- Thukpa, momos, noodles at the Tibetan café that is right outside the Hemis monastery. Try these delicacies as they are worth trying.

Dates of Hemis Festival 2021

The Hemis festival 2021 is all set to held from 20th June to 21st June.

Ticket and fee of Hemis festival

There is no ticket and fee for attending the Hemis festival, so attend this festival and be a part of this festival and enjoy the beautiful cultural events that are worth attending.