Hemis Monastery, Ladakh (Leh), Jammu & Kashmir India

Hemis Monastery of Ladakh is the largest and wealthiest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the region. It is positioned in a valley, on the banks of the Indus River. The monastery was founded in the year 1630 by first incarnation of Stagsang Raspa Nawang Gyatso and was re-established in 1672 by the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal. Belonging to the Dugpa Order, the monastery contains the richest collection of ancient relics.

The courtyard of Hemis Monastery is huge and serves as a venue for the annual Hemis Festival. This festival is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of Tantric Buddhism in Tibet, and marks his birth anniversary. During this festival, the ‘Thangka’ of Hemis Monastery is displayed after a gap of every 12 years, which is said to give good health and spiritual strength. The Thangka is the sacred tapestry decorated with pearls, which depicts Guru Padmasambhava. The sacred mask dance performed at the monastery is the main highlight of the Hemis Festival.

Hemis Monastery is built in a typical Tibetan style of architecture and is divided into two sections – assembly hall, and main temple, also known as Tshogkhang. The gallery is adorned with beautiful frescoes. The monastery houses a huge copper statue of Lord Buddha; various stupas made of gold and silver, sacred Thangkas, and several other objects of religious significance. Situated slightly higher than the Hemis Monastery, is a sacred meditation cave. Exhibiting the Buddhist culture, Hemis Monastery is worth visiting when in Ladakh.