Matho Monastery Direction Route

How to Reach Hemis, India

You may approach Hemis by bus through Leh where lots of private and State-run deluxe and ordinary buses ply frequently. The main inlet to Leh in the Ladakh region is from the Kashmir Valley on the 434-kilometre long Srinagar-Leh Road which is open for traffic between the months of June and November.

Hemis by Road:

The easiest way to drive in to Hemis is through Leh. There are 2 ways of entering Leh by road – from Srinagar by the National Highway 1D and by Leh-Manali Highway from Manali – both of which are prone to unpredictable landslides – which are a rarity though. It is essential to factor-in flexibility in your itinerary. Jammu and Kashmir tourism buses and private buses run from July to October between Srinagar and Leh taking about two days to travel 700 kilometres. Government buses (J&K STRC) from Manali to Leh take about twenty hours nonstop or two days with a halt. The fastest way to Leh from Manali is by jeeps which take about 24 hours to reach with a halt enroute.

Hemis by Train:

There is no railway station in Hemis or it’s District Headquarters - Leh. However, Jammu which is at 730 kilometres, Pathankot at 770 kilometres and Udhampur at 760 kilometres from Leh, are the three railheads to choose from. You would have to take a bus or a jeep from Leh to one of these places and then take the train from there. In all, you would take two days to reach from Leh to any one of these railheads which connect to the rest of the country.

Hemis by Air:

Hemis being a small town does not have its own airport. The nearest airport to Hemis is in Leh which is about 40 kms away. There are direct flights plying daily from New Delhi Airport, Chandigarh, Srinagar, and Jammu to Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (Code IXL). Upon reaching the Leh airport, taxis are available to take you to Leh city which may cost about Rs. 1000 to Hemis which ranges between Rs. 1200 and Rs. 1500.