Describe Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park is located in the eastern part of Jammu and Kashmir’s popular district Ladakh, India. This national park is named after Hemis Monastery and was established in 1981. This park is considered the largest national park in South Asia. It has the distinction of being the largest protected contiguous region, second in counting after Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. This high-altitude national park is spread over 4400 sq km and is home to 73 species of birds and 16 species of mammals, for example, Asiatic ibex, snow leopards, Eurasian brown bear, Tibetan Wolf and red fox. Hemis National Park is famous for its varied wildlife, including endangered animals.

Describe Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park consists of 200 snow leopards and is the only habitat of Ladakh urial or shapo in India. It is home to small mammals, including the mountain weasel, Himalayan marmot, and Himalayan mouse hare. It is like a dream destination for bird watchers. Various kinds of birds can be explored here in this national park, for example, lammergeier vulture, golden eagle, Himalayan griffon vulture, robin accentor, brown accentor, streaked rosefinch, Tickell’s leaf warbler, chukar, fork-tailed swift, Tibetan snowfinch, red-billed chough, fork-tailed swift, fire-fronted serin and Himalayan snowcock. 

Visiting this national park is a joyous experience as it is a pollution-free as well as a noise-free environment. Within the area of this park, six villages are confined, namely  Sku, Kaya,  Shingo, Rumbak, Chilling and Urutse. Many chortens and gompas are also available in this national park. In this park, visitors can also see the 400-year-old monastery, which is known as the largest monastic institution in Ladakh. It is a pleasant as well as a thrilling experience for visitors. Other popular activities in this national park are trekking and camping.

Hemis National Park is also popular for its scenic beauty. Alpine forests of subalpine and juniper with lofty mountains and dry birch are a full treat for the eyes. Within this park, the  Stok Kangri peak is also situated. This national park also includes the catchment area of Sumdah, Markha and Rumbak and some portions of the Zanskar Range.

Near Hemis National Park, no hotels are available. However, Hemis Monastery offers rooms for visitors to stay in. Visitors should carry food, as eating options are limited. Visitors can have food in Hemis Monastery. In this monastery, the tradition of offering butter tea to visitors is followed. Food is also provided by locals.

Fauna in Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park is popular for its rich and varied wildlife. Some of the endangered animals are found exclusively in this high-altitude national park. The park is home to 73 bird species and 16 mammal species. High-altitude animals found in the area are shapo (wild sheep), bharal (bleu sheep), Himalayan mouse hare, and Himalayan marmot. Other animals that can be seen in this National Park include the red fox, Eurasian brown bear and Tibetan wolf.

During the Ladakh trip, bird lovers should not miss the opportunity to visit this park as it is home to various birds, such as the lammergeier vulture, golden eagle, the Himalayan griffon vulture, robin accentor, brown accentor, streaked rosefinch, Tickell’s leaf warbler, chukar, fork-tailed swift, Tibetan snowfinch, red-billed chough, fork-tailed swift, the fire-fronted serin and Himalayan snowcock.

Flora in Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park is located in the Himalayas’ rain shadow area. It does not receive much rainfall throughout the year. Therefore, this park is covered with dry forests. The most common trees found here are steppe and alpine. The lower areas of this national park are dominated by plant species having less moisture, such as fir, dry birch and juniper. In this park, you can also find many rare and endangered medicinal plants.

Best time to visit Hemis National Park

Although this National Park is open all around the year, the best time to visit Hemis National Park is from May to October. During May, the maximum temperature turns to 21 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature is 4 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, during October, the maximum temperature turns to 25 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius.

Nearby Attractions to Hemis National Park

Few nearby and must-visit attractions to Hemis National Park are Hemis Monastery, Stok Palace Museum, Spituk Monastery, Magnetic Hill, etc.

Conclusion

In this article, we have described Hemis National Park in brief. Visitors visiting Ladakh must make sure to visit this National Park, which is full of rare and endangered animals, various birds and medicinal plants. The best time to visit this park is from May to October. Visiting this National Park is a joyous experience as it is a fully pollution-free serene environment.