About Hemis High-Altitude National Park
Situated
among the serene environs of Jammu and Kashmir, Hemis National Park has the
unique distinction of being the first national park to be established north
of the main Himalayan range. The place was declared a high altitude national
park in 1981 and since has been a major attraction for wildlife enthusiasts
and nature lovers from around the globe.
While the park remains open throughout the year, the best time to visit are
the months from mid-June to mid-October, which is the ideal time for
trekking and forest walks. The best chances of spotting some rare animals is
in the winter months when animals like the snow leopard come down to the
valleys.
Hemis is full of diverse options for the visitors which include visiting
monasteries and trekking. Cycling is another exciting way to explore the
area. The temperature remains ideal during the day in summers while it can
get cold in the evenings. During winters, the area in virtually inaccessible
and the temperatures plummet to as low as minus 30 degrees.
Wildlife Attractions in Hemis High-Altitude National Park
Hemis national park is home to a number of exotic animal and bird species.
Over 16 mammal and 73 bird species have been recorded in the park so far,
many of those are only found in the Himalayan region and considered to be
highly endangered.
Prominent among the animals found in the park include the Snow Leopard,
Himalayan Wolf, Wild Dog, Pallas's Cat, Red Fox, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Ibex,
Ladakh Urial, Tibetan Argali, Long-tailed Marmot and Himalayan Mouse Hare.
Besides these rare animals, nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts are also
presented with a life time opportunity of spotting birds that are unique to
the area and are not spotted anywhere in the lower altitudinal regions. The
avifauna includes the Golden Eagle, Himalayan Griffon, Lammergeier, Little
Owl and Common Kestrel among other variety of birds.
Safaris
Trekking
is the best way to explore the area and get up close with the wild residents
of the park. Some of the popular trekking routes in the park include
Martselang to Shang, Skyu-Kaya to Markha Valley and the trek from Spituk to
Markha. The treks range from the easy to difficult ones and requires some
acclimatisation to the climate.
Other Attractions
Hemis Gompa
It is the biggest and one of the most important monasteries in Ladakh.
Situated 49 km south of Leh, the monastery was built in the 17th century by
Chapgon Gyalshas. A library provided at the monastery houses an excellent
collection of rare artefacts.
Markha
A trek through the Markha Valley is especially rewarding which offers the
visitors mesmerising views of the amazing natural beauty of the place. The
treks range from the difficult six to eight day to the easy four to five day
treks.
How to Get There
By Air : Leh is the nearest airport. Indian Airlines
flies to Leh from Delhi (6:45, except Monday). Jet Airways flies from Delhi
to Leh (5:54, except Sat).
By Rail : Jammu is the nearest railhead. Jammu is well
connected to other cities in India by daily trains from Delhi which include
the JP Jat Exp. (22:35), Jammu Mail (21:15), Shalimar Exp. (16:05), Jhelum
Exp. (20:49), Malwa Exp. (7:10) & the Tata Jat Exp. (20:40). Trains
running Mumbai-Jammu are Jammu Tawi Exp. (23:15, Sat) & Swaraj Exp.
(6:45, Mon, Thu, Fri, Sun) while Kolkata is connected through the Jammu Tawi
Exp. (11:45, daily) and Chennai through the Andaman Exp. (5:15, Wed, Thu,
Sun).
By Road : To reach by road from Leh, take the state
highway to Hemis via Choglamsar, Thiksey, Karu and Martselang. Buses are
available but be sure to plan your schedule accordingly. It is better,
however, to hire a private taxi, preferably a four wheel drive.
Distances from Major Cities
Leh : 45 km (S)/1.5 hrs.
Jammu : 734 km
Srinagar : 300 km
Manali : 473 km
Kargil : 434 km
Travel Tips/Important Information
- The visitors require a permit from the wildlife office in Leh, to
visit the park between the months of November and May.
- There are four main entry points to the park, Martselang
(south-east/45 km from Leh), Chilling (north-west/60 km from Leh), Stok
(north/13 km from Leh) and Zingchan (north/25 km from Leh).
- There are various trekking routes in the park. Choose the one that
is best suited to your physical state. The trek to Rumbak is especially
rewarding, which begins from Spituk and passes via Zingchan to Rumbak.
- Entry fee to the park is Rs. 20
Jungle
Resorts in Hemis
| Homestays |
Homestays are your
best and cheapest option at the Hemis National Park. Developed at Rumbak
in 2002, homestays have become a popular staying option in the recent
times.
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