Hemis National Park is the largest national park in India, spread over 4400 square kilometres, and is a world-renowned high altitude national park, near Ladakh. It’s regarded as the best place to see snow leopards in the wild.

Stok Kangri Peak inside Hemis National Park

The Indus River bounds the National Park on the northern side. This National Park is rich in flora and fauna. A large species of Endangered mammals, including the snow leopard numbering around 200, are found here. Shapo alias Urial or Arkars, a subspecies of wild sheep, can be seen in this National Park and is the only place to spot them in India. 16 species of mammals and 73 species of birds are found in this park.

Flora consists of alpine vegetation. This national park is home to around 15 endangered medicinal plants.

This park is the lone national park in India, which lies north of the Himalayas.

Hemis Monastery, a 400-year-old Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, is situated here in Ladakh.

Hemis Monastery (gompa) at Ladakh

How Do I Go to Hemis National Park?

This national park is around ten kilometers from Leh, the nearest city. The road routes to Leh are the Srinagar-Leh highway and the Manali-Leh highway; both pass through some of the highest passes of the continent.

Srinagar railway station and Jammu Tawi railway station are around 232 and 253 kilometers from Hemis National Park. Kalka railway station in Haryana is approximately 326 kilometers away.

Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is around five kilometers from Hemis National Park.