Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir - The biggest monastery of Ladakh

Monastery, Fair Mela, Caves

Located at the west coast of the River Indus, the Hemis Gompa was built in 1630 during the reign of King Sengge Namgyal. Renowned as the wealthiest and biggest monastery of Ladakh, it is a major attraction and religious place of the region. An annual Hemis Fair is organized at this monastery every year which is associated with the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhav and holds a huge crowd in the month of June or July. One of the major attractions of this place is the Thankda which is displayed on this day in front of the general people. It also houses a sacred hermitage having a meditation cave and footprints of Gyalwa Kotsang, the founder of this monastery.