Around 12,000 feet above sea level in the Himalayas is located the HemisGompa - a world heritage site in Hemis, Ladakh, India. Re-established in 1672 by the Ladakhi king SenggeNamgyaland predating 1700 years, this gompa is some 45 km from Leh. Every year in June, it hosts the Hemisfestival that honors Padmasambhava and attracts a huge number of tourists from all parts of the world.

HemisGompa is beautiful in true sense and it’s elaborately decorated with murals painted in gold and pigments. The gompa is a huge establishment on the banks of the Indus River and is managed and maintained by a group of Tibetan monks (known as the Dugpa Order). A huge wealth of valuable relics and precious artefacts are kept in the gumpa and those monks are responsible to their maintenance and safety. 

The annual Hemis festival is hosted on a lavish scale in which a huge crowd gathers and the monks are seen in brightly-colored clothing and a formal monk wear. Visitors to the festival adorn ornate and intricate clothing and people carry traditional meals and ingredients which is a specialty to the local area. Dancing and brass instruments dominate the celebrations of the festival.