Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park was set up in 1981 in eastern Ladakh to protect the delicate high-mountain ecosystem, and it covers roughly 4,400 square kilometres. It takes its name from Hemis Monastery, a 17th-century monastery inside its boundaries known for its festivals, and it has grown into a centre for wildlife research.

The snow leopard is the park's best-known resident. Its 16 mammal species also include the bharal, shapu (Ladakhi urial), Himalayan marmot, Himalayan mouse hare, Tibetan wolf, red fox and Eurasian brown bear, and 73 bird species, among them the golden eagle and lammergeier, have been recorded. Lying in the Himalayan rain shadow, it gets little rain; juniper, dry birch and fir grow in the lower areas, along with rare medicinal plants. Trekking, camping and climbing routes cross the park.