Location
: Jammu & Kashmir,
around 40 km southeast of Leh in the Ladakh division.
Area Coverrage : 600 sq km
Altitude : 3,500 to 6,930 m above sea level
Best Season to visit : March to September
Sanctuary Overview
The Hemis National Park is located in the Ladakh division of the Indian
state of Jammu & Kashmir. Situated at a distance of around 40 km
southeast of Leh, it takes its name from the world famous Buddhist Gompa
situated here. The National Park is situated at the bank of river Indus and
includes the catchments areas of Markha, Sumdah, and Rumbak streams.
Hemis High-Altitude National Park is the largest high-altitude reserve of
India. Very close to Leh, in the area of Markha and Rumbak Valleys, the area
in general is rocky and sparsely covered. The park comes under the district
of Ladakh and represents the Trans-Himalayan ecosystem. The park was
established in the year 1981 to preserve the dwindling population of
wildlife in Ladakh region with an area of 600 sq km. The park has been
earmarked as one of the snow leopard reserves under a central government
project to conserve the species, its prey population, and fragile mountain
habitat.
Arriving At Hemis High-Altitude National Park
By Flight : The nearest airport is
Leh, which is connected by Indian
Airlines to Delhi, Chandigarh,
Srinagar,
and Jammu.
By Trackways : The nearest railhead is Jammu, situated at
a distance of around 690 km. Jammu is connected to all parts of India.
By Roadways : The
Leh
-
Srinagar National
Highway officially opens from May 15 to November 15 every year (depending on
weather condition). The distances of some important destinations from Leh by
road are : Srinagar, 434 km; Kargil, 230 km; Manali, 497 km; and Keylong,
380 km.
The Park Ecosystem
The
Animal Beings
Most of the endangered species of Ladakh have their home in Hemis. Some 11
species have been recorded, including wolf (Canis lupus), Pallas' cat (Felis
manul), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), ibex (Capra ibex), bharal (Pseudois
nayaur), Tibetan argali (Ovis ammon hodgsoni) and Ladakh urial (Orientalis
vignei). Some snow leopards have also been recorded in the national park.
There is a good population of bharal and urial in the park, as well as some
ibex west of the Zanskar River.
The Vegetation
The vegetation in the Hemis High-Altitude National Park can be
characterized as high-altitude desert with sparse grasslands and herbaceous
vegetation on mountain slopes and in harmony with rest of Ladakh. In the
lower valley of the park, one can find scrublands and patchy forests. The
dominant species include woundwort (Stachys tibetica), cinquefoils
(Potentilla spp.), worm weeds (Artemesia spp.), Bistorta spp. and Agrostis
spp. The meadows on valley bottoms are dominated by sedges, namely Carex
spp. and Koresia spp.
The Winged Beings
Around 30 species of avifauna have been identified in the park, including
Himalayan snowcock (Tetraogallus himalayensis) and chukar partridge
(Alectoris chukar).
