Hemis National Park

It is positioned in the eastern Ladakh plateau of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The hilly regions of the park remain covered with snow mostly and don't support the growth of vegetation. Same goes for the animals. Flooding is also frequent in here. Most of the animals and plants are found in the rain shadow region, a perfect place for life and beauty.

After the foundation of the park in 1981, there has been a rapid increase in the total area under it, which has taken the park to the pinnacle of being called the largest. In the year 1990, by adding up areas of adjacent land, today it is stretched around 4,400sq.km of the city. The land elevation is nearly 3000 to 6000m.

Geographical landscape of the national park

Nearby wildlife sanctuary

The area receives very less (160mm) or no rainfall in the monsoon season. It is mostly covered with snow, and generally, snowfall starts after November. The average summer temperature varies up to 15-degree centigrade whereas the average winter temperature is about -30-degree centigrade. The overall climatic condition is extreme cold. While the summer can be mildly warm, the winter is severe.

Since the most critical part of a visit to a national park, is the animals residing there, a trip must be planned accordingly. The animals sometimes may not show up due to the weather conditions prevailing at that time. So, the ideal time of visit varies from June to October. People looking primarily for the snow leopards must visit in the late winters, as it is the perfect time when they can be spotted easily.

The park is well known for the snow leopards that inhabit there. These creatures have been mentioned as endangered by IUCN. They usually wander in the late winter and prefer cold weather unlike the other members of the cat family. Most of the snow leopards are seen to be cramped in the Rumbak catchment area, with a count of nearly 200 individuals.

The Great Tibetan sheep, blue sheep and Ladakhi Urial are found in huge numbers and, are the primary source of food for the leopards. Endangered animals like Tibetan wolf, Eurasian brown bear, along with the least concerned species of red fox is found here. Mammals living here include the Asiatic Ibex, the Himalayan marmot, mountain weasel, Bharal and the Himalayan mouse hare.

About 73 species of birds are found, apart from the 16 species of mammals, consisting of some endangered species as well. The Himalayan griffon vulture, Tickell's and streaked leaf warbler, Tibetan Snow Finch, Eagle, Robin Accentor, Brown Accentor, Lammergeier vulture, Fork-tailed Swift, Fire fronter serin, chukar, the Himalayan snowcock and Red-billed Chough are some of the birds seen in abundance.

The natural vegetation or flora