From the archive record
Hemis is an idyllic village in Ladakh, in Northern India . The town is just over 40 km southeast of the town of Leh. Hemis is home to the Hemis Gompa a pre- 11th century monastery that was re-established in 1672. Naropa is a grand religious and spiritual festival held at the Hemis Gompa once every 12 years of the Tibetan calendar to celebrate and rejoice the life of the famous Buddhist philosopher and scholar - Naropa. Popularly known as the kumbh of the Himalaya, the festival receives nearly half a million visitors at this time. This is one of the biggest and most prominent Buddhist festivals in the world. The Naropa festival in ladakh draws not just devotees but even general tourists to this land of passes. Toothless grins, melodious chanting and spinning of prayer wheels while attempt