Hemis Gompa and Thikse Gompa

Hemis Gompa and Thikse Gompa

Recently, delegates of G20 visited the Hemis Monastery and Thiksey Monastery in Leh and also witnessed the famous Cham dance.

Delegates of G20 visited the Hemis and Thiksey Monasteries in Leh. At Hemis monastery the foreign delegates witnessed the famous Cham dance—an enigmatic and energetic mask dance.

Cham dance is used in all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism—Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu and Gelug—in their rituals as a sacred dance that is reflective of the Buddhist tantric practices.


The Cham dance is a lively masked and costumed dance associated with some sects of Tibetan Buddhism. The Y20 pre-summit meeting took place in Ladakh from 26 to 28 April.

About Hemis Gompa

  • Located on a hillock, Hemis Gompa is the largest and wealthiest monastery in Ladakh.
  • The monastery is adorned with ancient relics. 
  • If you want to see the annual Hemis Tsechu festival you will have to come in the months of June and July. 
  • During the celebration of the festival which commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava, the monastery comes alive with the spectacular mask dance by the lamas.

About Thikse Gompa

  • Located on a craggy peak, Thikse Gompa is architecturally, artistically and visually spectacular.
  • The 12 story edifice consists of several temples from where you can have a wonderful views of the valley dotted with white stupas.
  • Not to be missed while you in Ladakh is the Thikse festival which is held in the month of September.

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