Ladakh’s Hanle Village To Be Soon Developed As A Dark Sky Sanctuary For Astro-Tourism

Hanle is a picturesque village in the Union Territory of Ladakh, nestled on the bank of the bobbing Hanle river. Perched at a height of around 14108 feet, it is one of the highest points in the world for stargazing. Therefore, the administration of Ladakh has teamed up with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics to promote astro-tourism in the Hanle village. The village has been declared as a dark sky sanctuary as it offers stunning illumination of the star-studded night sky.

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Witness Proper Illumination Of The Night Sky In Ladakh’s Hanle

By becoming a dark sky sanctuary, Hanle will allow visitors to witness the proper illumination of the night sky in a pollution-free way, without the wastage of energy. The Indian army has promised to extend assistance for developing Hanle into a dark sky sanctuary. Hanle is one of the highest altitude villages in Ladakh with temperatures dipping below 0°C at night almost all throughout the year. The village is also home to the 17th century Hanle Monastery.

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Hanle Is One Of The First Of This Kind Of Sanctuary In India

According to a Times of India report, Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary (Planning, Development and Monitoring Department), Ladakh made the announcement of turning Hanle into a dark sky sanctuary in a high-level meeting. While India has many stargazing spots, there aren’t many dark sky sanctuaries in the country. Hanle is one of the first of this kind of sanctuary in India. Amid the emptiness of the village ringed by mountains, you can sit quietly and gaze upon the magical, illuminated sky for hours. Meanwhile, you can also have a sky-gazing experience at the astro observatory in Uttarakhand’s Bhimtal.