Stargazing in the Himalayas taps a new future for Hanle
Perched at 4,500 metres, the village of Hanle in Ladakh sits under one of the clearest night skies on Earth. In 2022, it earned India’s first dark sky reserve status, transforming a remote crossroads of nomadic life into a thriving hub for astronomy and sustainable tourism. At the heart of this transformation are 25 local ambassadors—18 of them women—trained to welcome visitors, share the cosmos, and protect the conditions that make stargazing possible.
Meet the astro-ambassadors: from locals to sky guides
Among them is 28-year-old Tsering Dolkar, who secures a telescope and paints the night with light from distant worlds. Visitors gather as she points to Venus and the Milky Way becomes a whispered wonder above the snow-dusted peaks. The ambassadors act as “the interlocutors between the sky and the tourists,” a role recognized by Niruj Mohan Ramanujam of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, the project’s main research partner.
From nomadic lives to a settled, star-filled future
Since the Himalayan Chandra telescope was installed in 2000, plus three more installations in Digpa-ratsa Ri and its foothills, Hanle has blossomed into a premier astronomy hub. The government’s designation of the region as a dark sky reserve spurred a community-led approach to management, letting locals share in the new economy while safeguarding the night-sky environment essential to the observatory’s work.
Economic and cultural revival through astro-tourism
The program offers tangible livelihoods: homestays have surged from a handful to about 70, and visitors pay modest fees to stargaze with a trained ambassador. In 2023, Dolkar converted her home into a guesthouse, charging roughly £17 per person per night for accommodation and meals. When the skies are clear, she hosts up to 50 tourists on a single busy day, guiding them through stargazing and deep-sky studies using her own telescope.
Women shaping the future of Ladakh
Padma Chamchot, 25, embodies the shift. A college graduate, she once faced limited choices beyond waiting for a government post or moving to a city. Now, she earns more in a week than she could in a month elsewhere, while fueling a decades-long love of astronomy and supporting her family. “This is a dream job,” she says, “meeting tourists from around the world and staying connected to my roots.”
Linking science with heritage
The ambassadors also reconnect Ladakhi culture with the skies. Elders who once navigated and timed agrarian work with stars are being consulted to record stories that align with modern astronomy. Dolkar recalls learning the “summer triangle” from traditional knowledge—an example of how ancient wisdom and contemporary science illuminate each other.
Challenges and commitments to protect the night sky
Hanle’s dazzling dark sky reserve is not without threats. The area’s “Bortle 1” skies face pressure from light pollution, especially at night when military camps illuminate the valley after a generator outage. Local leader Kesang Dorjey emphasizes the need for careful management amid border tensions, while the community continues to educate visitors and officials on minimizing light pollution.
A living observatory for the community
Beyond tourism, the open collaboration with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics and local authorities keeps Hanle as a vital site for astronomy. An annual star party gathers enthusiasts from across India, offering courses in dark skies, astrophotography, and hands-on telescope use. For Hashika Raj, a young energy-systems engineer from Chennai, the event is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness skies “as clear as this.”
Looking to the future
Hanle’s astro-ambassadors celebrate a world where the universe is suddenly within reach for everyone. As Dorjey puts it, “I sleep uneasy,” fearing that modernization and conflict could dim what makes Hanle unique. Yet the program’s success—new livelihoods, renewed culture, and a commitment to protecting the darkness—signals a hopeful path: for the Himalayas to remain a beacon for stargazers and scientists alike.
