Tourism activities in Ladakh have grown significantly post it was accorded the status of Union Territory (UT) in 2019.
Situated at an average altitude of over 11,000 feet, Ladakh, which literally means ‘land of high passes’ is a place like no other. The passes offer breathtaking views and a gateway to beautiful valleys nestled in the Himalayas.
According to official data, the tourist influx in Leh this summer surpassed its previous records. As many as 2.5 lakh people flocked Leh in just two months, June and July. The region is a big draw for motorbike rallies throughout the year.
The Ladakh administration is planning to build tunnels at a cost of Rs 5,000 crores across major passes in the union territory to improve internal connectivity, and has hired consultants for the mega task, a senior official said recently.
“The government of Ladakh is contemplating building tunnels across major passes to improve internal connectivity in the union territory,” Commissioner-Secretary, Ladakh Public Works Department (PWD) Ajeet Kumar Sahu said.
He said that the consultants have been hired to prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) of tunnels across Khardung La, Fotu La, Namika La, and Key-La passes. An all-weather tunnel enhances connectivity between valleys for facilitating the movement of the military, civilians, and tourists in the region, he said.
The tunnel on Key-La pass will be an alternative path to the dangerous Changla pass, which will make travel to world famous Pangong lake easy and shorten it by one-and-half-hours, the Commissioner-Secretary said. The survey and feasibility study are being conducted by Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), which has been assigned to prepare DPRs of the tunnels,” he added.
The central government is also taking initiatives to promote Ladakh as a tourist destination, focusing on various aspects such as adventure, culture and responsible and sustainable tourism. Seven projects worth Rs 594 crores are sanctioned for J&K and Ladakh under Swadesh Darshan and Prasad Schemes under the Ministry of Tourism.
Come February 20, 2023, Ladakh will be hosting the Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon, lovingly called The Last Run, the first of its kind in India. The name may sound grim but so is the issue of global warming and climate change. The marathon, organised by Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh, is an effort to bring awareness about the issue of climate change through sports. The 21 km long marathon is the first of its kind in India and the choice of venue is perfect for this. Registrations are already underway for this event.
Ladakh, often known as the roof of the world due to its high plateau, is a much-favored destination for stargazers and astronomy students as well as scientists. Keeping this in mind, the Department of Science and Technology has come up with a unique and first-of-its-kind initiative under which it plans to set up India’s first-ever Dark Night Sky Reserve in Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary region of Ladakh. Under this ambitious project of Astro tourism, 18 powerful telescopes will be installed in Hanle village for stargazing.
Located 4500 meters above sea level, it is believed that as soon as the telescope is established in Hanle, scientists as well as tourists will be able to see the world of stars and moving galaxies. Apart from installing telescopes at 18 places, the Ladakh administration is also planning to set up mobile and permanent planetariums.
“The idea is to promote Ladakh as an individual destination and not club it with other destinations. We are hopeful that tourism and hospitality segments will grow in a sustainable manner for Ladakh,” said Member of Parliament (MP), Ladakh-Jamyang Tsering Namgyal.
“The honorable Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has also said that there is a need to develop homestays in Ladakh. Considering that even the Prime Minister is so keen to grow tourism in Ladakh, we are confident that the sector will record strong growth in the near future,” added Namgyal.
The Indian government in the past had committed to invest millions of dollars in various development projects in Ladakh including the tourism sector. However, trade insiders feel that UT needs to create a standalone brand image as a tourist destination.
“The need of the hour is to promote Ladakh aggressively and in the right perspective, before domestic and international travellers. The aim is to enable Ladakh to offer quality tourism and make it one of the best tourism destinations in the world,” said a local tour operator.