Hanle

Hanle, in the remote eastern Changthang plateau near the Tibet border, is home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory - one of the highest astronomical observatories in the world at 4,500m, chosen for its exceptionally dark, dry and cloudless skies. For astrophotographers and stargazers, Hanle offers arguably the finest Milky Way viewing in India. The village itself is tiny - a cluster of 9 homestays and the historic 17th-century Hanle Monastery of the Drukpa lineage, perched on a hilltop. Reaching Hanle requires a special permit and a long drive from Leh, but the unparalleled dark skies, the silence, and the stark beauty of the Changthang make it a once-in-a-lifetime destination.