Hanle: The Cosmic Gateway to the Universe
(Travel Guide 2025)
Table of Contents
Introduction
Let’s imagine a picture where billions of stars shine like diamonds in the pitch-black sky while the Milky Way appears as a white river flowing smoothly between the stars. You might think it as a dream but this is no more a dream but reality, the place I’m talking about is Hanle, a little and peaceful village in Ladakh region which is gaining momentum as India’s doorway to the cosmos. Located at an altitude of 4270 meter , Hanle is the first dark sky reverse of India (second one is Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra) and home to one of the world’s highest astronomy observatories i.e. The Indian Astronomical Observatory which is operated from Bangalore city by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA). The dry weather and the Bortle scale-1 sky of Hanle provides around 270 clear nights in a year making it the perfect place for astrophotography and astronomical study.
How to Reach ?
There are a few routes to reach Hanle but the best route in terms of road conditions, facilities and landscapes is via Chumathang. This is the most common route taken by first timers.
Leh — Karu— Chumathang— Mahe — Nyoma — Loma — Hanle
(Distance: 275Km ; Time: 9-10 hours)
Although, this route at once seems that yes I can easily do it in a single day but from my numerous experiences to Hanle, I would suggest you to take at least 2 days from Leh. You can make a night halt at Nyoma, a beautiful village with almost all the basic facilities like grocery shops and one medical aid centre. And with a newly opened Petrol Pump in Nyoma, travelling to Hanle gets a way more easy. You can refill your vehicle before making the journey to Hanle. However, you have to pay in advance at petrol pump before your vehicle gets refilled. Digital payments are also accepted by them. Mobile Connectivity for Jio Sim in this area is excellent with a new Jio Tower installed in the village, 4G Internet works really well. Don’t forget to call your near ones before leaving the village as you won’t get a network upto Hanle. As per the information received from locals, Hanle got a new 4G Airtel Network Tower.
If you are coming from the one of the most famous lakes of ladakh, yes exactly what you are thinking, it is Pangong lake, the route will be as follows:
Pangong Tso (Spangmik village) — Merak — Chusul — Tsaga Village — Loma — Hanle
(Distance: 175 Km ; Time: 6-7 hours)
This route is the second most common one if you are coming after covering the so-called basic Ladakh itinerary that covers the following places: Leh — Nubra Valley — Pangong Tso lake. Add Hanle only after covering these locations as its altitude is higher than Nubra Valley which is at 10000 ft and Pangong Tso lake at 13900 ft. It will help your body acclimatize better. The road condition of this route is better as compared to what it had been earlier due to rising footfalls of tourists. There is no petrol pump in between this route so I would advise you to refill your vehicle before Pangong Tso lake, probably at Karu village. However, the option of getting petrol in black is always open and can be found in almost every village and sometimes at road side kiosks too. Mobile connectivity is okayish in this region. BSNL sim will work here but don’t expect a quality internet here. Normal phone calls can easily be made from this place.
Where to Stay ?
If you had asked me this question a few years ago, all I would have said that only if any villager there could accommodate you in his home. But, in present time, there are counts less not really uncountable but I would say around 30-40 stay options including hotels. Yes you heard it right there are 1-2 hotels in Hanle with all facilities to make stay comfortable. During my first journey to Hanle, I have stayed at Ruthpa Home Stay, Kungyee. It was a very comfortable stay even with some modern facilities which you usually get in city hotels. For instance, they served me peanut butter sandwiches for breakfast and a separate living room with a 65 inches LED TV. Wifi was also available and I was really surprised seeing the facilities this home stay provided. It’s bit costly than other home stays. It charged me Rs. 2000 per night including food but all I would say it is totally worth it. Moreover, this home stay is close to the observatory so you have to travel less to reach there as compared to other homestays in the area. Details of the stay including some other stays are as mentioned below:
Ruthpa Home Stay: Contact: +91- 9469731319
Padma Home Stay (The most famous in Hanle): Contact: +91-9469224302
Sonam Home Stay: Contact : +91 9419826270, +91 9622010431
When to travel and Weather at Hanle
If you are not an adventurous traveler and want to visit Hanle for an experience, I would suggest to travel in the months from June to August as the days in these months are warmer and nights are little cold as compared to the rest of the Months. I have made a months-wise temperature chart for Hanle so that you can plan your journey accordingly.
Places To Visit
a) Indian Astronomical Observatory: Hanle was not easily indentified in the ladakh Map until the Milkyway shines over the Indian Astronomical Observatory, India’s first dark sky reserve. It is located at a distance of 10 Km from the village and at an altitude of around 15000 ft. There is no public transport to take you to the observatory. You have to reach there in your personal vehicle only. There is a point (200m from the observatory) beyond which vehicles are not permissible, you have to walk to reach the main entrance of the observatory. Some parts of the observatory are accessible to the general public with no entry ticket. To help you better understand the observatory, a technician is appointed by the Government who will explain almost everything about the observatory in simple terms. You will find a public computer system where all the recent images captured by the Himalayan Chandra Telescope are displayed. So from the galactic core of our galaxy to the far fetched Andromeda, everything is captured by this observatory. Timing of this observatory is 9 am to 5 pm.
b) Hanle Monastery: Also known as Hanle Gompa. The best thing about Hanle Monastery is not just its rich Buddhist history but the place offers a beautiful panoramic view of the whole Hanle village. Try to visit this place near sunset, you will get splendid views of the Himalayas with the sky spreading its magical colours.
c) Uming La Pass: Situated at an altitude of 19024 ft, Uming La Pass is the favourite destination not only for the bikers but also for the tourists because of the tag “World’s Highest Motorable Pass”. It is situated at a distance of around 80 Km and will take 4-5 hours depending on the road condition. If you are planning to visit the pass, I would advise you to rest overnight at Hanle village for better acclimatization of your body before making the journey next day. As the chances of hitting Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) will rise if you directly attempt to visit the Uming La Pass without resting.
Things To Do
a) Stargazing: This is what Hanle is known for. The place is blessed with one of the darkest skies (Bortle Scale-1) and minimal light pollution. Apart from Milky Way Galaxy, Planets like Venus, Jupiter and Saturn can easily be seen with the naked eyes. Moreover, with a telescope, deep-sky phenomena such as the Andromeda Galaxy and the Orion Nebula can also be seen.
b) Spotting Wildlife: Before getting the tag of India’s first dark sky reserve, this place was already well popular among wildlife enthusiasts. Apart from migratory birds, you can spot Himalayan Marmot, Pallas’s Cat (Manul), Himalayan Wolf, Snow Leopard, Black-Necked Crane, Tibetan Gazelle (Goa), and Tibetan Wild Ass (Kiang) in season time.
c) Flora: Hanle is also enriched with flora. Seabuckthorn, Ladakh Edelweiss, Tibetan Rhodiola, Caragana (Pea Shrub), Wild Rose (Rosa webbiana), Ephedra (Joint Pine), Artemisia (Wormwood), Gentiana (Gentian Flower), Purple Saxifrage, and a variety of Alpine Grasses and Mosses can be spotted in summer months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Hanle known for?
Hanle is a peaceful village in Ladakh, known as India’s gateway to the cosmos. It is home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory, one of the highest astronomy observatories in the world. Hanle features a Bortle scale-1 sky, which provides about 270 clear nights a year, making it an ideal location for astrophotography and astronomical studies.
How do I reach Hanle?
The best route to Hanle is from Leh via Chumathang. The route is as follows:
- Leh — Karu — Chumathang — Mahe — Nyoma — Loma — Hanle
- Total Distance: 275 km
- Total Time: 9-10 hours
Alternatively, if you are coming from Pangong Lake, use this route:
- Pangong Tso (Spangmik village) — Merak — Chusul — Tsaga Village — Loma — Hanle
- Total Distance: 175 km
- Total Time: 6-7 hours
It is advisable to take at least 2 days for the journey from Leh, with a night halt in Nyoma.
Do I need Inner Line Permit for visiting Hanle?
Yes, Inner Line Permit is required to visit Hanle. It can easily be obtained online from the official website : www.lahdclehpermit.in Total cost of the permit is around Rs. 450 per person. Apart from that, there is a little processing cost of 150; unless you decide to personally visit the Deputy Commissioner’s Office to have your permit stamped.
What is the best time to travel to Hanle?
The best time to visit Hanle is during the summer months from May to September when the weather is more stable and suitable for travel and astronomical activities.
Is there mobile connectivity in Hanle?
In Hanle, a new 4g Airtel Network Tower has been installed. So a high speed internet will be in your pockets. Earlier, BSNL SIM used to work there with limited 2g connectivity.
What is the weather in Hanle ?
How far is Uming La Pass from Hanle ?
It is situated at a distance of around 80 Km and will take 4-5 hours depending on the road condition