If clear, starry skies and stargazing is what you dream of, it may soon turn into reality – and that too, at home, in India! Ladakh is set to get its Dark Sky Reserve, the first one in India, and we have the details! By Anushka Goel
Imagine looking up only to witness endless views of clear skies dotted with twinkling stars. These stars only seem to increase in number the more you stare at the sky, dancing to their own tunes and enchanting you like none other. If this gets you excited, you’ll be thrilled with the latest addition to India’s tourism space, a Dark Sky Reserve in Ladakh!
Ladakh gets first Dark Sky Reserve
CEC @tashi_gyalson also attended the event of the signing of the tripartite MoU for the setting up of the first Dark Sky Reserve of the country at Hanley.
It was signed between the UT administration, LAHDC Leh and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA). pic.twitter.com/00kr9j8Knc
— LAHDC LEH (@LAHDC_LEH) June 17, 2022
Gaze into the skies as you try to make out the several constellations and important stars in the galaxy. Astrotourists are slowly seeking more thrilling experiences like so, and the Indian hills make for a great place to begin the journey. Keeping this in mind, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Ladakh administration, and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, to create what is India’s first Dark Sky Reserve. The reserve has been created in Hanle, Ladakh, to allow enthusiasts to witness the clearest of skies, vast views, and a lot more.
Astro-tourism is not new to India, and adding science to travel is also not something unique (think, stargazing events and places such as the Jantar Mantar in Delhi and Jaipur). However, the concept of a dark sky reserve (an area that has been specifically preserved and maintained for its astronomical value) is entering the country for the first time, that too via Ladakh.
Hero and Featured Image: Courtesy of Shutterstock
Related: Planning A Trip To Ladakh? Be Ready To Undergo 48 Hours Of Mandatory Acclimatisation
Anushka Goel
Digital Features Writer
Anushka has previously worked with publications such as the Times of India and Being Indian. A graduate from Xavier Institute of Communications, she specialises in entertainment, food and travel. She also likes to write about sustainability and beauty. When not working, you can catch her reading a book, tending to her plants, cooking or playing an instrument.
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