Five New Districts in Ladakh – Happy People, Boost to Tourism!

Ladakh, the international tourist destination and the crown of India standing tall in the middle of Himalayas that guards India from its enemies at two fronts, has grown bigger as the Government of India on Monday, August 26, 2024, announced to create five new districts out of existing two districts — Leh and Kargil.

Although the demarcation and official set up may take some time, the Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X (formerly Twitter) that government has decided to create five new districts in Ladakh. The new districts will be Nubra, Zanskar, Sham, Drass and Changthang. The announcement has sent waves of happiness across Ladakh.

With altitude ranging from 2,550 m to 7,742 m, the Union Territory of Ladakh has a geographical area of about 59,146 square kilometers but it has only two districts Leh and Kargil. Soon, Ladakh will have seven districts with Leh being the administrative centre of UT of Ladakh.

The main reason behind only two districts in Ladakh was its low population which is about 2,74,289 as per 2011 census. The geographical difficulties, with many villages being as far as over 200km from district headquarters, or taking a full day travel or more to reach district headquarter for important works, were one of the reasons behind not all people easily taking advantage of government schemes and other facilities. The officials, too, were having difficulty in visiting all these remote locations frequently.

Tourism has become a major source of income for the residents of Ladakh. Splitting UT of Ladakh into five more districts will not only help in better development, but it will also help on development of tourism infrastructure.

Union Minister Amit Shah posted: In pursuit of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s vision to build a developed and prosperous Ladakh, the MHA has decided to create five new districts in the union territory. The new districts, namely Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang, will take the benefits meant for the people to their doorsteps by bolstering governance in every nook and cranny. The Modi government is committed to creating abundant opportunities for the people of Ladakh.

https://x.com/AmitShah/status/1827947228348231774

The all seven districts — Leh, Kargil, Zanskar, Nubra, Sham, Changthang and Drass — will see new heights of development with boost to tourism.

Here are the new seven districts of Ladakh

1. Leh district: Leh is the headquarters of Ladakh and is a centre point with borders with China, Himachal. Leh city is the district headquarters.
2. Kargil district: Kargil is the second important district in Ladakh with its border with Pakistan (PoK), Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal. Kargil town is the district headquarters.
3. Nubra district: Nubra, in the northern part of Ladakh, will be a new district. Nubra is a sub-division of Leh district. Now, Diskit, Hunder, Sumur, Panamik, Turtuk and other villages beyond Khardung La pass will be the part of Nubra district. Diskit will be the new district headquarters of Nubra district.
4. Zanskar district: Zanskar valley is a part of Kargil district. The Budhist majority in the Zanskar valley, which shares is huge border with Himachal and some boundary with J&K, will be a new district. The new district can be carved out of Kargil from Pensi-La pass. Padum will be the new headquarters of Zanskar district.
5. Drass district: Drass is a sub-division of Kargil district to the west on Leh-Srinagar highway. Drass district will be upto Zojila pass and will share its border with J&K and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). It is expected to be one of the smallest district in Ladakh. Drass town will be the new district headquarters of Drass district.
6. Changthang district: Currently under Leh district, Chumathang will have popular areas like Pangong lake, Tso Moriri lake, Durbuk, Hanle, Nyoma, Chushul etc. It will share its border with China and Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district. Nyoma is expected to be the new headquarters of Changthang district while Durbuk can be the second choice.
7. Sham district: Sham valley is currently under administration of Leh district. Nimmu, Alchi, Basgo, Khaltsi, Lamayuru etc are expected to be the part of new Sham district. Sham district will be in the middle of Leh and Kargil district. Khaltsi is expected to be the new headquarters of Sham district.

Note: The above details are based on an idea as actual jurisdiction, areas under district and district headquarters will be decided only after demarcation. Although five new districts have been created in Ladakh, but actual orders and administrative set up may take months or years.

How creation of five new districts will benefit tourism in Ladakh?

The creation of five new districts in Ladakh is expected to have a significant impact on tourism in the region. By dividing the region into smaller, more manageable administrative units, the government can better focus on infrastructure development, improve connectivity, and enhance facilities for tourists. This can lead to more efficient management of tourist sites and quicker response times in case of emergencies. The new districts could also help promote lesser-known destinations, distribute tourist footfall more evenly, and reduce congestion at popular spots, thus creating a more balanced and sustainable tourism industry in Ladakh. Additionally, better administrative oversight can ensure environmental protection and promote culturally sensitive tourism, further boosting Ladakh’s appeal as a travel destination.

A message from Executive Councilor from Zanskar Punchok Tashi

The efforts of Zanskar’s people, guided by our ancestors and leaders such as the late Nawang Punchok Karsha, late Maemae Lama Gyaltsen Tsazar, late Gyalpo Nima Zangla, late Gonpa Association President Lama Nawang Tsering Shilingskit, along with Ka Sonam Namgyal Karsha, Acho Chostar Sani, and all honorable councilors of Zanskar past and present, supported by Ladakh’s senior leaders like Ka Thupstan Chewang, former MP, and Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, former MP, have culminated in today’s declaration by the Honorable Home Minister.