Dah Hanu or Dha and Hanu, popularly known as Aryan villages of Ladakh, are located in Dhahanu valley in North-East of Ladakh, about 160km from Leh town. The visitors are required to obtain an inner line permit to visit these Brokpa villages. The villages have both Buddhist and Muslim population and also have their own animist pantheon of Gods. Residents of Dah Hanu are best known as Indo-Aryan breed. Dard people of Dah and Hanu have an Indo-European appearance with high cheek bones and sharp features. They look quite different from other Ladakhi people. Dha and Hanu are two separate villages in Dhahanu valley of Ladakh, about 160km from Leh. The valley is accessible by two routes -- one by taking a link road from Khalsi (Khaltse) from Leh-Kargil highway and the other from Kargil by using road passing through Batalik. Hanu is in fact divided in three sections. The main Hanoo village is about 20km above the main road but the population has spread across the region in the past years. The first village, from Khalsi side, greets you is Hanu Thang that lies on the Khalsi-Dah road. One has to take a sharp right turn at an isolated area, about 2km beyond Hanu Thang and a military check post stops visitors to check the identities, special permits and they may also check the whole vehicle prior to allowing vehicle cross the barrier. At a distance of about 8km comes Hanu Yogma village, on the other bank of a small tributary of Indus River. Lower part of the ancient small village having about 80 households looks like ruins but most houses are new and construction is ongoing. A high school is also in Hanu Yogma and children from nearby villages come here for education under military surveillance. About 6km
Dah Hanu or Dha and Hanu, popularly known as Aryan villages of Ladakh, are located in Dhahanu valley in North-East of Ladakh, about 160km from Leh town. The visitors are required to obtain an inner line permit to visit these Brokpa villages. The villages have both Buddhist and Muslim population and also have their own
