Tag: hanley

Hanle, or Anley, a village in eastern part of Ladakh in Leh district at altitude of about 4,500 meters above sea level, is very close to China border and has become a popular tourist destination. Hanle village of Ladakh is believed to be the best place for stargazing. The high altitude plains here offer beautiful panoramic views. The Indian Astronomical Observatory is established above Hanle village for astronomical studies. The scientists chose Anley as a suitable place for this observatory due to many reasons. Hanle is a rain shadow place, which means the region rarely see clouds or rain. Secondly, the remote village is located at a high altitude plateau with almost no air or light pollution. These features make Hanley village a preferred destination for star gazing. Hanle village is also famous among tourists for its ancient monastery. The 17th-century monastery (gompa) of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism is located at the entrance of the village in the right hand side. Many tourists reach Hanle with misconception that they can see stars, planets and galaxies from the Hanle Observatory. This is not true. Tourists can visit the astronomical observatory here for education purpose and to see how it works. But, keep it in mind that this observatory is teleoperated from Bangalore, not from Hanle. Many tourists also see photos of our galaxy that have been shot from Hanle and they think they also can see similar view with naked eyes. Yes, stars are brighter, thicker and appear closer from Hanle (if there is no cloud or moon). Even the strips of galaxies can be seen with naked eyes. But, those attractive photos are generally captured with professional cameras. You can see the wonder of nature with a telescope. Umling la, the highest motorable pass