Ladakh Festival 2023: For the first time, the Ministry of Home Affairs has allowed foreign tourists to visit and stay in Hanle, Changthang. The permission has been specifically given for the upcoming Ladakh Nomad Festival to be held on the Chinese border on July 15-16. This will help in promoting tourism in Ladakh region as a historic step.
Advocate Tashi Gyalson, Chairman, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lt. Governor of Ladakh Brig BD Mishra for allowing foreign tourists to visit Hanle for the Ladakh Nomad Festival and said that this This small step will help in promoting Ladakh tourism not only locally but internationally.
We heartily welcome the decision of the Ministry – Gyalsan
Highlighting the importance of the Nomad Festival, Tashi Gyalson said that apart from domestic tourists, travel permit for foreign tourists on the eastern border of Ladakh has been a long pending demand and he heartily welcomes the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Are.
He hoped that in future, the Ministry of Home Affairs would generally allow foreign tourists to visit and stay in Hanle and all other important areas of Changthang without any restrictions.
More than 5 lakh tourists in Ladakh
Let us tell you that Ladakh was first opened for tourism in 1974 and then according to government records, there were 527 tourists. Which included 500 foreign tourists and 27 domestic tourists and now, almost 50 years later, the number of tourists has crossed five lakhs.
Ladakh Union Territory Tourism, Labor and Employment Secretary, Mehboob Ali Khan said, “Ladakh received 5,31,396 tourists in 2022, including 21,258 foreigners and 5,10,137 domestic tourists, and Ladakh tourism is expected to receive the same number in the current year as well. number of tourists will come
Ladakh tourism is promoting many festivals
Labor Secretary Mehboob Khan informed that Ladakh Tourism is organizing and promoting various festivals in Ladakh such as Apricot Blossom Festival, Bak-Wheat Festival, Ghumantu Festival, Zanskar Festival in both Leh and Kargil districts, thereby showcasing the rural life, culture and heritage of Ladakh. The traditions are being displayed in front of the world.
Ladakh is full of spectacular landscapes
Mehboob Khan said, “The spectacular landscape of Ladakh is dotted with ancient Buddhist monasteries, palaces (khars) and mosques. They reveal the rich architectural splendor, mystical legends and deep religious connect of the people in the sparsely populated landscape of Ladakh.”
He further said that Ladakh has 120 open peaks ranging from 5508 meters to 7135 meters and we are planning to open 141 more peaks ranging from 5504 meters to 7672 meters for mountaineering and trekking.
However, the major geographical area of Ladakh falls on LAC and LOC with China and Pakistan. These areas near the borders were not open to tourists or visitors and permits were required for these restricted places.
This festival started in 2021
The Nomadic Festival, which started in the year 2021, is an annual festival celebrated in various villages of Changthang and aims to celebrate the glory of the nomadic lifestyle in its ancient form, complete with its culture.
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