Facts About:

• The Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) is India’s first dark sky region, and is centered at Hanle in Eastern Ladakh, around the Indian Astronomical Observatory.
• HDSR preserves the dark skies by reducing light pollution in the surrounding areas, and uses these dark skies to promote astrotourism as a means to further enhance socio-economic development in the area.

What is the Indian Astronomical Observatory?

• The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) is one of the highest observatories in the world.
• It is situated in Hanle, Ladakh, at an elevation of 14.8 kilometers.
• Within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, it will surface.
• Ladakh's vast arid region, high elevation, and sparse population make it an excellent choice for long-term observatories and dark-sky locations.
• The facility is supported by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru and the Department of Science and Technology.