Hanle Monastery and Observatory,Hanle is a very remote village on the high Changthang plateau. Hanle Monastery stands on a low hill above simple houses, with white buildings, prayer flags and views over a wide, empty valley. Nearby, a modern astronomy observatory sits on another hill because the skies here are extremely clear and dark. Visitors experience silence, big open landscapes, homestays with local families and a strong feeling of being on the edge of human habitation.
About this place
History & highlights
Hanle Monastery, belonging to the Drukpa school, has served local Buddhists and nomads for several centuries, helping maintain culture and religion in this harsh frontier. Historically, Hanle lay on routes towards Tibet and was part of Ladakh’s eastern border zone. In recent decades, scientists chose Hanle for telescopes due to its altitude and clean atmosphere, bringing modern space research into a traditional monastic village. The town’s history now combines old monastic life with new scientific significance.
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