Leh district

 

Leh district is a district in the union territory of Ladakh, a territory administered as part of India. With an area of 45,110 km², it is the second largest district in the country smaller only to Kutch. It is bounded on the north by Gilgit-Baltistan’s Kharmang and Ghanche districts and Xinjiang’s Kashgar Prefecture and Hotan Prefecture linked via the historic Karakoram Pass. It has Aksai Chin and Tibet are to the east, Kargil district to the west, and Lahul and Spiti to the south. The district headquarters is in Leh. It lies between 32 to 36 degree north latitude and 75 to 80 degree east longitude.

The whole of Ladakh was under the administration of Leh until 1 July 1979, when the Kargil and Leh administrative districts were created. Religion has been a source of grievances between Buddhists and Muslims since the late 20th century and was a contributor to this division.

In 2017, the district was declared a tobacco-free zone. The Directorate of Health Services Kashmir under the National Tobacco Control Programme began working towards the designation early in 2017 and the status was declared in August. Rehana Kousar (in-charge, NTCP, Kashmir) said that work was done with civil society, religious and women’s groups and that a “major success was achieved by the involvement of women in the anti-tobacco campaign.”

In August 2019 the Parliament of India passed an act that contained provisions to make Leh a district of the new union territory of Ladakh, which was formed 31 October 2019.

Administration

There are seven sub-divisions and twelve tehsils. The sub-divisions are: Nubra, Durbuk (Durbok), Khalatse (Khaltsi/Khalsi), Leh, Kharoo, Likir, Nyoma. The tehsils are: Panamik, Sumoor, Turtuk, and Diskit in Nubra Valley, Durbuk, Khalatse, Saspol, Leh, Chuchot, Kharoo, Likir, Nyoma

 

As a result of The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Removal of Difficulties) Second Order, 2019, Leh district would claim de jure jurisdiction over the following areas of Pakistani-administered Kashmir: Gilgit, Gilgit Wazarat, Chilas, and Tribal territory, making it slightly smaller than the country of Tunisia.

The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh (LAHDC Leh), is the Autonomous District Council that administers the Leh district.

As of July 2019, Leh district is divided into 7 sub-divisions (new sub-divisions in Leh), 12 tehsils (new tehsils in Panamik, Turtuk, Chuchot and Likir) and 18 (new blocks in Sumoor and Likir) blocks.

Sub–divisions, Blocks and Villages in Leh
District	Sub-Division	Blocks	Villages
Leh district	Khaltsi	Khaltsi	Kanji, Khaltsi, Lamayuru, Leh Dho, Nurla, Skindiang, Takmachik, Temisgam, Tia
		Singaylalok	Fotoksar, Lingshet, Wanla, Youl Chung
		Skurbuchan	Dah, Damkhar, Hanoo, Skur Buchan
	Leh	Chuchot	Chuchot Yakma, Chuchot Gongma, Chuchot Shama, Mathoo, Stakna, Stok
		Leh	Phey, Saboo, Phyang, Spituk, Choglamsar
		Thiksay	Nang, Rambir Por, Shey, Thiksey
	Nubra	Diskit	Diger, Disket, Hundar, Hundar Dok, Hundri, Khalsar, Khardong, Khema Khungru, Lakjung, Largiab, Partapur, Skanpuk, Skuru, Tangyar, Terchey, Udmaru, Warisfistan
		Panamik	Chamshan Charasa, Khemi, Kubed, Panamic, Sumoor, Tiggar
		Turtuk	Bogdang, Chulungkha, Taksi, Thanga Chathang, Turtok
	Durbuk	Durbuk	Chushul, Durbuk, Kargyam, Man Pangong, Shachukul, Tangste
	Kharu	Kharu	Changa, Chemday, Gia, Hemis, Igoo, Khargu, Langokor, Matselang, Miru, Phuktse, Serthi, Shang, Shara, Sharnose, Upshi
	Likir	Nimoo	Bazgoo, Chiling Sumda, Likir, Ney, Nimo, Rumbak, Skiumarkha, Taroo, Umla
		Saspol	Alchi, Giramangu, Saspochey, Suspol, Tarhipti, Hemishok Pachan
	Nyoma	Nyoma	Anlay, Demjok, Koyul, Mood, Nyoma
		Rong-Chumathang	Chumathang, Himya, Kerey, Kumgyam, Liktse, Skitmang, Tarchit, Teri, Leh, Tukla
		Rupsho-Puga	Karzok, Kharnak, Samad Rakchan
Total	7	16	113

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Leh district had a population of 133,487, roughly equal to the nation of Saint Lucia. This gives it a ranking of 609th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 3 inhabitants per square kilometre (7.8/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 13.87%, (it was 30.15% for 1991-2001). Leh has a sex ratio of 690 females for every 1000 males (this varies with religion), and a literacy rate of 77.2%.

Religion

hideLeh district: religion, gender ratio, and % urban of population, according to the 2011 Census.
	Hindu	Muslim	Christian	Sikh	Buddhist	Jain	Other	Not stated	Total
Total	22,882	19,057	658	1,092	88,635	103	54	1,006	133,487
	17.14%	14.28%	0.49%	0.82%	66.40%	0.08%	0.04%	0.75%	100.00%
Male	21,958	10,493	469	1,018	44,019	49	29	936	78,971
Female	924	8,564	189	74	44,616	54	25	70	54,516
Gender ratio (% female)	4.0%	44.9%	28.7%	6.8%	50.3%	52.4%	46.3%	7.0%	40.8%
Sex ratio (no. females per 1,000 males)	42	816	403	73	1,014	–	–	75	690
Urban	14,542	5,169	358	927	24,023	24	53	575	45,671
Rural	8,340	13,888	300	165	64,612	79	1	431	87,816
% Urban	63.6%	27.1%	54.4%	84.9%	27.1%	23.3%	98.1%	57.2%	34.2%

Languages

Ladakhi is the most spoken language. Hindi is the second largest language, mainly spoken in Leh. Balti is found in Nubra near the boundary with Gilgit-Baltistan. Tibetan, Punjabi, Marathi and Nepali are all mainly spoken in Leh.

Politics

Parliamentary Constituency

The district falls under Ladakh (Lok Sabha constituency). The present Member of Parliament (MP) of Ladakh is Jamyang Tsering Namgyal of the BJP

Assembly constituencies

Leh district had two assembly constituencies, Nubra and Leh under Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. Since Ladakh is a union territory without legislature, it does not have a present legislative assembly.

Autonomous Hill Council

Leh District is administered by an elected body known as the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh. The LAHDC was established in 1995.

The latest elections were held in October 2020. The BJP secured 15 seats while the INC won 9 and the Independents won 2.

Transportation

Road

Leh is connected to the rest of India by two high-altitude roads both of which are subject to landslides and neither of which are passable in winter when covered by deep snows. The National Highway 1D from Srinagar via Kargil is generally open longer. The Leh-Manali Highway can be troublesome due to very high passes and plateaus, and the lower but landslide-prone Rohtang Pass near Manali. The third road axis is under construction.

• National Highway 1

The overland approach to Ladakh from the Kashmir valley via the 434-km. National Highway 1 typically remains open for traffic from June to October/November. The most dramatic part of this road journey is the ascent up the 3,505 m (11,500 ft.) high Zoji-la, a tortuous pass in the Great Himalayan Wall. The Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) operates regular Deluxe and Ordinary bus services between Srinagar and Leh on this route with an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis (cars and jeeps) are also available at Srinagar for the journey.

• National Highway 3 or Leh-Manali Highway

Since 1989, the 473-km Leh-Manali Highway has been serving as the second land approach to Ladakh. Open for traffic from June to late October, this high road traverses the upland desert plateaux of Rupsho whose altitude ranges from 3,660 m to 4,570 m. There are a number of high passes en route among which the highest one, known as Tanglang La, is sometimes (but incorrectly) claimed to be the world’s second-highest motorable pass at an altitude of 5,325 m. (17,469 feet). See the article on Khardung La for a discussion of the world’s highest motorable passes.

• Nimmu–Padam–Darcha road

This is the third road axis to Leh. It is currently under construction.

Air

Leh’s Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport has flights to Delhi at least daily on Air India which also provides twice-weekly services to Jammu and a weekly flight to Srinagar. Passengers connect in Delhi for other destinations. Go First operates Delhi to Leh daily flights during peak time.

Rail

There is no railway service currently in Ladakh, however, 2 railway routes are proposed- the Bilaspur–Leh line and Srinagar–Kargil–Leh line.

Gallery

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  Tsomoriri lake

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  Pangong lake

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  Leh district flower fields and mountains