- Location: Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) in the Changthang region of Ladakh.
- Action: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman laid the foundation stone on June 16, 2025.
- Project Components:
- Mini Planetarium
- Astro Globe (a dome or centre for astronomy display)
- Funding & Cost: Sanctioned under the Special Development Package (SDP) at an estimated cost of ₹276.65 lakh (approx ₹2.77 crore).
- Key Objectives:
- Astro-Tourism: Strengthen infrastructure to attract both domestic and international stargazers.
- Education: Promote scientific education and hands-on learning in astrophysics for students and the public.
- Local Economy: Generate local employment by training residents as “Astronomy Ambassadors” to guide tourists.10
- Context: Hanle is already home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO), hosting major telescopes like the Himalayan Chandra Telescope and the MACE Telescope, and boasts some of the clearest, darkest skies (Bortle-1 rating) in the world.
The project symbolises a strategic partnership between science and the local community to boost development in the remote region.