Hanle (village)

Hanle (also spelt Anle) is a large historic village in the Indian union territory of Ladakh. It is the site of the 17th century Hanle Monastery (gompa) of the Drukpa Kagyu branch of Tibetan Buddhism. Hanle is located in the Hanle River valley on an old branch of the ancient Ladakh–Tibet trade route. More recently, Hanle is the home of Hanle observatory, one of the world's highest sites for astronomical observation.

Hanle
Village
Hanle Village
Hanle
Location in Ladakh, India
Hanle
Hanle (India)
Coordinates: 32.79°N 79.00°E / 32.79; 79.00
Country India
Union TerritoryLadakh
DistrictLeh
TehsilNyoma
Population
 (2011)
 • Total1,879
Languages
 • OfficialUrdu
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Hanle Gompa

Geography

Hanle is in the valley of the Hanle River, which originates near the Imis La pass on the border with Tibet and joins the Indus river at Loma, close to the town of Nyoma. A road running through the Hanle valley from Loma is the quickest way to reach Hanle. Though the road terminates near Hanle, the traditional trade and pilgrimage corridor used to run up the Hanle valley to Imis La, cross into the Indus valley via Charding La near Demchok, and proceed to Tashigang in Tibet. This corridor using Tibetan territory is now closed.[1]

Hanle is also connected to Koyul river valley to the east via a winding mountain road that passes through the Photi La pass.[2]

Demographics

The valley is home to approximately two thousand people, of whom about 300 people are living in Hanle village.

History

Hanle is mentioned by name in the settlement document of the kingdom of Maryul in c. 930 AD, as forming one of its frontiers: "Wam-le (Hanle), to the top of the pass of the Yi-mig rock (Imis pass)". To the west of this frontier were the highlands of Rupshu and, beyond it, Zanskar.[3][4]

Sengge Namgyal (r. 1616–1642) built the prominent Hanle monastery in association with Stag-tsang-ras-pa, the notable Buddhist priest of the Durgpa ("red hat") sect.[5] Sengge Namgyal died here in 1642 after his return from an expedition against the Mongols who had occupied the Tibetan province of Tsang and were threatening Ladakh.[6][7]

Hanle Observatory

Hanle is home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory. The location of the village and the observatory are highly sensitive due to the close proximity of the Tibetan / Chinese border. Special permission is needed to visit either by the Indian Government.

India set up the Himalayan Chandra Telescope, a 2m gamma ray telescope. Once complete the Major Atmospheric Cerenkov Experiment Telescope gamma ray telescope under construction there will be the world's largest telescope at the highest altitude and the second largest gamma ray telescope in the world.[8]

Transport

Fukche airport is 24 km away, and Ukdungle town is close by.

References

Citations
  1. Bhattacharji, Ladakh (2012), Chapter 10, "Hanle: Star gazing in a Corner of Changthang".
  2. Bhattacharji, Ladakh (2012), Chapter 9, "Changthang: The High Plateau".
  3. Fisher, Rose & Huttenback, Himalayan Battleground (1963), p. 19.
  4. Howard & Howard, Historic Ruins in the Gya Valley (2014), p. 83.
  5. Rizvi, Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia (1996), p. 69.
  6. Rizvi, Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia (1996), p. 70.
  7. Petech, The Kingdom of Ladakh (1977), pp. 47–48.
  8. Sharma, Ravi (29 September 2001). "A stellar acquisition". Frontline (Volume 18 - Issue 20). Archived from the original on 14 June 2012.

Sources
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