Changthang district

Changthang district is one of the 5 newly proposed districts in Ladakh, India.^[1][2] The intent to create the district was announced on 26 August 2024.^[2] The Changthang district is expected to include portions of the Nyoma and Durbuk subdivisions of the Leh district.^[3] The majority of the population in the area are Changpa nomadic pastoralists.^[4] Prominent villages in the area include Hanle, Chushul and Tangtse.

Changthang district
District of Ladakh
Country	India
State	Ladakh
Region	Ladakh

History

Changthang, also known as Eastern Flat Land, is the region where nomads reside, situated to the east of Leh near the Chinese border. The typical elevation of the region hovers at approximately 14600 meters above sea level. Rupsho valley is another name for this region. Changpa nomads, wild animals, lakes, and rare birds are the primary draw of this region.^[5][6]

Tourism

Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary

Tsomoriri lake

Located in the Rupsho Valley, the Tsomoriri Lake is a stunning body of water surrounded by mountains and situated approximately 240 kilometers from Leh. The Lake sits at an altitude of 14,000 ft close to the tiny village of Korzok. Another option is to tour the 19th-century Korzok Monastery, which contains statues of Shakyamuni Buddha and other deities. The most remarkable characteristic of this Lake region is the Nomadic people who herd goats and yaks. Another gorgeous Lake, Tsokar (also known as the salt lake), is situated approximately 76 kilometers away from Tsomoriri.^[7][8]

Pangong lake

Pangong Lake stretches for 40 miles and is approximately 2 to 4 miles wide, situated at an elevation of 4267 m above sea level. India occupies one-third of the lake, with the rest falling under China's territory. The lake's most notable feature is its water color, which is a vibrant deep blue in the evening and becomes light blue in the morning, catching the eye at first sight. The lake water is not as salty as ocean water, but it is as cold as ice.^[9][8]

Tso Kar lake

Tso Kar Lake, also referred to as the 'White Lake,' is located in the Rupshu Plateau and valley in the southern region of Ladakh. Wetlands and lush green meadows are all around it. The water in the lake is slightly salty. There are wide range of birds. A significant quantity of grebes and brown-headed gulls, as well as a few strip geese, rust geese, and terns, can be observed. Tso Kar Lake supports various other animals like Kiang, Tibetan gazelles, Tibetan wolves. The tent-dwelling Samad-Rokchen nomadic group resides around the lake. Thugjay village serves as the central hub of this nomadic community.^[10][8]