Leh district

Coordinates: 33°38′N 77°46′E / 33.633°N 77.767°E / 33.633; 77.767
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Leh.

Leh district
Hindi/Urdu
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationLA-01
Websiteleh.nic.in

Leh district is a district in Indian-administered Ladakh in the disputed Kashmir-region.[1] Ladakh is an Indian-administered union territory. With an area of 45,110 km2, it is the second largest district in the country, second 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, to which it connects via the historic Karakoram Pass. 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 and 36 degree north latitude and 75 to 80 degree east longitude.

All 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 grievance between Buddhists and Muslims since the late 20th century and contributed to this division.[3]

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."[4]

In August 2019, the

act that contained provisions to make Leh a district of the new union territory of Ladakh, which was formed 31 October 2019.[5]

Administration

Leh district has seven sub-divisions and twelve tehsils. The sub-divisions are:

Nubra, Durbuk (Durbok), Khalatse (Khaltsi/Khalsi), Leh, Kharoo, Likir, Nyoma
. The tehsils are:
Nubra Valley, Durbuk, Khalatse, Saspol, Leh, Kharoo, and Nyoma.[6]

Map
Leh district in Ladakh

As a result of The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Removal of Difficulties) Second Order, 2019, Leh district claimed de jure jurisdiction over the following areas of Pakistani-administered Kashmir: Gilgit, Gilgit Wazarat, Chilas, and Tribal territory,[7] making it only slightly smaller than the country of Tunisia.

The

Autonomous District Council that administers the Leh district.[8]

As of July 2019, Leh district is divided into 7 sub-divisions (new sub-divisions in Leh), 12

blocks).[9][6]

Sub–divisions, Blocks and Villages in Leh[10]
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
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
Khardong, Khema Khungru, Lakjung, Largiab, Partapur, Skanpuk, Skuru, Tangyar, Terchey, Udmaru, Warisfistan
Panamic
Kubed, Panamic, Sumoor, Tiggar
Turtuk
Turtok
Durbuk
Durbuk
Tangste
Kharu Kharu
Shara, Sharnose, Upshi
Likir
Nimoo
Nimoo, Rumbak, Skiumarkha, Taroo, Umla
Saspol Alchi, Giramangu, Saspochey, Suspol, Tarhipti, Hemishok Pachan
Nyoma Nyoma
Mood, Nyoma
Rong-Chumathang
Tukla
Rupsho-Puga Karzok, Kharnak, Samad Rakchan
Total 7 16 113

Demographics

Sex Ratio in Leh District in 2011 Census.[11]
(no. females per 1,000 males)
Religion (and population) Sex Ratio
Buddhist (pop 88,635)
 
 1,014
Hindu (pop 22,882)
 
 942
Muslim (pop 19,057)
 
 816
Other (pop 2,913)
 
 165
Total (pop 133,487)
 
 690

According to the

640).[citation needed] 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).[citation needed] Leh has a sex ratio of 690 females for every 1000 males (this varies with religion), and a literacy rate of 77.2%.[citation needed
]

Religion

Religion in Leh district (2011)[11]
Religion Percent(%)
Buddhism
 
 66.40%
Hinduism
 
 17.14%
Islam
 
 14.28%
Sikhism
 
 0.82%
Other or not stated
 
 1.36%
Leh district: religion, gender ratio, and % urban of population, according to the 2011 Census.[11]
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

Languages of Leh district (2011)[14]

  Ladakhi (70.22%)
  Hindi (12.75%)
  Balti (3.95%)
  Tibetan (3.46%)
  Punjabi (1.02%)
  Marathi (1.01%)
  Nepali (1.01%)
  Others (6.58%)

Ladakhi is the most spoken language, and Hindi/Urdu 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. Urdu and English are widely understood in Leh.[3]

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.[15] Since Ladakh is a union territory without a legislature, it does not currently have a legislative assembly.[16]

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.[17]

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

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.

The overland approach to Ladakh from the Kashmir valley via the 434-km.

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.

  • 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).[18]

  • Nimmu–Padam–Darcha road

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

Air

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport

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 Bhanupli–Leh line and Srinagar–Kargil–Leh line.[19]

Gallery

  • Indus River Valley in Thiksey
    Indus River Valley in Thiksey
  • Indus Valley in Leh
    Indus Valley in Leh
  • Khardung La pass in Ladakh Range
    Khardung La pass in Ladakh Range
  • Rock formations along Leh-Manali Highway
    Rock formations along
    Leh-Manali Highway
  • Mountain peaks around Leh
    Mountain peaks around Leh
  • Tsomoriri lake
    Tsomoriri
    lake
  • Pangong lake
    Pangong
    lake
  • Leh district flower fields and mountains
    Leh district flower fields and mountains

See also

References

  1. ^
    due weight
    in the coverage. Although "controlled" and "held" are also applied neutrally to the names of the disputants or to the regions administered by them, as evidenced in sources (h) through (i) below, "held" is also considered politicized usage, as is the term "occupied," (see (j) below).
    (a) Kashmir, region Indian subcontinent, Encyclopaedia Britannica, retrieved 15 August 2019 (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent ... has been the subject of dispute between India and Pakistan since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. The northern and western portions are administered by Pakistan and comprise three areas: Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, and Baltistan, the last two being part of a territory called the Northern Areas. Administered by India are the southern and southeastern portions, which constitute the state of Jammu and Kashmir but are slated to be split into two union territories.";
    (b) Pletcher, Kenneth, Aksai Chin, Plateau Region, Asia, Encyclopaedia Britannica, retrieved 16 August 2019 (subscription required) Quote: "Aksai Chin, Chinese (Pinyin) Aksayqin, portion of the Kashmir region, at the northernmost extent of the Indian subcontinent in south-central Asia. It constitutes nearly all the territory of the Chinese-administered sector of Kashmir that is claimed by India to be part of the Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state.";
    (c) "Kashmir", Encyclopedia Americana, Scholastic Library Publishing, 2006, p. 328,
    ISBN 978-1-84904-621-3
     Quote:"Some politicised terms also are used to describe parts of J&K. These terms include the words 'occupied' and 'held'."
  2. ^ "Lok Sabha Members". Lok Sabha. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Muslim Precedence Politics - How it operates in Ladakh". Kashmir Sentinel. August 2002. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008.
  4. ^ "Leh Declared Tobacco-Free". The Tribune India. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Article 370 revoked Updates: Jammu & Kashmir is now a Union Territory, Lok Sabha passes bifurcation bill". Business Today. 6 August 2019.
  6. ^ a b Leh tehsils.
  7. ^ "J&K Reorganisation (Removal of Difficulties) Second Order, 2019 -- [Territory of Leh district shall constitute, Gilgit, Gilgit Wazarat, Chilas, Tribal territory & 'Leh & Ladakh' except present territory of Kargil]". 2 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Ladakh Autonomous Hill development Council act 1997" (PDF). Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Subdivisions & Blocks". District Leh - Ladakh.
  10. ^ "Villages | District Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh | India". District Leh - Ladakh – Government of India. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  11. ^ a b c C-1 Population By Religious Community – Jammu & Kashmir (Report). Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Leh district census data 2011" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  13. ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2011. Saint Lucia 161,557 July 2011 est.
  14. ^ C-16 Population By Mother Tongue – Jammu & Kashmir (Report). Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  15. ^ "ERO's and AERO's". Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir. Archived from the original on 22 October 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  16. ^ "J&K to be a union territory with legislature, Ladakh to be without". India Today. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh". Leh. Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  18. ^ See the article on Khardung La for a discussion of the world's highest motorable passes.
  19. ^ "Himachal CM meets Union railway minister, seeks 100% Centre funding for Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Leh rail line". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 9 November 2020.

External links

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