Current Affairs - Festivity - Discussion

Ladakh hosted its first Astro Tourism Festival in Leh, marking a significant initiative to promote science-based tourism in India. Organized by the Tourism Department of Ladakh in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, the festival aimed to showcase the region's natural advantages for astronomy, such as high altitude, clear skies, and low light pollution. The two-day event featured telescope-guided sky observations, astrophysics lectures by experts from ISRO and academic institutions, and educational activities for tourists. With sites like the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, Ladakh is uniquely positioned to become a major hub for astro tourism, blending science, sustainability, and travel.