List of districts of Ladakh

The Indian union territory of Ladakh consists of two districts, with the intention to create 5 new districts announced on 26th August 2024[1]. Each district elects an autonomous district council. Until 31 October 2019, the districts of Kargil and Leh were part of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.

List

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District Headquarters Area (km2) Population
(2011 Census) 		Established Predecessor Autonomous District Council Comments URL
Kargil Kargil 14,086 140,802 1979 Leh Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil Shia Muslim majority http://kargil.nic.in/
Leh Leh 45,110* 133,487 1979 Ladakh Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh Buddhist majority http://leh.nic.in/
Changthang Changtang proposed in 2024[2] Leh
Drass Dras proposed in 2024[2] Kargil
Nubra Nubra proposed in 2024[2] Leh
Sham Sham Valley proposed in 2024[2] Leh Nicknamed "Apricot valley", lies between Kargil and Leh towns. Covers Likir, Alchi, Nimo, Lamayouro, etc.
Zanskar Zanskar proposed in 2024[2] Kargil
Total 59,146* 274,289

* Indicates area under the actual control of India.

New districts

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Demands have been raised for the creation of new districts in Ladakh. There had been 9 proposals to make districts. local BJP unit has hinted the creation of two new districts: Nubra and Zanskar.[3] The Ladakh Buddhist Association Zanskar (LBAZ) has also been demanding the creation of Zanskar district.[4]

  • Zanskar: People of Zanskar have been demanding for more than past seven decades for a new district from the existing Kargil district.[5][6] In 2020, the town's population was 20,000.[6] It lies 250 km south of Kargil town.
  • Drass: People of have been demanding for more than past seven decades for a new district from the existing Kargil district.[4][5] In 2020, the town's population was 30,000.[5] It lies 60 km south of Kargil town.drass is inhabited second coldest place in the world.
  • Nubra: Demands have been raised and the BJP has hinted at the creation of Nubra as new district.[5]
  • Sham Valley: Demands have been raised and the BJP has hinted at the creation of Sham Valley as new district.
  • Changthang: The people of Durbuk and Nyoma subdivisions of Leh district also demanded district status for the region (Changthang is a historical and cultural region of Ladakh. It is the southern part of Leh district comprising Durbuk and Nyoma subdivisions)

Other demands for new districts

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  • Sankoo: In February 2020, organised by various youth, religious and several political parties, nearly 3,000 people protested for the creation of a new 14,000 square kilometres (5,400 sq mi) Muslim-majority district of Sankoo out of Kargil because it remains cut-off from Kargil and the rest of India during snowfall of winters.[5] It had 40,000 or more than 25% population of Kargil district in 2011.[5] It lies 42 km southwest of Kargil town.
  • Turtuk: Recommendations of mp of Ladakh to upgrade the tehsil of Turtuk. It comprises Turtuk and other towns and siachen glacier.
  • Khaltsi: The people of Khaltsi, a subdivision of Leh district, have also demanded district status for their region (the western region of Leh district).
  • Aryan valley of Ladakh: The people of Aryan valley of Ladakh are demanding either to grant them a subdivision or a district because to protect their culture which is different as compared to other part of the Ladakh.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "MHA announces five new districts in Ladakh". The Times of India. 2024-08-26. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  2. ^ a b c d e ET Times (2024-08-26), "Ladakh gets five new districts", Economics Times
  3. ^ 3,000 Demonstrate for Separate District in Sub-Zero Temperatures at Kargil, The Wire, 6 February 2020.
  4. ^ Ladakh-based Buddhist association demands district status for Zanskar, India Today, 4 September 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d 3,000 Demonstrate for Separate District in Sub-Zero Temperatures at Kargil, The Wire, 06/FEB/2020.
  6. ^ a b Ladakh-based Buddhist association demands district status for Zanskar, India Today, September 4, 2019.
  7. ^ "MP Ladakh raises important issues in the Parliament | the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh | India".
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