Stories From the High Desert
Guides, culture, and dispatches from beneath the darkest skies in India.
Umling La: The World's Highest Motorable Road, Right by Hanle
Umling La, the world's highest motorable road at nearly 5,800 m, sits within reach of Hanle. What to know before you attempt it, and how to add it to a Hanle trip.
Your Complete Hanle Trip Planner: A Step-by-Step Checklist
Everything for a Hanle trip in the right order — from permits and acclimatisation to packing, booking and the night sky. One checklist to plan the whole thing.
How to Shoot Star Trails in Hanle
Turn Hanle's dark sky into swirling circles of light. A step-by-step guide to shooting star trails — the gear, settings and stacking technique that make it work.
Birdwatching Around Hanle: Black-necked Cranes & More
The wetlands of Changthang around Hanle are a summer haven for rare high-altitude birds — including the majestic black-necked crane. A guide for curious birdwatchers.
Yaks, Pashmina & the Nomad Life of the Changpa
The Changpa nomads of the Hanle plateau live by their herds — yaks, sheep and the goats that grow the world's finest pashmina. A window into a vanishing way of life.
Meet the Families Behind Hanle's Homestays
A homestay in Hanle isn't a room — it's a family. Meet the Changpa and Ladakhi hosts who open their homes, and learn what genuine hospitality looks like at 4,300 m.
How to Choose the Right Hanle Homestay: An Amenities Checklist
Not all Hanle homestays are the same. A practical checklist of what to look for — heating, washrooms, meals, hot water and location — so you book the right one.