Leh: Under Ladakh’s crystal-clear, unpolluted skies, where the Milky Way spills like a luminous river across the heavens, the Astro-Ambassadors of the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve are guiding visitors into the cosmos.
Among them is Kesang Dorjey, whose journey from a labourer in the scenic hamlet of Khaldo to an Astro-Ambassador is nothing short of meteoric. At India’s first Dark Sky Reserve, Kesang leads curious visitors through constellations, Saturn’s rings, and faraway galaxies, while working to preserve the pristine darkness above Hanle.
At 4,500 metres above sea level, his mission blends science with community spirit — safeguarding the legacy of the stars, inspiring a new generation of stargazers, and ensuring Ladakh’s night skies remain untouched for decades to come.
