Leh, Apr 8: In a major push to promote Ladakh’s tourism and spiritual heritage, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday launched two key digital platforms—the official Ladakh Tourism portal and the website for the Sacred Exposition of the Holy Relics of Gautama Buddha.
The portals were unveiled at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat in Leh in the presence of senior officials, monks and revered rinpoches, marking a significant step towards strengthening Ladakh’s global tourism and cultural footprint.
The newly launched tourism portal has been developed as a comprehensive digital hub to promote Ladakh as a premier destination. Designed to be dynamic and user-friendly, it offers authentic and updated information to visitors while featuring a tourism calendar to help plan travel around major festivals and events.
Showcasing Ladakh’s vast offerings—from spiritual and cultural heritage to adventure tourism, wildlife, eco-tourism and astro-tourism—the platform also highlights tribal traditions, cuisine, sports and its emerging identity as a film and winter tourism destination. Real-time advisories on health, weather and travel conditions have also been integrated to enhance visitor experience.
In a significant reform aimed at improving ease of doing business, the portal enables online registration of hotels, guest houses and homestays. The documentation requirement has been drastically reduced from 18 to just two, while the validity period has been extended from one year to five years, eliminating the need for annual renewals.
The Lieutenant Governor said the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to leveraging digital technology for tourism promotion, improving service delivery and preserving Ladakh’s cultural legacy, while ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth.
Notably, the portal also introduces AI-based itinerary planning, allowing tourists to customise travel plans based on their preferences and budget—an effort aimed at enhancing convenience and global reach.
On the occasion, Saxena also launched the dedicated website for the Sacred Exposition of the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha, scheduled to begin on May 1 on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. The platform will provide detailed information about the exposition, including interfaith dialogues and seminars, and enable devotees to book online slots and secure priority passes for the veneration of the sacred relics.
The twin initiatives are expected to significantly boost Ladakh’s tourism sector while strengthening its position as a global centre for spiritual and cultural engagement.
