In the cold desert of Ladakh, hundreds of kilometres from Delhi, dozens of stargazers huddle around telescopes, eagerly awaiting the arrival of darkness. Over the course of a few hours, they witness more than 150 meteors streaking across the sky – a spectacle nearly impossible to see from India’s light-polluted cities. For many travellers, experiences like this are becoming as compelling as visits to monuments or wildlife sanctuaries, as the once-taken-for-granted dark skies have become a reason to venture out.
Stargazing in India has long been the preserve of amateur astronomers and science clubs, but as air pollution and city lights obscure the night sky, the hobby is breaking into the mainstream, sparking a new wave of astrotourism. The trend is still niche, constrained by the high cost of organised trips and the challenge of reaching remote, light-free locations. However, with more urban residents now willing to journey hundreds of kilometres for a glimpse of the cosmos, tour organisers say demand is surging.
In Ladakh’s Hanle village, for instance, the number of visitors has skyrocketed from around 5,000 per year to more than 30,000 since it was designated India’s first dark-sky reserve in 2022. Similar growth is being reported elsewhere, with one private company, Astroport Global, seeing its visitor numbers climb from a few hundred to around 20,000 per year at its five resorts across India.
The driving factor behind this trend is visibility. Astronomers measure sky clarity using the Bortle dark-sky scale, which ranges from one to nine. Delhi typically ranks between eight and nine, meaning only the brightest stars can be seen. In contrast, higher-altitude regions such as parts of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Ladakh offer far darker skies and clearer air, as colder night-time temperatures push pollutants closer to the ground.
For many participants, these stargazing trips offer more than just a science lesson – they’re a chance to reconnect with the night sky of their childhood. Experts say astrotourism in India is still in its early stages, but it is already opening new pathways for learning, with the experience sparking curiosity, questions and a deeper understanding of space science.
The growth has also brought economic benefits to some remote regions. In Hanle, the number of small hotels has risen sharply over the past three years, and the boom has created new jobs for local youth, with residents trained as guides and astro-ambassadors.
However, scaling up remains a challenge. Reaching remote destinations such as Ladakh or Sariska involves high travel costs, limiting who can take part. Even for those who make the journey, options are scarce, as India currently has just one officially recognised dark-sky reserve at Hanle, with another emerging at Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
At the same time, expanding cities and unchecked lighting continue to eat into natural dark skies, making it difficult to develop similar experiences closer to urban centres. Unlike many Western countries, India also has few organised dark-sky advocacy groups, though awareness is slowly growing.
Despite these challenges, there are early signs of change, including government-led initiatives, observatories working with local communities, and resorts adopting low-light practices. Experts say the sector has a long way to go, but for now, these short trips are offering city residents a rare chance to reconnect with a night sky that has quietly disappeared from everyday life.
