Earlier announced on 26th August 2024 as a new district was awaiting the formal notification for the creation.[6] On 27th April 2026, 5 new districts were notified in the government gazette for boosting the service delivery and infrastructure, including Changthang with 24 revenue villages.[3]
Geography
Changthang district is part of the larger Changtang region (alternatively spelled Changthang or Qangtang) in the high altitude Tibetan Plateau. Changtang region is spread across the western and northern Tibet extending into the southern edges of Xinjiang as well as Changthang district in southeastern Ladakh of in India.[7]
Changthang, also known as Eastern Flat Land, is the region where nomads reside, situated to the east of Leh near the Chinese border. The typical elevation of the region hovers at approximately 4,450m (14,600ft) above sea level.[8][9]
Based on aggregation of the village-level data from the 2011 Census of India for the areas constituting the present district, Changthang had an estimated population of about 13,000 in 2011.[15] The district is extremely sparsely populated, with a population density of fewer than 1 person per square kilometre, and is inhabited predominantly by the nomadic and semi-nomadic Changpa communities.[16]
The most remarkable characteristic of this Lake region is the Nomadic people who herd goats and yaks.[17] The Changtang is home to the Changpa, a nomadic pastoralist people.[18][19]
Pangong Lake stretches for 40 miles and is approximately 2 to 4 miles wide, situated at an elevation of 4,267m (13,999ft) above sea level. India occupies one-third of the lake, with the rest falling under China's territory. The lake's most notable feature is its water color, which is a vibrant deep blue in the evening and becomes light blue in the morning, catching the eye at first sight. The lake water is not as salty as ocean water, but it is as cold as ice.[20][21]
Located in the Rupshu|Rupshu Valley, the Tso Moriri lake is a stunning body of water surrounded by mountains and situated approximately 240 kilometers from Leh. The Lake sits at an altitude of 14,000 ft close to the tiny village of Karzok.[17]
Tso Kar
Tso Kar (also known as the salt lake), another gorgeous Lake, is situated approximately 76 kilometers away from Tso Moriri.[17][21] Tso Kar Lake, also referred to as the 'White Lake,' is located in the Rupshu Plateau and valley in the southern region of Ladakh. Wetlands and lush green meadows are all around it. The water in the lake is slightly salty. There are wide range of birds. A significant quantity of grebes and brown-headed gulls, as well as a few strip geese, rust geese, and terns, can be observed. Tso Kar Lake supports various other animals like Kiang, Tibetan gazelles, Tibetan wolves. The tent-dwelling Samad-Rokchen nomadic group resides around the lake. Thugjay village serves as the central hub of this nomadic community.[23][21]
ISRO's Human Outer Planet Exploration (HOPE) station at Tso Kar for India’s human space exploration mimics conditions on the Moon and Mars and aimed at carrying out "research for future crewed interplanetary journeys", and acts as testing grounds for relevant technologies, help advance technology readiness levels (TRL) and engineering integration, and facilitate human studies, crew training and research around geological, geomorphological, habitability, and life detection. There are 33 such stations across the world. In August 2025, India began its first ever space simulation at this station in which 2 crew in space suit stayed inside the station for the further research and development.[25]
Climate
The summers are warm but short and thunderstorms can occur at any time of year, often accompanied with hail. Meanwhile, the winters are cold and Arctic-like despite the latitude, primarily due to the high elevation.[26]
↑Namgail, T., Bhatnagar, Y.V., Mishra, C. & Bagchi, S. (2007) Pastoral nomads of the Indian Changthang: production system, land use and socioeconomic changes. Human Ecology 35, 497–504.
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