List of districts of Ladakh

The Indian union territory of Ladakh consists of two districts, with the intention to create 5 new districts announced on 26th August 2024. ^[1] Each district elects an autonomous district council. Until 31 October 2019, the districts of Kargil and Leh were part of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.

List

District	Headquarters	Area (km2)	Population (2011 Census)	Established	Predecessor	Autonomous District Council	Comments	URL
Kargil	Kargil	14,086	140,802	1979	Leh	Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil	Shia Muslim majority	http://kargil.nic.in/
Leh	Leh	45,110*	133,487	1979	Ladakh	Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh	Buddhist majority	http://leh.nic.in/
Total		59,146*	274,289

^* Indicates area under the actual control of India.

Proposed districts

In August 2024, the Central Government proposed to create 5 additional districts in the union territory of Ladakh namely: ^{[2] [3]}

• Zanskar: People of Zanskar have been demanding for more than past seven decades for a new district from the existing Kargil district. ^{[4] [5]} In 2020, the town's population was 20,000. ^[5] It lies 250 km south of Kargil town.

• Drass: People of have been demanding for more than past seven decades for a new district from the existing Kargil district.[4][5] In 2020, the town's population was 30,000.[5] It lies 60 km south of Kargil town.drass is inhabited second coldest place in the world.

• Nubra: Demands have been raised and the BJP has hinted at the creation of Nubra as new district. ^[4]

• Sham Valley: Demands have been raised and the BJP has hinted at the creation of Sham Valley as new district.

• Changthang: The people of Durbuk and Nyoma subdivisions of Leh district also demanded district status for the region (Changthang is a historical and cultural region of Ladakh. It is the southern part of Leh district comprising Durbuk and Nyoma subdivisions)

Other demands for new districts

• Sankoo: In February 2020, organised by various youth, religious and several political parties, nearly 3,000 people protested for the creation of a new 14,000 square kilometres (5,400 sq mi) Muslim-majority district of Sankoo out of Kargil because it remains cut-off from Kargil and the rest of India during snowfall of winters. ^[4] It had 40,000 or more than 25% population of Kargil district in 2011. ^[4] It lies 42 km southwest of Kargil town.

• Turtuk: Recommendations of mp of Ladakh to upgrade the tehsil of Turtuk. It comprises Turtuk and other towns and siachen glacier.

• Khaltsi: The people of Khaltsi, a subdivision of Leh district, have also demanded district status for their region (the western region of Leh district).

• Aryan valley of Ladakh: The people of Aryan valley of Ladakh are demanding either to grant them a subdivision or a district because to protect their culture which is different as compared to other part of the Ladakh. ^[6]

See also

• Ladakh
  • Geography of Ladakh
  • Tourism in Ladakh

• Jammu and Kashmir region
  • List of districts in Azad Kashmir
  • List of districts in Gilgit-Baltistan
  • List of districts of Jammu and Kashmir

• India
  • List of districts in India

References

1. "MHA announces five new districts in Ladakh". The Times of India. 2024-08-26. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2024-08-26.
2. "Ladakh Gets 5 New Districts Amid Demand For Statehood, PM Modi Lauds Move". ABP Live. 2024-08-26. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
3. "MHA announces five new districts in Ladakh". The Times of India. 2024-08-26. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2025-11-09.
4. 3,000 Demonstrate for Separate District in Sub-Zero Temperatures at Kargil, The Wire, 06/FEB/2020.
5. Ladakh-based Buddhist association demands district status for Zanskar, India Today, September 4, 2019.
6. "MP Ladakh raises important issues in the Parliament | the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh | India".