Nyoma[a] is a principal village of southern Ladakh in India, the headquarters of an eponymoussubdivision, tehsil, community development block and Indian Air Force Base in the Leh district.[4][5] It is located on the bank of the Indus river after its 90-degree bend near Dungti east of Nyoma and before the valley narrows to a gorge near Mahe northwest of Nyoma. The Nyoma tehsil and subdivision cover all of southern Ladakh, including the Rupshu plains south of Nyoma, the Indus valley of Skakjung north of Nyoma, and the Hanle valley. Nyoma gompa, a Buddhist monastery, is located on the hill slope north of the village.
The Indus river after its entry into Ladakh flows in a southwesterly direction after Demchok through [past Skakjung pastureland on it's right bank] a wide valley. Afterwards, at the northwestern end of Skakjung pastureland, it takes a 90-degree bend at Dungti blocked by the higher ground of the Chushul valley in the north. The village of Nyoma lies 33km west of the bend on the right bank (northern bank), where it is also coupled with another neighbouring village Mood (or Mud or Mad). The Indus river here is said to be wide and shallow. It could be easily forded.[1][6]
Nyoma is located 41km southeast of Chumathang,[7] and 87km south of Chushul. Nearby villages are Mahe and Loma. Hanle, the largest village in southern Ladakh, is 80km to the southeast. Mount Sajum on the border with China is 43km to the east.
Nyoma tehsil borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China on the south and the east. The southern border runs along the Chumar village in Rupshu and the Imis Pass at the end of the Hanle valley. The eastern border, a Line of Actual Control resulting from the 1962 war with China, runs along the Kailash Range watershed of the Indus river till the village of Dumchele and narrows to the right bank of the Indus river up to Demchok.
The road from Leh runs till the village of Koyul, crossing the Indus river at Loma. From Koyul to Demchok, there is only a rough track. An alternative border road runs between the Koyul Lungpa valley and Demchok via the Umling La pass.[8][9]
The upgrade expanded the airstrip to a 1,235acre an airbase capable of supporting fighter jet operations at 13,700 feet (4,200m) elevation with an expanded 2.7km (8,900ft)-long, 46m (151ft)-wide runway paved runway along with allied military infrastructure.[18] The supporting infrastructure included ATC complex, hangar, crash bay, watch towers, and accommodation facilities.[19]
Nearby Nyoma is Indian Military's "Mahe Field Firing Range" (MFFR) on 1,259.25ha (12.5925km2) land inside the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary. Firing range is 40–50km (25–31mi) from the disputed India-China Line of Actual Control. This is the one of its kind firing range in the entire Indian-held Ladakh region where all types of weapons can be fired.[22]
Wildlife clearance was granted in 2022 for laying optical fiber cables in the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary for the internet and telephony connectivity.[22]
Tourism
Since 2010, foreign tourists with Inner Line Permits are permitted to visit Nyoma and its monastery.
According to the 2011 census of India, Nyoma has 202 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 49.94%.[25]
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