To promote Astro Tourism and science-driven tourism, the first ever Ladakh Astro Tourism Festival being organised by the Tourism Department in collaboration with Indian Institute of Astrophysics Bangalore at Leh conclude on Saturday. The two-day long festival is an pioneering initiative to promote Ladakh as premier destination for astro tourism due to high altitude areas, dry weather, least light pollution which helps to make ideal place for star gazing, boasting of clear skies and observation of Milky Way and other celestial wonders.

The two-day festival celebrated by providing learning experiences through expert talks by astrophysist of ISRO, Indian Institutes Astrophysics and expert from Kashmir University at Leh and Hanle Dark Sky Reserve for tourists and star gazers and science enthusiasts. The key features of the festival has been Night Sky Observation at the Leh Campus of Ladakh University during which attendees were provided viewing experiences on constellation, spotting planets, deep- Sky viewing through telescope-guided observation.