Hanle's women astro-guides turn dark skies into income

Four young women in Hanle, Ladakh, have become astro-ambassadors, guiding tourists through India's first Dark Sky Reserve. Trained in 2022 by the Ladakh administration and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, they earn about 25,000 rupees a month from stargazing sessions. Visitor numbers have surged from 3,000 to nearly 30,000 a year, boosting local homestays and women's financial independence.