LEH, Sept 15: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday inaugurated the 11th Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2026, celebrating the rich cultural heritage, distinct identity and tourism potential of the Zanskar region.
The two-day festival, marked by cultural programmes and enthusiastic participation from local communities, is the first edition since Zanskar was granted district status in April this year.
Saxena visited stalls and Doksa exhibitions showcasing local culture, handicrafts and products, and virtually inaugurated various infrastructure projects completed in Zanskar district. He also released Shesrab, the annual magazine of Government Degree College Zanskar, and a special postal cover on “Gonbo Rangjon” in collaboration with India Post.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said Zanskar’s district status was not merely an administrative change but recognition of the long-standing aspirations and distinct identity of its people.
“Today, as we celebrate the first major cultural festival of Zanskar as a new district, it is a moment of pride for all of us,” he said, congratulating the people of the region.
Highlighting Zanskar’s tourism potential, Saxena said its monasteries, mountains, rivers, trekking routes, adventure activities, traditions and warm hospitality made it a destination with immense potential.
He noted that the Ladakh Zanskar Festival had been included in the UT Administration’s official tourism calendar, helping place the region’s culture and tourism potential on the wider tourism map.
Saxena said more than 4.05 lakh tourists had visited Ladakh up to August 31, including over 3.71 lakh domestic and more than 33,000 foreign visitors.
The increasing tourist footfall, he said, was generating business opportunities for hotels, homestays, taxis, restaurants, local shops and artisans while creating employment and avenues for entrepreneurship among the youth.
The Lieutenant Governor stressed that tourism development should be sustainable, responsible and people-centric, with due regard for Zanskar’s environment, culture and traditions.
On connectivity, he highlighted the Nimmu-Padum-Darcha (NPD) Road and the NH-301 Kargil-Zanskar Highway, saying the projects would strengthen connectivity and create new opportunities for tourism, local businesses, artisans, drivers, guides and young entrepreneurs.
“These projects are not merely about building roads. They are infrastructure that can transform people’s lives, the local economy and opportunities,” Saxena said, while acknowledging the priority accorded to Ladakh’s development by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He urged Zanskar’s youth to preserve their cultural heritage while leveraging digital platforms, social media and modern technology to showcase the region to the world and create new opportunities in tourism and entrepreneurship.
Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of LAHDC Kargil Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, Ladakh MP Mohd Haneefa Jan, and several other public representatives and officials from the district administration attended the event.
