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{{Short description|District of Ladakh, administered by India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Leh district
| settlement_type = [[List of districts of Ladakh|District]] of [[Ladakh]] administered by India<ref name=tertiary-kashmir/>
| total_type = Total
| native_name =
| image_skyline = Leh 02.jpg
| image_caption = View of Leh Town
| image_map1 = Kashmir region. LOC 2003626427 - showing sub-regions administered by different countries.jpg
| map_alt =
| map_caption1 = A map showing Indian-administered [[Ladakh]] (shaded in [[tan (color)|tan]] in the disputed [[Kashmir]] region<ref name=tertiary-kashmir/>
| coordinates = {{coord|33|38|N|77|46|E|type:adm2nd_region:IN_dim:200000|display=inline,title}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 4
| coor_pinpoint = Leh
| subdivision_type = Administering country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = {{nowrap|[[States and union territories of India|Union Territory]]}}
| subdivision_name1 = [[Ladakh]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Headquarters]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Leh]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 1 July 1979
| seat_type = Headquarters
| seat = [[Leh]]
| parts_type = [[Tehsils of India|Tehsils]]
| parts_style = para
| p1 = Leh, Khaltsi, Nyoma, Kharu, Diskit Nubra, Saspol, Durbuk and Sumoor
| area_total_km2 = 45,110
| area_footnotes =
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_total = 133487
| population_footnotes =
| population_urban = 45,671
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = Demographics
| demographics1_title1 = [[Literacy in India|Literacy]]
| demographics1_info1 = 77.2%
| demographics1_title2 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| demographics1_info2 = 690 [[female|♀]]/ 1000 [[male|♂]] 
| demographics_type2 = Languages
| demographics2_title1 = Official
| demographics2_info1 = [[Hindi]], [[English language|English]]
| demographics2_title2 = Spoken
| demographics2_info2 = [[Ladakhi language|Ladakhi]], [[Balti language|Balti]], [[Brokskat]], [[Tibetic languages|Tibetan]], [[Hindi/Urdu]]
| leader_title = [[District magistrate (India)|Deputy Commissioner]]
| leader_name = Sh. Romil Singh Donk [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]]
| leader_title1 = [[Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh|Chief Executive Councillor]]
| leader_name1 = post vacant since {1st november}
| leader_title2 = [[Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha Constituency]]
| leader_name2 = [[Ladakh (Lok Sabha constituency)|Ladakh]]
| leader_title3 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]]
| leader_name3 = {{nowrap|[[Mohmad Haneefa]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/MemberHomePage.aspx?mpsno=5006|title=Lok Sabha Members|work=Lok Sabha|accessdate=12 July 2021}}</ref>}}
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +05:30
| registration_plate = JK 10 (till 2019)
LA-02
| blank_name_sec1 =
| blank_info_sec1 =
| blank_name_sec2 =
| blank_info_sec2 =
| website = {{URL|leh.nic.in/}}
| official_name =
}}

'''Leh district''' is a district in [[India]]n-administered [[Ladakh]] in the [[Kashmir#Dispute|disputed]] [[Kashmir]]-region.<ref name=tertiary-kashmir>The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of [[Kashmir]] and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the [[BP:TERTIARY|tertiary sources]] (a) through (e), reflecting [[BP:DUE|due weight]] in the coverage. Although "controlled" and "held" are also applied neutrally to the names of the disputants or to the regions administered by them, as evidenced in sources (h) through (i) below, "held" is also considered politicized usage, as is the term "occupied," (see (j) below). 
(a) {{citation|title=Kashmir, region Indian subcontinent|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kashmir-region-Indian-subcontinent |accessdate=15 August 2019}} (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent ... has been the subject of dispute between India and Pakistan since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. The northern and western portions are administered by Pakistan and comprise three areas: Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, and Baltistan, the last two being part of a territory called the Northern Areas. Administered by India are the southern and southeastern portions, which constitute the state of Jammu and Kashmir but are slated to be split into two union territories."; (b) {{citation|last1=Pletcher|first1=Kenneth|title=Aksai Chin, Plateau Region, Asia|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Aksai-Chin |accessdate=16 August 2019}} (subscription required) Quote: "Aksai Chin, Chinese (Pinyin) Aksayqin, portion of the Kashmir region, at the northernmost extent of the Indian subcontinent in south-central Asia. It constitutes nearly all the territory of the Chinese-administered sector of Kashmir that is claimed by India to be part of the Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state."; (c) {{citation|chapter=Kashmir|title=Encyclopedia Americana|publisher=Scholastic Library Publishing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l_cWAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA328|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7172-0139-6|page=328}} C. E Bosworth, University of Manchester Quote: "KASHMIR, kash'mer, the northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent, administered partlv by India, partly by Pakistan, and partly by China. The region has been the subject of a bitter dispute between India and Pakistan since they became independent in 1947"; (d) {{citation|last1=Osmańczyk|first1=Edmund Jan|title=Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: G to M|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fSIMXHMdfkkC&pg=PA1191|year=2003|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-93922-5|pages=1191–}} Quote: "Jammu and Kashmir: Territory in northwestern India, subject to a dispute between India and Pakistan. It has borders with Pakistan and China." (e) {{citation|last=Talbot|first=Ian|title=A History of Modern South Asia: Politics, States, Diasporas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eNg_CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA28|year=2016|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-19694-8|pages=28–29}} Quote: "We move from a disputed international border to a dotted line on the map that represents a military border not recognized in international law. The line of control separates the Indian and Pakistani administered areas of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir."; (f) {{citation|last=Skutsch|first=Carl|editor-last=Ciment|editor-first=James|title=Encyclopedia of Conflicts Since World War II|edition=2nd|year=2015|orig-year=2007|isbn=978-0-7656-8005-1|chapter=China: Border War with India, 1962|location=London and New York|publisher=Routledge|page=573|quote=The situation between the two nations was complicated by the 1957–1959 uprising by Tibetans against Chinese rule. Refugees poured across the Indian border, and the Indian public was outraged. Any compromise with China on the border issue became impossible. Similarly, China was offended that India had given political asylum to the Dalai Lama when he fled across the border in March 1959. In late 1959, there were shots fired between border patrols operating along both the ill-defined McMahon Line and in the Aksai Chin.}} (g) {{citation|last=Clary|first=Christopher|title=The Difficult Politics of Peace: Rivalry in Modern South Asia|publisher=Oxford University Press|location = Oxford and New York|isbn=9780197638408|page=109|quote=Territorial Dispute: The situation along the Sino-Indian frontier continued to worsen. In late July (1959), an Indian reconnaissance patrol was blocked, "apprehended," and eventually expelled after three weeks in custody at the hands of a larger Chinese force near Khurnak Fort in Aksai Chin. ... Circumstances worsened further in October 1959, when a major class at Kongka Pass in eastern Ladakh led to nine dead and ten captured Indian border personnel, making it by far the most serious Sino-Indian class since India's independence.}} (h) {{citation|last=Bose|first=Sumantra|title=Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ACMe9WBdNAC&pg=PA294|year=2009|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-02855-5|pages=294, 291, 293}} Quote: "J&K: Jammu and Kashmir. The former princely state that is the subject of the Kashmir dispute. Besides IJK (Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir. The larger and more populous part of the former princely state. It has a population of slightly over 10 million, and comprises three regions: Kashmir Valley, Jammu, and Ladakh.) and AJK ('Azad" (Free) Jammu and Kashmir. The more populous part of Pakistani-controlled J&K, with a population of approximately 2.5 million.), it includes the sparsely populated "Northern Areas" of Gilgit and Baltistan, remote mountainous regions which are directly administered, unlike AJK, by the Pakistani central authorities, and some high-altitude uninhabitable tracts under Chinese control." (i) {{citation|last=Fisher|first=Michael H.|title=An Environmental History of India: From Earliest Times to the Twenty-First Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kZVuDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA166|year=2018|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-107-11162-2|page=166}} Quote: "Kashmir’s identity remains hotly disputed with a UN-supervised “Line of Control” still separating Pakistani-held Azad (“Free”) Kashmir from Indian-held Kashmir."; (j) {{citation|last=Snedden|first=Christopher|title=Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5amKCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA10|year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-1-84904-621-3|page=10}} Quote:"Some politicised terms also are used to describe parts of J&K. These terms include the words 'occupied' and 'held'."
</ref> Ladakh is an Indian-administered [[union territory]]. With an area of 45,110 ''km''''2'', it is the second largest district in the country, second only to [[Kutch district|Kutch]]. It is bounded on the north by [[Gilgit-Baltistan]]'s [[Kharmang District|Kharmang]] and [[Ghanche District|Ghanche]] districts and [[Xinjiang]]'s [[Kashgar Prefecture]] and [[Hotan Prefecture]], to which it connects via the historic [[Karakoram Pass]]. [[Aksai Chin]] and [[Tibet]] are to the east, [[Kargil district]] to the west, and [[Lahaul and Spiti district|Lahul and Spiti]] to the south. The district headquarters is in [[Leh]]. It lies between [[32nd parallel north|32]] and [[36th parallel north|36 degree]] north latitude and [[75th meridian east|75]] to [[80th meridian east|80 degree]] east longitude.

All of Ladakh was under the administration of Leh until 1 July 1979, when the Kargil and Leh administrative districts were created. Religion has been a source of grievance between Buddhists and Muslims since the late 20th century and contributed to this division.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=Muslim Precedence Politics - How it operates in Ladakh |date=August 2002 |work=Kashmir Sentinel |url=http://kashmirsentinel.com/aug2002/8.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006063842/http://kashmirsentinel.com/aug2002/8.html |archive-date=2008-10-06}}</ref>

In 2017, the district was declared a tobacco-free zone. The Directorate of Health Services Kashmir, under the National Tobacco Control Programme, began working towards the designation early in 2017 and the status was declared in August. Rehana Kousar (in-charge, NTCP, Kashmir) said that work was done with civil society, religious and women's groups and that a "major success was achieved by the involvement of women in the anti-tobacco campaign."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/leh-declared-tobacco-free/454870.html|title=Leh Declared Tobacco-Free|website=The Tribune India|access-date=24 August 2017}}</ref>

In August 2019, the [[Parliament of India]] passed the [[Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019|act]] that contained provisions to make Leh a district of the new union territory of [[Ladakh]], which was formed 31 October 2019.<ref name="Business Today 2019-08-06">{{Cite news |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/jammu-and-kashmir-crisis-live-updates-governor-reviews-security-situation-in-state/story/370856.html|title=Article 370 revoked Updates: Jammu & Kashmir is now a Union Territory, Lok Sabha passes bifurcation bill |date=6 August 2019 |website=Business Today}}</ref>

==Administration==
Leh district has seven sub-divisions and eight tehsils.
The sub-divisions are: [[Nubra Valley|Nubra]], [[Durbuk]] (Durbok), [[Khalatse]] (Khaltsi/Khalsi), [[Leh]], [[Kharoo]], [[Likir]], [[Nyoma]].<ref name="leh div 1">{{cite web |title=Subdivisions & Blocks |url=https://leh.nic.in/about-district/administrative-setup/subdivision-blocks/ |publisher=District Leh - Ladakh}}</ref>
The tehsils are: [[Sumoor]], [[Diskit]], [[Durbuk]], [[Khalatse]], [[Suspol, Leh|Saspol]], [[Leh]], [[Kharoo]], and [[Nyoma]].<ref name="leh div 4">[https://leh.nic.in/about-district/administrative-setup/tehsil/ Leh tehsils].</ref>

{{anchor| subdivision | tehsil | block }}



As a result of ''The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Removal of Difficulties) Second Order, 2019'', Leh district claimed [[de jure]] jurisdiction over the following areas of Pakistani-administered Kashmir: Gilgit, Gilgit Wazarat, Chilas, and Tribal territory.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.scconline.com/blog/post/2019/11/02/jammu-and-kashmir-reorganisation-removal-of-difficulties-second-order-2019/ |title = J&K Reorganisation (Removal of Difficulties) Second Order, 2019 -- [Territory of Leh district shall constitute, Gilgit, Gilgit Wazarat, Chilas, Tribal territory & 'Leh & Ladakh' except present territory of Kargil]|date = 2 November 2019}}</ref>

The [[Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh]] (LAHDC Leh) is the [[Autonomous regions of India|Autonomous District Council]] that administers the Leh district.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/4912/1/ladakh_autonomous_hill_development_council_act%2C_1997.pdf|title=Ladakh Autonomous Hill development Council act 1997|access-date=26 January 2021}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto; font-size:smaller; text-align:center;"
! colspan="4" |<big>Sub–divisions, Blocks and Villages in Leh</big><ref>{{Cite web|title=Villages {{!}} District Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh {{!}} India|url=https://leh.nic.in/about-district/administrative-setup/village/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201224142026/https://leh.nic.in/about-district/administrative-setup/village/|archive-date=24 December 2020|access-date=2020-12-24|website=District Leh - Ladakh – Government of India|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
!District
! scope="col" ! | Sub-Division
! scope="col" ! | Blocks
! scope="col" ! | Villages
|-
! rowspan="16" |Leh district
| rowspan="3" | [[Khalatse|Khaltsi]]
| [[Khalatse|Khaltsi]] || [[Kanji, Ladakh|Kanji]], [[Khalatse|Khaltsi]], [[Lamayouro|Lamayuru]], [[Leido|Leh Dho]], [[Nurla]], [[Skindiang]], [[Takmachik]], [[Temisgam]], [[Tia, Leh|Tia]]
|-
|[[Singaylalok]]
|[[Photoksar]], [[Lingshet]], [[Wanla]], [[Youl Chung]]
|-
|[[Skur Buchan|Skurbuchan]]
|[[Dah, Ladakh|Dah]], [[Domkhar]], [[Hanu, Ladakh|Hanoo]], [[Skur Buchan]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Leh]]
|[[Chuchot valley|Chuchot]]
| [[Chuchat Yakma|Chuchot Yakma]], [[Chuchot Gongma]], [[Chuchot Shama]], [[Mathoo]], [[Stakna]], [[Stok]]
|-
|[[Leh]]
|[[Phey]], [[Saboo, Leh|Saboo]], [[Fiang|Phyang]], [[Spituk]], [[Choglamsar]]
|-
|[[Thiksey|Thiksay]]
|[[Nang, Leh|Nang]], [[Rambir Por]], [[Shey]], [[Thiksey]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Nubra]]
|[[Diskit]]
| [[Digger, Leh district|Diger]], [[Diskit]], [[Hundar, India|Hundar]], [[Hundar Dok]], [[Hundri]], [[Khalsar, India|Khalsar]], [[Khardong, Leh district|Khardong]], [[Khema Khungru]], [[Lakjung]], [[Largiab]], [[Partap Pore|Partapur]], [[Skanpuk]], [[Skuru]], [[Tangyar]], [[Terchey]], [[Udmaru]], [[Warisfistan]]
|-
|[[Panamic]]
|[[Chamshan Charasa]], [[Khemi]], [[Kubed, Leh district|Kubed]], [[Panamic]], [[Sumoor]], [[Tegar|Tiggar]]
|-
|[[Turtuk]]
|[[Bogdang]], [[Chalunka|Chulungkha]], [[Takshi|Taksi]], [[Thang, Ladakh|Thanga Chathang]], [[Turtuk]]
|-
| [[Durbok|Durbuk]]
|[[Durbok|Durbuk]]
| [[Chushul]], [[Durbok|Durbuk]], [[Kargyam]], [[Man Pangong]], [[Shachukul]], [[Tangtse]]
|-
| [[Kharoo|Kharu]]
| [[Kharoo|Kharu]] || [[Changa, Leh district|Changa]], [[Chemrey]], [[Gia, Leh district|Gia]], [[Hemis]], [[Igoo]], [[Khargu]], [[Langokor]], [[Matselang]], [[Meroo, Leh district|Miru]], [[Phuktse]], [[Sakti, Leh district|Serthi]], [[Shang, Leh district|Shang]], [[Shara, Leh district|Shara]], [[Sharnose]], [[Upshi]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Likir]]
| [[Nimo, Leh district|Nimoo]] || [[Bazgoo]], [[Chiling Sumda]], [[Likir]], [[Ney, Leh district|Ney]], [[Nimo, Leh district|Nimoo]], [[Rumbak]], [[Skiumarkha]], [[Taroo]], [[Umla]]
|-
|[[Suspol, Leh|Saspol]]
|[[Alchi]], [[Giramangu]], [[Saspochey]], [[Suspol, Leh|Suspol]], [[Tarhipti]], [[Hemis Shukpachan|Hemishok Pachan]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Nyoma]]
| [[Nyoma]] || [[Anlay]], [[Demchok, Ladakh|Demjok]], [[Koyul]], [[Mood, Leh district|Mood]], [[Nyoma]]
|-
|[[Rong valley|Rong]]-Chumathang
|[[Chumathang]], [[Himya]], [[Kerey]], [[Kumgyam]], [[Liktse]], [[Skitmang]], [[Tarchit]], [[Teri, Leh district|Teri]], [[Tukla, Leh district|Tukla]]
|-
|[[Rupshu|Rupsho]]-[[Puga valley|Puga]]
|[[Karzok]], [[Kharnak]], [[Samad Rakchan]]
|-
!Total
!7
!16
!113
|}

==Demographics==
{{bar box
|title=Sex Ratio in Leh District in 2011 Census.<ref name="census2011-C01" /> (no. females per 1,000 males)
|float=right
|width=360px
|left1=Religion (and population)
|right1=Sex Ratio
|bars=
{{bar pixel|Buddhist (pop 88,635)|yellow|101.356||1,014 }}
{{bar pixel|Hindu (pop 22,882)|orange|4.208||42 }}
{{bar pixel|Muslim (pop 19,057)|green|81.616||816 }}
{{bar pixel|Other (pop 2,913)|grey|16.473||165 }}
{{bar pixel|Total (pop 133,487)|black|69.033||690 }}
}}

According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Leh district had a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 133,487,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/01/0103_PART_A_DCHB_LEH.pdf|title=Leh district census data 2011|access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref> roughly equal to the nation of [[Saint Lucia]].<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004507/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 13 June 2007 | access-date = 2011-10-01 | quote = Saint Lucia 161,557 July 2011 est.}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 609th in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} The district has a population density of {{convert| 3 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}}. Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001-2011 was 13.87%, (it was 30.15% for 1991–2001).{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} Leh has a [[sex ratio]] of 690 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males (this varies with religion), and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 77.2%.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

=== Religion ===
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Leh district (2011)<ref name="census2011-C01"/>
|titlebar=#FCD116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent(%)
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Tibetan Buddhism|Buddhism]]|Gold|66.40}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|17.14}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam in India|Islam]]|green|14.28}}
{{bar percent|[[Sikhism]]|darkkhaki|0.82}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|1.36}}
}}

{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed "
|-
! colspan=10 | Leh district: religion, gender ratio, and % urban of population, according to the 2011 Census.<ref name="census2011-C01">{{cite report |title=C-1 Population By Religious Community – Jammu & Kashmir |url = https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW01C-01%20MDDS.XLS |publisher = Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
!|
!| Hindu
!| Muslim
!| Christian
!| Sikh
!| Buddhist
!| Jain
!| Other
!| Not stated
!| Total
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:right;"
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Total
|| 22,882 || 19,057 || 658 || 1,092 || 88,635 || 103 || 54 || 1,006 || 133,487
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:right;"
|| 17.14% || 14.28% || 0.49% || 0.82% || 66.40% || 0.08% || 0.04% || 0.75% || 100.00%
|-
| colspan=10|
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;" | Male
|| 21,958 || 10,493 || 469 || 1,018 || 44,019 || 49 || 29 || 936 || 78,971
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;" | Female
|| 924 || 8,564 || 189 || 74 || 44,616 || 54 || 25 || 70 || 54,516
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;" | Gender ratio (% female)
|| 4.0% || 44.9% || 28.7% || 6.8% || 50.3% || 52.4% || 46.3% || 7.0% || 40.8%
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center"
| style="text-align:left;" | Sex ratio (no. females per 1,000 males)
|| 42 || 816 || 403 || 73 || 1,014 || – || – || 75 || 690
|-
| colspan=10|
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;" | Urban
|| 14,542 || 5,169 || 358 || 927 || 24,023 || 24 || 53 || 575 || 45,671
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;" | Rural
|| 8,340 || 13,888 || 300 || 165 || 64,612 || 79 || 1 || 431 || 87,816
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;" | % Urban
|| 63.6% || 27.1% || 54.4% || 84.9% || 27.1% || 23.3% || 98.1% || 57.2% || 34.2%
|-
|}
{{clear left}}

=== Languages ===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Languages of Leh district (2011)<ref name="census2011-C16">{{cite report |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue – Jammu & Kashmir |url = https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0100.XLSX |publisher = Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Ladakhi language|Ladakhi]] |value1 = 70.22 |color1 = seagreen
|label2 = [[Hindi]] |value2 = 12.75 |color2 = orange
|label3 = [[Balti language|Balti]] |value3 = 3.95 |color3 = lightseagreen
|label4 = [[Tibetic languages|Tibetan]] |value4 = 3.46 |color4 = royalblue
|label5 = [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] |value5 = 1.02 |color5 = pink
|label6 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]] |value6 = 1.01 |color6 = red
|label7 = [[Nepali language|Nepali]] |value7 = 1.01 |color7 = sandybrown
|label8 = Others |value8 =6.58 |color8 = grey
}}[[Ladakhi language|Ladakhi]] is the most spoken language, and Hindi/Urdu is the second-largest language, mainly spoken in Leh. [[Balti language|Balti]] is found in [[Nubra]] near the boundary with Gilgit-Baltistan. [[Tibetic languages|Tibetan]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and [[Nepali language|Nepali]] are all mainly spoken in Leh. [[Urdu]] and [[English language|English]] are widely understood in Leh.<ref name=":0" />

==Politics==
===Parliamentary Constituency===
The district falls under [[Ladakh (Lok Sabha constituency)]]. The present [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]] (MP) of Ladakh is [[Mohmad Haneefa]] (independent candidate).

===Autonomous Hill Council===
Leh District is administered by an elected body known as the [[Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh]]. The LAHDC was established in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://leh.nic.in/lahdc.htm |title=Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh |publisher=Leh |access-date=2007-12-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030134447/http://leh.nic.in/lahdc.htm |archive-date=2007-10-30}}</ref>

The latest elections were held in October 2020. The BJP secured 15 seats while the INC won 9 and the Independents won 2.

==Transportation==
===Road===
Leh is connected to the rest of India by two high-altitude roads both of which are subject to landslides and neither of which are passable in winter when covered by deep snows. The [[National Highway 1D (India)|National Highway 1D]] from [[Srinagar]] via [[Kargil]] is generally open longer. The [[Leh-Manali Highway]] can be troublesome due to very high passes and plateaus, and the lower but landslide-prone Rohtang Pass near [[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]]. The third road axis is under construction.

*[[National Highway 1 (India)|National Highway 1]]
The overland approach to Ladakh from the Kashmir valley via the 434-km. [[National Highway 1 (India)|National Highway 1]] typically remains open for traffic from June to October/November. The most dramatic part of this road journey is the ascent up the 3,505 m (11,500 ft.) high [[Zoji-la]], a tortuous pass in the Great Himalayan Wall. The [[Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation]] (JKSRTC) operates regular Deluxe and Ordinary bus services between Srinagar and Leh on this route with an overnight halt at Kargil. Taxis (cars and jeeps) are also available at Srinagar for the journey.

*[[National Highway 3 (India)|National Highway 3]] or [[Leh-Manali Highway]]
Since 1989, the 473-km Leh-Manali Highway has been serving as the second land approach to Ladakh. Open for traffic from June to late October, this high road traverses the upland desert plateaux of Rupsho whose altitude ranges from 3,660 m to 4,570 m. There are a number of high passes en route among which the highest one, known as [[Tanglang La]], is sometimes (but incorrectly) claimed to be the world's second-highest motorable pass at an altitude of 5,325 m. (17,469 feet).<ref>See the article on [[Khardung La]] for a discussion of the world's highest motorable passes.</ref>

* [[Nimmu–Padam–Darcha road]]

This is the third road axis to Leh. It is currently under construction.

===Air===
[[File:IXL Front 2010.jpg|thumb|[[Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport]]]]
Leh's [[Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport]] has flights to Delhi at least daily on [[Air India]] which also provides twice-weekly services to [[Jammu]] and a weekly flight to [[Srinagar]]. Passengers connect in [[Delhi]] for other destinations. [[Go First]] operates [[Delhi]] to Leh daily flights during peak time.

===Rail===
There is no railway service currently in Ladakh, however, 2 railway routes are proposed- the [[Bhanupli–Leh line]] and Srinagar–Kargil–Leh line.<ref>{{cite news|title=Himachal CM meets Union railway minister, seeks 100% Centre funding for Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Leh rail line|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/himachal-cm-meets-union-rly-minister-seeks-100-centre-funding-for-bhanupali-bilaspur-leh-rail-line/story-AGkPR9GCAei32BM6X0WhLJ.html|accessdate=9 November 2020|newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Thiksey, Tibetan Buddhism in Indus River Valley, Ladakh, North India.jpg|[[Indus River]] Valley in Thiksey
Leh, Tibetan Buddhism in Ladakh, India, Trans-Himalaya.jpg|Indus Valley in Leh
Khardung La (pass), Mountains, Indus River Valley, Ladakh, North India, Himalayas.jpg|[[Khardung La]] pass in Ladakh Range
Leh-Manali Highway, Rock formations, Ladakh, India.jpg|Rock formations along [[Leh-Manali Highway]]
Leh, Mountain view in the evening, Ladakh, India.jpg|Mountain peaks around Leh
Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe.jpg|[[Tsomoriri]] lake
Pangong Tso 2.jpg|[[Pangong tso|Pangong]] lake
India - Ladakh - Leh - 053 - flower fields outside my guesthouse (3844435507).jpg|Leh district flower fields and mountains
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of districts of Ladakh]]
* [[Geography of Ladakh]]
* [[Tourism in Ladakh]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://leh.nic.in/ Official Website of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh]
* [https://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/jammuandkashmir/tehsil/leh.html Leh tehsil map], Maps of India
* [http://www.visitladakh.com Ladakh Tourism Guide] - Photo Gallery of Leh, Monasteries in Leh, NGO's in Leh, Important Phone #.
* [http://www.scoopnews.in/det.aspx?q=75778 Shaam Region in Leh] (not to be confused with the [[Shaam|Middle Eastern region]])

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Leh district
|North = ''[[China]]''
|Northeast =
|East = ''[[China]]''
|Southeast =
|South = [[Lahaul and Spiti district]], [[Himachal Pradesh]]
|Southwest =
|West = [[Kargil district]]
|Northwest = ''[[Kashmir conflict|Disputed region]]''
}}

{{Leh district}}
{{Ladakh}}
{{India topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Leh district| ]]
[[Category:1979 establishments in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Leh]]
[[Category:Geography of Ladakh]]
[[Category:Minority concentrated districts in India]]
[[Category:Districts of Ladakh]]

Leh district - Revision history

Moshiurrahmanatik at 21:09, 23 March 2026