Darcha
title: "Darcha" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["villages-in-lahaul-and-spiti-district"] topic_path: "general/villages-in-lahaul-and-spiti-district" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darcha" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Darcha |
| settlement_type | Village |
| image_skyline | Darcha New Darcha Villages Lahaul Oct20 D72 18310.jpg |
| image_alt | Darcha Sumdo (left), Darcha Dangma (right), Oct 2020 |
| image_caption | Darcha Sumdo and Darach Dangma |
| pushpin_map | India Himachal Pradesh |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in Himachal Pradesh, India |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | India |
| subdivision_type1 | State |
| subdivision_name1 | Himachal Pradesh |
| subdivision_type2 | District |
| subdivision_name2 | Lahaul and Spiti |
| established_title | |
| unit_pref | Metric |
| area_total_km2 | 0.51 |
| elevation_m | 3360 |
| population_total | 358 |
| population_as_of | 2011 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| demographics_type1 | Languages |
| demographics1_title1 | Official |
| demographics1_info1 | Hindi |
| timezone1 | IST |
| utc_offset1 | +5:30 |
| postal_code_type | PIN |
| postal_code | 175132 |
| registration_plate | HP-42 |
| :: |
| name = Darcha | native_name = | native_name_lang = | other_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = Village | image_skyline = Darcha New Darcha Villages Lahaul Oct20 D72 18310.jpg | image_alt = Darcha Sumdo (left), Darcha Dangma (right), Oct 2020 | image_caption = Darcha Sumdo and Darach Dangma | pushpin_map = India Himachal Pradesh | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Himachal Pradesh, India | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Himachal Pradesh | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Lahaul and Spiti | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | government_type = | governing_body = | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_rank = | area_total_km2 = 0.51 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 3360 | population_total = 358 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_footnotes = | demographics_type1 = Languages | demographics1_title1 = Official | demographics1_info1 = Hindi | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type = PIN | postal_code = 175132 | registration_plate =HP-42 | website = | footnotes = Darcha (elevation 3,360 m or 11,020 ft) is a pair of villages (Darcha Sumdo and Darach Dangma) on the Bhaga River in the Lahaul sub-division in the Lahaul and Spiti district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is the northernmost permanent settlement in Himachal Pradesh along the Manali-Leh Highway. With the opening of the Atal Tunnel, Darcha is likely to see a large influx of tourists as it is now connected to Manali throughout the year. The Nimmu–Padam–Darcha road which is being constructed, will improve connectivity of Kargil, Zanskar and Leh District of Ladakh to Darcha.
Demographics and amenities
Darcha consists of two adjacent villages, Darcha Sumdo and Darcha Dangma with a total area of 51.3 ha. Information on Darcha from the Census of India 2011 is given in the table below. ::data[format=table title="Census 2011 data on Darcha Sumdo and Darcha Dangma"]
| Measure | Darcha Sumdo | Darcha Dangma | Darcha (total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area (ha) | 10.6 | 40.7 | 51.3 |
| Population | 172 | 166 | 338 |
| Households | 38 | 34 | 72 |
| Scheduled Caste | Nil | ||
| Scheduled Tribes | 41-50% | 75% | |
| :: |
Schooling from primary up to senior secondary (Class 1 to 12) is available in the village. There is a Primary Health Centre at Darcha. Drinking water is available, and the village has power and telephone connections.
Transport
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Darcha_Bridge.jpg" caption="Old bridge at Darcha"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Darcha_Bridge_NW_Lahaul_Himachal_India_Oct22_A7C_03526.jpg" caption="New bridge at Darcha."] ::
Darcha will be a station on the under-construction Bhanupli–Leh line. Darhca likes on NH-3.
Some buses between Manali and Leh stop for the night at Darcha where travelers sleep in tents. A new all weather steel bridge of 360 meters length has been built over the confluence of the Bhaga river and Jankar Nala on the Leh-Manali Highway. The village is the end-point of a popular trek beginning in Padum, Zanskar. Roadside stalls offer basic food.
All passing vehicles must stop at Darcha's police checkpoint for identification and passport checks.
Gallery
File:New Darcha Village Lahaul Oct20 D72 18311.jpg|[[File:Darcha Bridge on Jankar Nala, Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh.jpg|alt=Darcha Bridge on Jankar Nala|thumb|Darcha Bridge on Jankar Nala]]Darcha Dangma village, Oct 2020 File:Darcha Village Lahaul Oct20 D72 18308.jpg|Darcha village, Oct 2020 File:Bhaga Darcha Gemur Lahaul Oct20 D72 18028.jpg|R. Bhaga, Darcha to Gemur, Oct '20 File:Bhaga River Darcha Gemur Lahaul Jun24 A7CR 00231.jpg|R. Bhaga from Darcha past Jispa to Gemur, Jun '24 File:Darcha Fields Bhaga Riverbed Lahaul Oct20 D72 18026.jpg|Fields on the Bhaga river bed, Oct '20
References
References
- "Himachal Tourism | Darcha".
- (2007). "India". Lonely Planet.
- (2011). "Census of India 2011: District Census Handbook: Lahul & Spiti: Village and Town Directory". Directorate of Census Operations, Himachal Pradesh.
- [https://www.theweek.in/theweek/current/2025/04/05/bilaspur-manali-leh-rail-project-details.html India’s costliest rail line will change how we view travel], theweek.in, 13 Apr 2025.
- (12 Oct 2020). "Of 44 bridges dedicated to nation, HP gets two on Manali-Leh highway". The Hindustan Times.
- (2000). "Indian Himalaya: The Travel Guide". Footprint Handbooks.
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