Khalatse
Town in Union Territory of Ladakh
title: "Khalatse" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["villages-in-khalsi-tehsil"] description: "Town in Union Territory of Ladakh" topic_path: "general/villages-in-khalsi-tehsil" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalatse" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Town in Union Territory of Ladakh ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Khalatse |
| other_name | Khaltse, Khalsi |
| settlement_type | Village |
| image_skyline | Khalatse (visit of Dalai Lama).jpg |
| image_caption | School children in Khalatse |
| pushpin_map | India Ladakh#India |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | |
| subdivision_type1 | Union Territory |
| subdivision_name1 | Flag of Ladakh, India.svg Ladakh |
| subdivision_type2 | District |
| subdivision_name2 | Leh |
| subdivision_type3 | Tehsil |
| subdivision_name3 | Khalatse |
| subdivision_type4 | Sub-Divisional Magistrate |
| subdivision_name4 | Suhail Ahmad |
| seat_type | Panchayat |
| unit_pref | Metric |
| elevation_m | 2987 |
| population_as_of | 2011 |
| population_total | 767 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| timezone1 | IST |
| utc_offset1 | +5:30 |
| postal_code_type | |
| area_code_type | |
| blank_name_sec1 | 2011 census code |
| blank_info_sec1 | 948 |
| demographics1_info1 | Ladakhi, Balti, Hindi, English |
| demographics1_title1 | Languages |
| :: |
| name = Khalatse | other_name = Khaltse, Khalsi | native_name = | native_name_lang = | settlement_type = Village | image_skyline = Khalatse (visit of Dalai Lama).jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = School children in Khalatse | etymology = | pushpin_map = India Ladakh#India | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = | subdivision_type1 = Union Territory | subdivision_name1 = Flag of Ladakh, India.svg Ladakh | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Leh | subdivision_type3 = Tehsil | subdivision_name3 = Khalatse | subdivision_type4 = Sub-Divisional Magistrate | subdivision_name4 = Suhail Ahmad | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | seat_type = Panchayat | seat = | leader_party = | leader_title = | leader_name = | unit_pref = Metric | area_total_km2 = | elevation_m = 2987 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_total = 767 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | blank_name_sec1 = 2011 census code | blank_info_sec1 = 948 | footnotes = | demographics1_info1 = Ladakhi, Balti, Hindi, English | demographics1_title1 = Languages
Khalatse (), often written as Khaltse or Khalsi, is the headquarters of the eponymous subdivision, block and tehsil in the Leh district of Ladakh, India. It is located 95 km from Leh city on the old main road to Kargil, where it crosses the Indus over an iron bridge. Much of its importance is because it is the place where the road from Kashmir debouches into the Indus Valley.
Close by are the remains of an old fortified customs house. Khaltsi is also the location of the upcoming new Sindhu Central University of Ladakh.
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Ladakh,_bro,_landskap,_berg,_Bro_i_Ladakh.,_0964.b.0998.tif" caption="Bridge at Khalatse. Photo taken first half of 20th century." alt="Bridge at Khalatse. Photo taken first half of 20th century."] ::
A fragmentary inscription at Khalatse carries the name 'Maharaja Uvima' which is attributed to the Kushan king, Vima Kadphises, who ruled in the 1st or early 2nd century CE.
Lhachen Naglug (c. 1150-1175 CE), the king of Ladakh (then known as the Maryul kingdom), built a bridge across the Indus at the same site as the present bridge, and the Bragnag castle on the bank of the Indus, on the brook, about one mile (1.6 km) above the present village, to guard the bridge. It was built in competition with another bridge, the Babu Khar bridge, only three miles (4.8 km) away, and was clearly built to raise taxes from travellers. The castle is said to have been the first castle built in the country. The ruins of the castle and also the remains of extensive fields and watercourses are still visible. Lha chen Naglug also built the palace at Wanla.
There are a number of ancient Dardic rock carvings nearby, including one of a Dard woman carrying a basket on her back, one of a man hunting antelopes, and some showing men with what appear to be flat hats, all costumes similar to the Dards of Da. In front of the ancient Dard castle at Khalatse is an inscription in an Indian language which probably dates from the period of Dard occupation.
The German Moravian Church Mission, which opened in Leh in 1885 had a sub-station in Khalatse which remained open for the half a century prior to India's independence in 1947 and played a prominent role there with their medical and educational activities, but only made a few converts.
At a cost of 750 crores, Khaltsi has been chosen as the location of the upcoming Central University in Ladakh. Its location was strategically chosen, being between the capitals of Kargil and Leh.
Khalatse is also famous for its apricots.
Demographics
Entering Khaltse by road from Srinagar, it is clear one is entering the heartland of Buddhism with its chortens or small stupas, mani stones and prayer flags. Upstream from Khalatse, and downstream on the right bank of the Indus, the people are almost all Buddhist. The ones downstream are mostly Brokpa or Dards.
According to the 2011 census of India, Khaltse has 156 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 86.27%.
::data[format=table title="Demographics (2011 Census){{cite news |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/datagov/CDB_PCA_Census/PCA_CDB_0103_F_Census.xls |title=Leh district census |work=[[2011 Census of India]] |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations |access-date=2015-07-23 }}"]
| Total | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 767 | 381 |
| Children aged below 6 years | 68 | 36 |
| Scheduled caste | 0 | 0 |
| Scheduled tribe | 751 | 366 |
| Literates | 603 | 324 |
| Workers (all) | 381 | 202 |
| Main workers (total) | 378 | 202 |
| Main workers: Cultivators | 42 | 22 |
| Main workers: Agricultural labourers | 3 | 1 |
| Main workers: Household industry workers | 1 | 0 |
| Main workers: Other | 332 | 179 |
| Marginal workers (total) | 3 | 0 |
| Marginal workers: Cultivators | 0 | 0 |
| Marginal workers: Agricultural labourers | 0 | 0 |
| Marginal workers: Household industry workers | 2 | 0 |
| Marginal workers: Others | 1 | 0 |
| Non-workers | 386 | 179 |
| :: |
Climate
|location = Khalatse |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes
|Jan high C = -3.5 |Feb high C = -0.3 |Mar high C = 5.3 |Apr high C = 12.9 |May high C = 19.3 |Jun high C = 23.5 |Jul high C = 26.7 |Aug high C = 26.2 |Sep high C = 22.4 |Oct high C = 16.0 |Nov high C = 8.9 |Dec high C = 1.1 |year high C =
|Jan mean C = -8.2 |Feb mean C = -5.7 |Mar mean C = 0.2 |Apr mean C = 7.3 |May mean C = 13.0 |Jun mean C = 17.0 |Jul mean C = 20.4 |Aug mean C = 19.9 |Sep mean C = 15.8 |Oct mean C = 9.3 |Nov mean C = 2.8 |Dec mean C = -3.9 |year mean C =
|Jan low C = -12.9 |Feb low C = -11.1 |Mar low C = -4.9 |Apr low C = 1.8 |May low C = 6.8 |Jun low C = 10.6 |Jul low C = 14.2 |Aug low C = 13.7 |Sep low C = 9.3 |Oct low C = 2.7 |Nov low C = -3.2 |Dec low C = -8.9 |year low C =
|rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 32 |Feb rain mm = 33 |Mar rain mm = 46 |Apr rain mm = 23 |May rain mm = 19 |Jun rain mm = 7 |Jul rain mm = 11 |Aug rain mm = 11 |Sep rain mm = 13 |Oct rain mm = 7 |Nov rain mm = 5 |Dec rain mm = 17
|source 1 = Climate-data.com{{cite web | url = https://en.climate-data.org/location/492913/ | title = Climate: Khalatse | publisher = Climate-data.com}} |date = April 2018
Because Khalatse is about 400 metres lower than Leh, two crops can be grown each year rather than only one. By the time crops are being sown at Leh in late May, they are already half-grown at Khalatse. The first crop – usually of grim (naked barley – Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum Hook. f., which is an ancient form of domesticated barley with an easier to remove hull) – from which tsampa, the staple food in Ladakh, is made) is usually harvested by mid-July and then other crops such as buckwheat, turnips and other vegetables are planted.
References
Bibliography
- Francke, A. H. (1914). Antiquities of Indian Tibet. Two Volumes. Calcutta. 1972 reprint: S. Chand, New Delhi.
- Schettler, Rolf & Margaret. (1981). Kashmir, Ladakh & Zanskar. Lonely Planet. South Yarra, Vic., Australia. .
References
- "Blockwise Village Amenity Directory". Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.
- [https://leh.nic.in/about-district/administrative-setup/subdivision-blocks/ Leh subdivision-blocks].
- Schettler, Rolf & Margaret. (1981). ''Kashmir, Ladakh & Zanskar''. Lonely Planet. South Yarra, Vic., Australia. {{ISBN. 0-908086-21-0. pp. 102–103.
- (23 July 2021). "Cabinet approves setting up central university in Ladakh".
- Stein, R. A. (1972). ''Tibetan Civilization'', p. 36. Stanford University Press; {{ISBN. 978-0-8047-0901-9.
- Narain, A. K. (1990). "Indo-Europeans in Inner Asia", p. 164. In: (1990). ''The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia'' (Vol 1). Cambridge University Press. Editor: Denis Sinor. {{ISBN. 978-0-521-24304-9.
- Bivar, A. D. H. (1993). "The History of Eastern Iran", p. 223. In: ''The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 3: The Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanid Periods, Part 1 of 2.'' Editor: E. Yarshater. Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN. 978-0-521-20092-9.
- "Leh district census". Directorate of Census Operations.
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