Good news for domestic tourists visiting Leh

SRINAGAR: In a good news for domestic tourists, authorities in Leh area of Jammu and Kashmir have done away with the requirement of an Inner Line Permit -- a necessary document for visiting the Ladakh region also known as the Mecca of adventure enthusiasts.

The Leh administration, in a circular, has notified that any identification proof shall be treated as an Inner Line Permit for citizens of the country who visit the place often dubbed as the dream destination. The tourists can now visit famous places like Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Khardung La and Tso Moriri in Leh by producing an identification proof like a passport, election card, Aadhar card, driving license or a PAN card, the circular said.

However, the circular reads, the foreign nationals have to obtain a proper permit from the office of the District Magistrate, Leh, to explore the second largest district in the country in terms of area.

Leh, 434 kms from here, is described as "backpacker's haven" with numerous trekking trails, valleys, and picturesque lakes. Situated at an altitude of 3524 metres, the place is also renowned as the land of monks and monasteries. More than 1.37 lakh tourists thronged Ladakh region last year.