LEH: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday inaugurated the 11th Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2026, celebrating the region’s rich cultural heritage, distinct identity and growing tourism potential. The two-day festival assumes added significance as the first edition since Zanskar attained district status in April this year.
During the inaugural programme, the Lieutenant Governor inspected stalls and Doksa exhibitions showcasing local crafts, culture and products, besides virtually inaugurating various infrastructure assets 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, Saxena said the grant of district status was not merely an administrative change but a recognition of the long-standing aspirations and distinct identity of the people of Zanskar. Describing the occasion as a moment of pride, he congratulated the people of the region on the first major cultural festival being held after its elevation to district status.
Highlighting Zanskar’s vast tourism potential, the Lieutenant Governor said its monasteries, mountains, rivers, trekking routes, adventure activities, traditions and warm-hearted people make it a destination of immense promise. He said the Ladakh Zanskar Festival had been incorporated into the UT Administration’s official tourism calendar, helping place the region’s cultural and tourism offerings 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 tourists and more than 33,000 foreign visitors. He said the rising tourist footfall was creating business and employment opportunities for hotels, homestays, taxi operators, restaurants, local shops and artisans, while opening new avenues for entrepreneurship among the youth.
He, however, stressed that tourism growth must remain sustainable, responsible and people-centric, with adequate respect for Zanskar’s fragile environment, cultural traditions and local way of life.
On connectivity, Saxena highlighted the Nimmu–Padum–Darcha (NPD) Road and NH-301 Kargil–Zanskar Highway, saying the projects would significantly improve connectivity and generate 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,” the Lieutenant Governor said, while acknowledging the priority accorded to Ladakh’s development by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Saxena also called upon Zanskar’s youth to preserve their rich cultural heritage while leveraging digital platforms, social media and modern technology to showcase the region to the world and create new avenues in tourism and entrepreneurship.
Chairman/CEC, LAHDC Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, Ladakh MP Mohd Haneefa Jan, along with other public representatives and senior officials of the district administration, attended the inaugural ceremony.
