Hanle weather: today, this week and through the year
Live temperature and a five-day forecast for Hanle, Leh and Pangong, how cold the nights get on the Changthang plateau, and the clearest months for stargazing.
- ~4,300–4,500 m Hanle
- Oct–Nov clearest skies
- Below −20 °C winter nights
- Live 3 places
Photo: Indiajoe, CC BY-SA 3.0
Updated November 2026 · HP Tourism registered travel agent · Reg. No. DTO-MND-11-243/2022 · certificates
Hanle is a remote village on the Changthang plateau in eastern Ladakh, at about 4,300 m, with the Indian Astronomical Observatory on a hill above it at about 4,500 m. It is much colder than Leh: even in summer, nights fall close to freezing, and in winter they drop below −20 °C. The air is very dry and the skies are among the darkest in India — the area is part of the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve. June to September is the easiest time to travel; September to November gives the clearest, steadiest night skies before the deep cold sets in. Plan around the new moon for stargazing.
- Summer nightsClose to freezing, even in July.
- Winter nightsBelow −20 °C; very few facilities.
- StargazingClearest skies about September–November; plan around the new moon.
- Best travel monthsJune–September.
- PermitsHanle is near the border; check current permit rules for your dates.
Hanle, Leh and Pangong weather today
Hanle (about 4,300–4,500 m), Leh (about 3,500 m) and Pangong lake (about 4,250 m) — current temperature and the next days’ high, low and snow.
Forecast data: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), refreshed about once a day — last update —.
Hanle weather by month
There are no published IMD normals for Hanle. The table gives the India Meteorological Department’s normals for Leh as a reference; Hanle is about 800–1,000 m higher, so expect it to be roughly 5–6 °C colder than these figures, with stronger wind and colder nights.
| Month | Leh reference avg max / min (IMD) | What to expect at Hanle |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1.5° / −13.1 °C | Extreme cold; nights far below −20 °C |
| February | 4.2° / −9.2 °C | Extreme cold; snow spells |
| March | 9.7° / −3.7 °C | Very cold; wind |
| April | 15.3° / 1.6 °C | Cold; few visitors |
| May | 20.0° / 6.2 °C | Roads clearing; cold nights |
| June | 24.4° / 11.3 °C | Mild days, nights near freezing |
| July | 28.5° / 15.9 °C | Warmest; some cloud |
| August | 28.1° / 15.1 °C | Mild; occasional cloud and showers |
| September | 23.4° / 9.2 °C | Clear, dry; good stargazing |
| October | 16.7° / 0.3 °C | Clear, cold; excellent stargazing |
| November | 10.6° / −7.2 °C | Very cold; very clear |
| December | 4.5° / −11.7 °C | Extreme cold |
IMD normals for Leh, shown only as a reference — Hanle is much higher and colder. Full Leh figures: Leh Ladakh weather by month.
Stargazing at Hanle: when the sky is best
Hanle’s height, dry air and distance from any big town make its night sky exceptionally dark. The Indian Astronomical Observatory has worked here for decades, and the surrounding villages are part of the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, where homestays offer telescope sessions.
The clearest, steadiest skies usually come from September to November, after the summer cloud and before the extreme cold. Summer nights are easier to bear but cloudier. Whatever the month, plan your nights around the new moon, dress for well below freezing, and keep a spare night in case of cloud.
Nearby weather: Pangong lake weather · Nubra valley weather · Ladakh in winter.
Hanle in pictures
The observatory, Hanle monastery, the plain, and the wildlife of Changthang — real photographs, each credited to its photographer.
Best time to visit Hanle
Depending on what you are going for.
Stargazing
Clearest, steadiest skies.
Easiest travel
Milder days; roads open.
Wildlife
Black-necked cranes, kiang and gazelles on the plateau.
New moon
Plan nights around it.
Very cold
For the well prepared only.
Take care
Snow and few facilities.
Hanle trip: what the weather means for you
Acclimatise in Leh for at least two or three days before driving to Hanle, which is around 4,300 m.
Clothing: a down jacket, thermal layers, cap and gloves for the nights in every month — telescope sessions mean standing still in the cold.
Permits and road: Hanle is close to the border and is a long day’s drive from Leh via the Indus valley and Nyoma. Rules change; we check the current permit requirement for your dates.
Our Ladakh trips
Hotels, meals and a private car in one quote.
Planning Hanle?
Tell us your dates, where you are starting from and how many of you are travelling. We check the weather, the moon and the road, and send a written quote with stays, meals and a private car. Suzu Travels is a travel agent registered with HP Tourism, based in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, and plans trips across north India.
Hanle weather: frequently asked questions
What is the weather in Hanle today?
The top of this page shows the current temperature and the next days’ forecast for Hanle, Leh and Pangong (MET Norway data).
How cold is Hanle at night?
Close to freezing even in summer, and below −20 °C in winter.
When is the best time for stargazing in Hanle?
September to November usually has the clearest, steadiest skies; plan around the new moon.
Is Hanle colder than Leh?
Yes — it is about 800–1,000 m higher, roughly 5–6 °C colder, and windier.
How far is Hanle from Leh?
A long day’s drive along the Indus valley via Nyoma.
Do you need a permit for Hanle?
Hanle is near the border and the rules change from time to time; check the current requirement before you go.
Sources
- MET Norway Locationforecast (CC BY 4.0) — live forecast data
- India Meteorological Department — Leh climatological normals (reference)
- Wikipedia: Hanle
Photo credits
Hanle under a rainbow — Photo: Indiajoe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · The observatory at night — Photo: Indiajoe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hanle monastery — Photo: Deepank Ranka, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hanle monastery from below — Photo: Deepank Ranka, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The Hanle valley — Photo: Deepank Ranka, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The monastery and the plain — Photo: Deepank Ranka, CC BY-SA 4.0 · A house in Hanle — Photo: DiluteOxygen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Black-necked crane — Photo: Sumeetmoghe, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tibetan gazelles — Photo: Stanzinnamgail, CC BY-SA 4.0
