BY PC Bureau
September 3: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has unveiled plans to transform Hunderman, the historic border village near the Line of Control (LoC), into one of Ladakh’s prominent border and heritage tourism destinations.
Saxena visited the village on Thursday to review the progress of the “Exploring LoC and Hunderman Village Experience” project and directed officials to complete the ongoing development works by the end of October.
The proposed visitor facilities include an LoC viewpoint, parking area, integrated amenity centre, information panels, walking promenade, landscaped spaces, smart toilets, café, viewing decks, safety lighting and CCTV surveillance. The project will also feature solar panels, a flag and selfie point and electric vehicle charging stations.
Located around 10 km from Kargil town, Hunderman is widely regarded as the first Indian village along the LoC. The old settlement came under Indian control following the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Its abandoned stone houses and the Museum of Memories, established in 2015 in ancestral homes, offer visitors a glimpse into the region’s turbulent past and the experiences of families divided by the border.
“Hunderman is not merely a border village; it is a living symbol of Ladakh’s history, heritage and resilience,” Saxena said.
“My vision is to make Hunderman, the first Indian village on the LoC, accessible to visitors from across the country and the world and develop it as a unique border and heritage tourism destination. At the same time, tourism development must improve the quality of life of the people who call Hunderman their home,” he added.
Saxena stressed that tourism development should remain community-centric, ensuring that local residents benefit through employment and other livelihood opportunities while the village retains its distinctive character and heritage.
READ: Vijay announces Olympic City and Motorsports Hub in Chennai
The administration has linked the initiative with the Centre’s broader efforts to promote self-reliance and development in remote border areas. The LoC-Hunderman experience is also being developed under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 tourism programme.
During his visit, Saxena interacted with residents and heard their concerns. He also reviewed a solar-powered lift irrigation system intended to strengthen water availability for agriculture through renewable energy.
LAHDC Kargil Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa Jan, the local councillor and senior officials from the tourism department and district administration accompanied the Lieutenant Governor.
READ:
Visited the historic and heritage village of Hunderman in Kargil, located on the Indo-Pak border, and took stock of the ongoing initiatives under the “Exploring LOC & Hunderman Village Experience” project, to develop this abandoned hill settlement into a thriving heritage and… pic.twitter.com/nljC9H9HOU
— LG Ladakh (@lg_ladakh) September 3, 2026
The administration has been focusing on Hunderman’s tourism potential for several months. In January, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra inspected the proposed LoC viewpoint as well as road and water-related works and directed officials to accelerate access and heritage conservation.
Officials have previously said the viewpoint attracts hundreds of visitors a day during the peak tourist season.
If the October deadline is met, Hunderman could emerge as a distinctive addition to Ladakh’s tourism circuit, extending the region’s appeal beyond Leh and combining border history, wartime heritage, local culture and employment opportunities in a village that has long remained away from the mainstream tourist map.
