Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on September 3 visited the historic Heritage Village of Hunderman in Kargil, located near the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan, to review ongoing initiatives aimed at developing it as a prominent border and heritage tourism destination.

The visit reflected the Lieutenant Governor’s vision of making Hunderman, with its unique history, heritage and strategic location, more accessible to visitors and positioning it prominently on Ladakh’s tourism map. He emphasised that the village’s proximity to the LoC, coupled with its rich heritage and distinctive character, gives it immense potential to emerge as a unique destination showcasing Ladakh’s borderland history and culture.

During the visit, the Lieutenant Governor was briefed on the ongoing “Exploring LoC and Hunderman Village Experience” project, which envisages a range of tourist-friendly facilities, including an LoC viewpoint, parking area, integrated amenity centre, information panels, walking promenade, landscaping, smart toilets, café, viewing facilities, safety lighting and CCTV, solar panels, a flag and selfie point, and EV charging facilities, among other amenities.

The Lieutenant Governor directed the concerned officials to complete the development works by the end of October this year.

The development of the border village is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader vision of promoting self-sustainability and inclusivity in remote border areas.

“Hunderman is not merely a border village; it is a living symbol of Ladakh’s history, heritage and resilience. 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,” said L-G Saxena.

He stressed that the transformation of Hunderman into a heritage and border tourism destination should be community-centric, ensuring that increased tourism activities create livelihood opportunities for local residents while preserving the village’s unique heritage and character.

The Lieutenant Governor also interacted with villagers and listened to their grievances. He reviewed the solar lift irrigation system aimed at improving water availability for agricultural activities through renewable energy.

Chairman/CEC, LAHDC Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon; Member of Parliament, Ladakh, Mohmad Haneefa Jan; the local Councillor; and senior officials from the Tourism Department and local administration were present during the visit.