Nyoma Nyama, Neoma | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Nyoma's setting as seen from the gompa (Buddhist monastery) | |
  Nyoma Location in Ladakh Show map of Ladakh Nyoma Nyoma (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:33°12′21″N78°38′54″E / 33.2059163°N 78.6483843°E /33.2059163; 78.6483843 | |
| Country |  India |
| Union territory | Ladakh |
| District | Leh |
| Tehsil | Nyoma |
| Elevation | 4,180 m (13,710 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 918 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Lhadakhi,Hindi,English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 194404 |
| 2011 census code | 901 |
Nyoma[a] is a principal village of southernLadakh in India, the headquarters of aneponymoussubdivision,tehsil,community development block andIndian Air Force Base in theLeh district.[4][5] It is located on the bank of theIndus river after its 90-degree bend nearDungti east of Nyoma and before the valley narrows to a gorge nearMahe northwest of Nyoma. The Nyoma tehsil and subdivision cover all of southern Ladakh, including theRupshu plains south of Nyoma, the Indus valley ofSkakjung north of Nyoma, and theHanle valley.Nyomagompa, a Buddhist monastery, is located on the hill slope north of the village.
The Indus river after its entry into Ladakh flows in a southwesterly direction afterDemchok through [pastSkakjung pastureland on it's right bank] a wide valley. Afterwards, at the northwestern end of Skakjung pastureland, it takes a 90-degree bend at Dungti blocked by the higher ground of the Chushul valley in the north. The village of Nyoma lies 33 km west of the bend on the right bank (northern bank), where it is also coupled with another neighbouring villageMood (orMud orMad). The Indus river here is said to be wide and shallow. It could be easily forded.[1][6]
Nyoma is located 41 km southeast ofChumathang,[7] and 87 km south ofChushul. Nearby villages are Mahe and Loma.Hanle, the largest village in southern Ladakh, is 80 km to the southeast. Mount Sajum on the border with China is 43 km to the east.
Nyoma tehsil borders theTibet Autonomous Region of China on the south and the east. The southern border runs along theChumar village in Rupshu and the Imis Pass at the end of the Hanle valley. The eastern border, aLine of Actual Control resulting from the1962 war with China, runs along theKailash Range watershed of the Indus river till the village ofDumchele and narrows to the right bank of the Indus river up toDemchok.
The road fromLeh runs till the village ofKoyul, crossing the Indus river at Loma. From Koyul to Demchok, there is only a rough track. An alternative border road runs between the Koyul Lungpa valley and Demchok via the Umling La pass.[8][9]
Nyoma hosts anAir Force Station at Mudh.[10][11] The airbase is only 23 km (14 mi) away from theLine of Actual Control.[12] The airfield was originally established during1962 India-China War. However, the unused airstrip was started serving as anadvanced landing ground (ALG) to supportfixed-wing aircraft operations from 18 September 2009.[13][14]
The airstrip was upgraded to a full-fledged air base between August 2023[15] to November 2025 underProject Himank with a budget of₹218crore (US$26 million) by theBorder Roads Organisation (BRO).[16][17]
The upgrade expanded the airstrip to a 1,235 acre an airbase capable of supportingfighter jet operations at 13,700 feet (4,200 m) elevation with an expanded 2.7 km (8,900 ft)-long, 46 m (151 ft)-wide runway paved runway along with allied military infrastructure.[18] The supporting infrastructure included ATC complex, hangar, crash bay, watch towers, and accommodation facilities.[19]
The Mudh-Nyoma Air Base was formerly inaugurated by theChief of the Air Staff,Air Chief MarshalAmar Preet Singh, on 12 November 2025.[20][21]
Nearby Nyoma is Indian Military's "Mahe Field Firing Range" (MFFR) on 1,259.25 ha (12.5925 km2) land inside the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary. Firing range is 40–50 km (25–31 mi) from thedisputed India-ChinaLine of Actual Control. This is the one of its kind firing range in the entire Indian-held Ladakh region where all types of weapons can be fired.[22]
A 48.6 ha (486,000 m2) Training Node Area at Tara in theChangthang Wildlife Sanctuary will be constructed.[23]
Roads infrastructure this area is being enhanced under theIndia-China Border Roads projects.
Wildlife clearance was granted in 2022 for laying optical fiber cables in the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary andKarakoram Wildlife Sanctuary for the internet and telephony connectivity.[22]
Since 2010, foreign tourists withInner Line Permits are permitted to visit Nyoma and its monastery.
The permanent civilian habitations under the administration of the Nyomacommunity development block (district subdivision) include villages like Nyoma,Hanle,Koyul,Demchok, Tsaga, Mudh, Rongo, Nyedar, etc.[24]
According to the2011 census of India, Nyoma has 202 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 49.94%.[25]
| Total | Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 918 | 427 | 491 |
| Children aged below 6 years | 125 | 63 | 62 |
| Scheduled caste | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Scheduled tribe | 707 | 329 | 378 |
| Literates | 396 | 198 | 198 |
| Workers (all) | 345 | 212 | 133 |
| Main workers (total) | 160 | 100 | 60 |
| Main workers: Cultivators | 40 | 28 | 12 |
| Main workers: Agricultural labourers | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| Main workers: Household industry workers | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Main workers: Other | 109 | 67 | 42 |
| Marginal workers (total) | 185 | 112 | 73 |
| Marginal workers: Cultivators | 13 | 9 | 4 |
| Marginal workers: Agricultural labourers | 119 | 68 | 51 |
| Marginal workers: Household industry workers | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Marginal workers: Others | 49 | 35 | 14 |
| Non-workers | 573 | 215 | 358 |
Media related toNyoma at Wikimedia Commons
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